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HCB-2

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1. Introduction
1. Introduction
1.1 Overview of Cyanobacteria
1.2 Scope of Document
1.3 Ecology of Attached Cyanobacterial Mats
1.4 Health, Environmental, and Economic Impacts
1.5 Understanding Your Water Body and Developing an HCB Management Plan
2. Cyanotoxins
2. Cyanotoxins
2.1 Exposure Routes to Cyanotoxins
2.2 Health Impacts of Cyanotoxins
2.3 Overview of Cyanotoxin Classes
2.4 Cyanotoxin Distribution, Stability, and Exposure Considerations
2.5 Developing Cyanotoxin Toxicity Thresholds for Humans and Animals
2.6 Cyanotoxin Thresholds
3. Monitoring for benthic cyanobacteria
3. Monitoring for benthic cyanobacteria
3.1 Developing a Monitoring Plan for Benthic Cyanobacteria and Their Cyanotoxins
3.2 Field Collection Methods for Benthic HCBs
3.3 Analytical Methods
3.4 Monitoring HCBs in the Future
4. Introduction to treatment strategies
4. Introduction to treatment strategies
4.1 Summary Table
5. Communication and response planning strategies
5. Communication and response planning strategies
5.1 Reporting, Notification, and Coordination with Key Partners, Stakeholders, and the Public
5.2 Bloom Identification
5.3 Drinking Water Sources
5.4 Thresholds for HCB Advisories for Drinking Water, Recreation, and Pets/Livestock
5.5 Results, Risks, and Advisory Communication
5.6 HCB-related Illnesses Documentation and Evaluation
5.7 Maps and Data Management Optimization and Improvement
6. Recommendations
6. Recommendations
6.1 Cyanotoxin-related (Applicable for Planktonic and Benthic Sources Unless Specifically Noted)
6.2 Monitoring-related
6.3 Management-related
6.4 Communication-related
Appendix
Appendix A. Visual Guide to Common Harmful Cyanobacteria
Appendix B. Case Studies
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
References
Acknowledgments
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Strategies for Preventing and Managing Benthic Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms (HCB-2)
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Management Criteria Tool

This tool helps you evaluate in-lake management strategies that prevent future HCBs or intervene in active blooms. Select criteria appropriate for your water body to see strategies that may be useful for you. Clicking on individual strategy names will take you to the appropriate fact sheet to learn more.

Select the criteria that describes your needs, situation and/or water body:
Strategy TypeWaterbody TypeType of HCB
InterventionPondPlanktonic
PreventionLake or ReservoirBenthic
River
Management StrategyDocumented EffectivenessDepthSurface AreaTrophic StateTurbidity
AcidificationPlanktonic - Limited; Benthic - LimitedShallowSmallAny Trophic StatusGenerally Clear
Artificial circulation and mechanical mixersPlanktonic - Substantial; Benthic - Not ApplicableDeepSmall or LargeAny Trophic StatusClear to Turbid
Barley and rice strawPlanktonic - Substantial; Benthic - LimitedShallow or DeepSmall or LargeAny Trophic StatusClear to Turbid
Clay and surfactant flocculationPlanktonic - Substantial; Benthic - LimitedShallow or DeepSmall or LargeAny Trophic StatusClear to Turbid
Copper algaecidesPlanktonic - Substantial; Benthic - SubstantialShallow or DeepSmall or LargeAny Trophic StatusClear to Turbid
DredgingPlanktonic - Limited; Benthic - LimitedShallow or DeepSmall or LargeAny Trophic StatusClear to Turbid
Floating wetlandsPlanktonic - Limited; Benthic - LimitedShallowSmall or LargeEutrophicClear to Turbid
Food web manipulationPlanktonic - Substantial; Benthic - No Available DataShallow or DeepSmall or LargeAny Trophic StatusClear to Turbid
Hydraulic flushingPlanktonic - Substantial; Benthic - LimitedShallowSmall or LargeEutrophicClear to Turbid
Hydrodynamic cavitationPlanktonic - Emerging; Benthic - No Available…ShallowSmallAny Trophic StatusClear to Turbid
Hypolimnetic oxygenation and aerationPlanktonic - Substantial; Benthic - No Available InformationDeepSmall or LargeAny Trophic StatusClear to Turbid
Hypolimnetic withdrawal and drawdownPlanktonic - Substantial; Benthic - Limited And MixedDeepSmall or LargeAny Trophic StatusClear to Turbid
Microbial biomanipulationPlanktonic - Emerging; Benthic - No Available…Shallow or DeepSmallEutrophicClear to Turbid
Monitored natural attenuationPlanktonic - Substantial; Benthic - Emerging Shallow or DeepSmall or LargeAny Trophic StatusClear to Turbid
NanobubblingPlanktonic - Emerging; Benthic - No Available…Shallow or DeepSmall or LargeEutrophicClear to Turbid
NanoparticlesPlanktonic - Emerging; Benthic - No Available Supporting Field DataShallow or DeepSmall or LargeAny Trophic StatusClear to Turbid
Organic biocidesPlanktonic - Emerging; Benthic - LimitedShallow or DeepSmallAny Trophic StatusClear to Turbid
OzonationPlanktonic - Limited; Benthic - No Available InformationShallow or DeepSmall or LargeAny Trophic StatusGenerally Clear
P-binding compoundsPlanktonic - Substantial; Benthic - LimitedShallow or DeepSmall or LargeAny Trophic StatusClear to Turbid
PeroxidePlanktonic - Substantial; Benthic - No Available Supporting Field DataShallowSmallAny Trophic StatusClear to Turbid
Shading with dyesPlanktonic - Limited; Benthic - No Available Supporting Field DataShallow or DeepEutrophicAny Trophic StatusClear to Turbid
Skimming/HarvestingPlanktonic - Limited; Benthic - No Available Supporting Field DataShallow or DeepSmall or LargeAny Trophic StatusClear to Turbid
UltrasoundPlanktonic - Limited/Emerging; Benthic - LimitedShallowSmallAny Trophic StatusClear to Turbid
UV exposuresPlanktonic - Limited; Benthic - No Available Supporting Field DataShallowSmallOligo- or MesotrophicGenerally Clear
Notes:
Strategy Type
Intervention: an in-lake strategy that may be implemented to provide immediate relief for an ongoing bloom or if certain key thresholds have been crossed (cell counts, visual, taste and odor, cyanotoxin concentration, etc.); thresholds may be specific to the water body or site.
Prevention: an in-lake strategy that may be implemented prior to some key threshold being reached to decrease the likelihood or intensity of a future bloom.
Documented Effectiveness
Substantial: multiple conclusive studies support this method.
Limited: few conclusive studies support this method, or there are multiple inconclusive studies.
Emerging: new area of research (post-2015).
Water Body Characteristics
Shallow: light penetration to the bottom; typically average depth of about 10 feet or less.
Deep: experiences thermal stratification; typically depths greater than 10 feet.
Small: less than 600 acres (Cael, Heathcote, and Seekell 2017).
Large: greater than 600 acres (Cael, Heathcote, and Seekell 2017).
Eutrophic Rich in nutrients and so supporting a dense plant population
Oligotrophic Relatively low in plant nutrients and containing abundant oxygen in deeper parts
Mesotrophic Intermediate level of productivity
Water Body Type
Lake/Reservoir: shallow shoreline area that may support rooted plant growth and a deeper portion where sunlight does not penetrate to the bottom; frequently stratifies during the summer.
Pond: shallow standing water in which light penetrates to the bottom, potentially supporting rooted plant growth; lack of thermal stratification and presence of muddy sediments.
Bay/Estuary: body of water partially enclosed by land that is directly open, or connected, to the ocean, where one or more streams or rivers enter and mix freshwater with seawater.
River: natural flowing water channel, usually freshwater, flowing toward an ocean, sea, lake, or another river.
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