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HCB-1

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1. Overview
1. Overview
1.1 Our Goals in Developing This Guidance
2. Using this Guidance for Cyanobacterial Bloom Response
3. Introduction to the Cyanobacteria
3. Introduction to the Cyanobacteria
3.1 What Are Cyanobacteria?
3.2 Health, Environment, and Economic Impacts
3.3 Cyanobacteria Biological Functions and Environmental Interactions
3.4 Understanding Your Water Body and Developing an HCB Management Plan
4. Monitoring
4. Monitoring
4.1 HCB Monitoring
4.2 Developing a Cyanobacteria Monitoring Program
4.3 Approaches to Monitoring
4.4 Selecting Appropriate Sample Collection Methods for Your Lake’s HCB Event
4.5 Water Quality Monitoring to Support Cyanobacteria Management
4.6 Examples of Recreational and Drinking Water Monitoring Approaches for Cyanobacteria
5. Strategies for Communication and Response Planning for HCBs
5. Strategies for Communication and Response Planning for HCBs
5.1 Immediate Communication and Response Tasks
5.2 Build, Improve, and Maintain Response Capacity
6. Management and Control Strategies for HCBs
6. Management and Control Strategies for HCBs
6.1 Summary Table
7. Strategies for Use in Nutrient Management
7. Strategies for Use in Nutrient Management
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Environmental Regulatory and Nonregulatory/Voluntary Programs for Nutrient Control
7.3 Source Identification and Prioritization
7.4 Linking Nutrients to Land Use
7.5 Point Sources
7.6 Nonpoint Sources
7.7 Water Quality Trading
8. Recommendations
8. Recommendations
8.1 Overall understanding of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins and their potential impacts
8.2 HCB Monitoring
8.3 Strategic Communication and Response Planning
8.4 HCB Management and Control Strategies
8.5 HCB Prevention Through Nutrient Reduction
References
Appendix
Appendix A. Visual Guide to Common Harmful Cyanobacteria
Appendix B. North American Lake Management Society survey on HCB notification/outreach
Appendix C. Management Strategy Fact Sheets
C.1 Management Strategy Fact Sheets
C.2 Cost Compilation for Several Mitigation Strategies
C.3 Abridged Strategies
Appendix D. Team Contacts
Appendix E. Glossary
Appendix F. Acronyms
Additional Information
Acknowledgments
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Strategies for Preventing and Managing Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms (HCB-1)
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C.3 Abridged Strategies

We necessarily limited this review to methods that are used in contemporary settings and have support from peer-reviewed literature. Some of the methods that were considered, but are not reviewed here, are briefly touched on below.

  • Biochar: Proposed in several states; there are limited data to support its use for HCB prevention or intervention strategy. Biochar is believed to actively bind to minerals and nutrients. Some early reports indicate similar binding behavior of HCBs to activated charcoal.
  • Chlorine compounds in drinking water treatment: Chlorine is a common disinfectant used as a controlling substance for cyanobacteria in finished drinking water. However, its efficacy in open water systems remains unknown. The use of chlorination in drinking water plants reveals its reactivity and, thereby, possible future use in open waters.
  • Electrochemical oxidation: This strategy pumps lake water through an anode that is surrounded by a steel cathode, effectively oxidizing cells and cyanotoxins. Powered by onboard generators, an array of these units is deployed near the water surface. Cyanobacteria and other phytoplankton, detritus, etc., are oxidized as the water is pumped through the tubes. The higher the voltage supplied, the shorter the exposure period needed. Pilot projects are currently underway (2021) with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sponsorship.
  • Nitrogen addition: Proponents claim that adding nitrogen to alter the nitrogen–phosphorus ratio will disfavor the growth of cyanobacteria and favor other photosynthetic organisms. Eutrophication is a widespread problem, so adding nutrients is not considered to be a sustainable action.
  • Permanganate: Permanganate is an oxidizing agent that has been used as an algaecide for in-water treatment of HCBs and excessive algae levels, as well as mitigating cyanotoxins, in a limited number of documented cases during the past century. Permanganate may be applied by spraying water surfaces or by feeding solid or slurry forms from a watercraft. This strategy can be effective at both physically removing or damaging cyanobacterial cells and destroying cyanotoxins. Permanganate, when used as an open-water algaecide, is typically applied as a potassium permanganate product.
  • Shade balls or floating covers: Proponents claim that these shading strategies, originally deployed to prevent evaporation and reduce light-facilitated chemical reactions, will also shade out cyanobacteria. While these methods may have limited application, they may not be practical for widespread use, especially in multipurpose water bodies.
  • Weir curtains, barriers, and exclusion devices: Planktonic cyanobacteria can form thick surface scums, and the accumulations can be exacerbated by wind action, wave action, and reservoir discharge hydraulics. One strategy for mitigating the effect of a bloom is simply to physically exclude it. A barrier can be placed on or near the water surface to isolate and protect a high-value location, such as a swim beach or drinking water intake. While simple in principle, the concept has been difficult to implement and has not often been tested rigorously. The solution is probably not practical on a small scale, because engineering costs are high, but there are a few promising implementations in large drinking water reservoirs. Additionally, a weir or curtain would not prevent extracellular cyanotoxins from reaching the protected area.
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