"Researching Impacts and Data Gaps Associated with Harmful Algal Blooms in Freshwater Lakes and Reservoirs"

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This project will establish an interdisciplinary collaboration between USACE and a University partner. This collaboration will assess the reporting, challenges, and impacts of harmful algal bloom events in freshwater lakes and reservoirs. Successful proposals will also (a) clearly identify question(s) the proposed project will seek to answer (i.e., project technical objectives); (b) clearly describe the tasks and data required to answer those question(s) (i.e., data quality objectives); and (c) describe envisioned project deliverables by task and by year. Proposals that demonstrate intent to maximize use of existing federal and state HAB programs, activities, and data are encouraged. Successful proposals will identify quantitative and qualitative success criteria for each project task and objective; identification of go/no-go decision points at the end of each year is also encouraged. This project will: 1) Develop a set of questions through rigorous and scientifically defensible social science methodology and approaches to capture impacts of HABs in freshwater lakes and reservoirs. Potential impacts include, but not limited to, resulting closures/impacts (e.g., recreational closure, water treatment alerts), sampling/treatment costs, or staff time. 2) Develop a set of questions through rigorous and scientifically defensible social science methodology and approaches to questionnaire design to identify HAB Event Reporting topics (e.g. where, when, and how long HAB events occur, actions taken, etc.). Develop a HAB event reporting template based on responses. 3) Compile and interpret results of questionnaires and previous questionnaires; develop a technical report(s), or similar, to disseminate results.

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