Delivering Scalable Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Prevention Technologies in the Ohio Region

Description

Background: Aquatic nuisance species, including harmful algae, impact USACE waterways (including those maintained by USACE), infrastructure, operations, and associated resources across the Nation; it’s estimated that Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) cause an estimated $1B per year in lost tourism revenue alone. In response, innovative, cost-effective, and scalable technologies for early detection, prevention, and management of aquatic nuisance species are required. HABs are increasing in frequency and duration, resulting in environmental, socio-economic, and human/wildlife health concerns This research effort focuses on prevention of HABs within the Western Lake Erie Basin and throughout the Ohio region. Research to address improved capabilities and technologies to prevent, anticipate and rapidly respond to/mitigate HAB events is needed. Of particular interest are scalable physical, chemical, and/or biological HAB technologies to prevent and manage HABs. This project will establish an interdisciplinary collaboration between USACE and a partner in the Ohio region. This collaboration will leverage resources to identify research opportunities and pursue actions necessary for accelerating the delivery of scalable HAB prevention and management technologies. This collaboration will seek to build upon and expand (but in no way duplicate) current HAB research efforts ongoing in the Great Lakes region, thus leading to expanded technology transfer opportunities. Special topics of interest for this funding opportunity announcement are described as part of the “brief description of anticipated work” section below. Investigators should have demonstrated experience pertaining to HABs and aquatic nuisance species control techniques. Brief Description of Anticipated Work: Required Work Objectives: This CESU project is intended to develop and demonstrate scalable solutions that will minimize the frequency and effects of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) to our Nation’s waterways. Special topics of interest for proposals include but are not limited to: (1) enhanced nutrient sequestration in lotic systems for HAB prevention; (2) innovative HAB prevention technologies that are not exclusively focused on nutrient control; and (3) technologies that can effectively target and reduce HAB environmental triggers in riverine systems. This CESU project will develop and demonstrate a process or technology for the prevention or reduction of HAB events through 1) decreased HAB size, duration and frequency, 2) decreased HAB biomass and toxicity, or 3) reduced HAB biomass and toxins during or after an event, through physical, chemical, AND/OR biological processes. Successful proposals will provide compelling information illustrating that the proposed technology would be feasible for deployment to prevent or manage HABs that occur at large scales within freshwater systems. 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); c) specifically address the scalable potential of the prevention measures or technology being proposed; and (d) 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.

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