“Delivering Scalable Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Prevention and Management Technologies for Freshwater Ecosystems for the Ohio River”

Background: Aquatic nuisance species, including harmful algae, impact US waterways (including those maintained by USACE), infrastructure, 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. Prevention and management of HABs within the Ohio River is of interest, as is research that produces knowledge and scalable HAB prevention and management tools applicable to lentic and lotic systems across the Nation. Research to address the need to improve capabilities and technologies to anticipate and rapidly respond to/mitigate HAB events is needed. Scalable physical, chemical, and/or biological HAB technologies to manage HABs are particularly needed. This project will establish an interdisciplinary collaboration between USACE and a Southern Appalachian Mountains or a North Atlantic Coast CESU network member. This collaboration will leverage resources to identify research opportunities and pursue actions necessary for accelerating the delivery of scalable HAB management technologies. This collaboration will seek to build upon and expand (but in no way duplicate) current HAB research efforts ongoing in the Ohio River and North Atlantic regions, 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) scalable technologies to manage, control, and/or mitigate HABs in lentic OR lotic freshwater systems; and (2) approaches for identification of priority areas for proactive HAB management within large‑scale lotic systems (e.g., cyanobacteria “seed beds” or HAB onset “hot spots” in mainstem, tributaries or backwaters) and effective treatments for identified priority areas. This CESU project will develop and demonstrate a process or technology for the reduction of HAB events and their effects 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 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 management 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.

Funding Opportunity Number: W81EWF-22-SOI-0021. Assistance Listing: 12.630. Funding Instrument: CA. Category: ST. Award Amount: Up to $500K per award.