Grantee Research Project Results
Temporal and Spatial Optimization of Existing and Emerging Nutrient Management Technologies and Practices for Control of Harmful Algal Blooms
EPA Grant Number: R840090Title: Temporal and Spatial Optimization of Existing and Emerging Nutrient Management Technologies and Practices for Control of Harmful Algal Blooms
Investigators: Zhang, Qiong , Mihelcic, James R. , Ergas, Sarina , Arias, Mauricio , Charkhgard, Hadi , Rains, Mark
Current Investigators: Zhang, Qiong , Mihelcic, James R. , Ergas, Sarina , Arias, Mauricio , Charkhgard, Hadi , Rains, Mark , Nachabe, Mahmood
Institution: University of South Florida
EPA Project Officer: Ludwig-Monty, Sarah
Project Period: September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2023 (Extended to August 31, 2024)
Project Amount: $1,000,000
RFA: Approaches to Reduce Nutrient Loadings for Harmful Algal Blooms Management (2020) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Harmful Algal Blooms , Water
Description:
The overall goal of the proposed research is to optimize the implementation of nutrient treatment technologies and management practices (i.e., the right technologies/practices at the right time and place) guided directly by the ecological response of the watershed (i.e., algal production) for effective HAB control.
Objective:
The project objectives are to: 1) develop a holistic assessment framework for evaluating existing and emerging nutrient management technologies/strategies, 2) create an innovation road map for supporting the scale-up of promising emerging technologies, and 3) integrate hydro-ecological models of temporal algae production with nutrient management optimization models. The project will provide decision makers with a tool to temporally and spatially implement the most appropriate suite of nutrient management strategies for HAB control.
Approach:
The research will specifically address excess nutrient loadings relevant to issues faced by Lake Okeechobee (Florida) and its large watershed that that transports nutrients to coastal zones. HAB challenges faced in L. Okeechobee affect both freshwater and coastal ecosystems and are representative of other freshwater bodies around the country with a legacy of agricultural pollution and rapidly-growing urban sprawl. Within this context, four tasks are planned: Task 1- develop a holistic assessment framework and evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability of nutrient management technologies/practices; Task 2- identify the appropriate approach (i.e., roadmap) to scale up selected emerging technologies and evaluate their performance; Task 3- develop a modeling platform to integrate watershed hydrology and lake ecology to predict temporal algae production corresponding to nutrient loading; and Task 4- create a decision support framework to optimize implementation of the most promising management practices and technologies. The proposed research is innovative because it addresses an environmental problem with significant economic and social impacts and ensures effective stakeholder engagement that is initiated at early stages of the project and maintained throughout the problem-solving process. The proposed research follows an operational framework of sustainability that addresses its three pillars and includes integrated system modeling.
Expected Results:
The key outputs are transferable on a regional and national basis and include a holistic assessment framework, a logical roadmap for technology scale-up, the first open-source eco- hydrodynamic model for L. Okeechobee and an integrated hydro-ecological-optimization platform. The project results and outputs will facilitate a holistic assessment of nutrient management technologies/practices and an optimized implementation of technologies/practices for effective HAB control. Regional and local stakeholders will be engaged throughout the process so the delivered solution effectively meets their needs.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 25 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 9 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
holistic assessment, integrated modeling, ecosystem, decision makingProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.