Prediction and Early Identification of Harmful Algal Bloom (HABs) in Riverine Systems

A harmful algal bloom (HAB) can be defined as the rapid growth of an algal species, which produces multiple deleterious effects on the local ecosystem (CDC, 2022). HAB impacts can range from discolored water to unsightly algalmats, to odor and taste impacts on drinking water, to the production of powerful toxins which impair human and ecological resource uses. HABs can occur in freshwater, estuarine or marine ecosystems, and occur in all 50 states, with many instances becoming major environmental problems (EPA, 2022). They have significant human and environmental health effects, shut down drinking water supplies, interrupt tourism, and incur negative economic effects on industries that require clean water (Sulcius et al., 2017) HABs in riverine ecosystems are increasing in severity and frequency. Understanding riverine HABs is complicated because of complex hydrogeology, water quality, and biology. Though we understand the general conditions that support bloom formation (i.e., low flow, high temperatures, replete nutrients),specific predictions of bloom timing and location are not well defined. We know even less about how to thwart bloom development, predict the extent of toxin production, reduce bloom duration, or effectively remediate blooms.