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Last Updated: December 2018
The Interstate Technology and Regulatory
Council (ITRC) is excited to start a Team in
January 2019 on Strategies for Preventing
and Managing Harmful Cyanobacterial
Blooms.
ITRC is a state-led coalition dedicated to reducing
barriers to the use of innovative environmental
technologies. ITRC represents over 1,000
individuals, across 50 states, working to
produce guidance and training on innovative
environmental solutions. Bringing together
teams of state, federal, tribal, industry,
academic, and stakeholder experts,
ITRC broadens and deepens
technical knowledge and reduces
barriers to expedient regulatory
approval. Since 1995, the
collective success of this
coalition has generated huge
benefits to the environment,
inspired new technical
innovations, and saved hundreds
of millions of dollars.
ITRC is a program of the Environmental
Research Institute of the States, managed by the
Environmental Council of the States. This partnership
is based on a commitment to protect and improve
human health and the environment across the
country.
HARMFUL CYANOBACTERIAL BLOOMS
(HCBs) Freshwater inland lakes and reservoirs supply
approximately 70% of our nation’s drinking water
and industry withdrawals. They serve as vibrant hubs
for recreation, tourism, and local identity. Human
activities can influence and alter their natural
ecological equilibrium.
Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms (HCBs) are
complex ecological phenomenon that can
occur where cyanobacteria proliferate and
dominate aquatic ecosystems. Although
HCBs may occur naturally, ecosystem
alteration due to human activities
appears to be increasing the
frequency, intensity, and
geographic range of some HCBs.
A rapidly warming climate and
increasing levels of nutrients in
surface waters due to cultural
eutrophication have been
identified as triggers for increased
cyanobacteria growth.
Impacts from HCBs vary from minimal to
catastrophic, with short to long-term human and
ecological health effects. HCBs block sunlight and
alter food webs. Subsequent biomass
decomposition rapidly consumes oxygen to generate
hypoxic environments, suffocating aquatic life and
increasing internal nutrient loading.
Strategies for Preventing and Managing Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms
Courtesy of Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon for NASA, using data from USGS
Last Updated: December 2018
Many bloom-forming cyanobacteria produce toxins
that can impact dermatologic, respiratory, hepatic,
and neurologic systems. When these toxins are
present in freshwater, they can threaten humans,
wildlife, livestock, and pets.
THE HCBs TEAM In the long-term, reducing nitrogen and phosphorus
loading is expected to reduce the occurrence of
HCBs. Yet, successful prevention and remediation
could take decades in some systems, resulting in
continued threats to human and ecological health.
States need information and tools to improve their
ability to prevent and manage HCBs in the short-
term. This Team proposes to create a portfolio of
viable prevention and management approaches,
including strategies that can be implemented over
time scales as short as one season.
The ITRC HCBs Team will begin in January 2019. The
Team will develop a technical-regulatory guidance
document, as well as various fact sheets and
training material as a comprehensive resource for
the prevention and management of HCBs. This
project is expected to take up to two years to
prepare the guidance document and training
materials. The HCBs Team will focus on a variety of
topics, including:
Development and Prevention of HCBs:
identifying primary factors that influence bloom
formation and examining preventative
strategies.
Management Practices: investigating controls
and activities that may mitigate HCBs once
formed.
Evaluation Tool: developing a tool that will
support states as they consider suitable
management approaches for waterbodies that
may vary substantially in water quality and
physical characteristics.
Risk Communication: developing strategies for
the states to communicate cyanobacteria health
risks to a variety of stakeholders.
ITRC
1250 H St. NW, Suite 850
Washington, DC 20005
itrcweb.org
GENERAL PROJECT SCHEDULE
There will be monthly conference calls to develop
the online guidance document and training
materials. The document will be sent to ITRC
members for external review in January 2020 and
will be publicly available in August 2020.
JOIN THE TEAM!
The HCBs Team will begin in January 2019! By
joining the Team, you will have the opportunity to
contribute to the guidance document and training
materials. To join, click here: http://itrcweb.org/
Membership/TeamRegistration
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE CO-TEAM LEADERS:
Benjamin Holcomb
Angela Shambaugh
