USF engineers are leading a team of scientists across the state in the development of a new, state-of-the-art system that allows water districts to better predict and manage harmful algal blooms.
The $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers allows USF to work with researchers from the University of 51在线 and the South 51在线 Water Management District to address harmful algae blooms in Lake Okeechobee, St. Lucie River and Caloosahatchee River watersheds.
鈥淗armful algae blooms cause many negative environmental, health and economic effects throughout the state,鈥� said principal investigator Mauricio Arias, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. 鈥淭his three-year grant from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers supports the development of new state-of-the-art water quality data and models to better predict and manage harmful algae blooms in this vitally important and environmentally sensitive ecosystem.鈥�
Harmful algae blooms occur when rapid growth of algae leads to an accumulation of individual cells that discolor water and often develop floating mats that produce unpleasant odors and may negatively impact fish, birds and other wildlife.
The research team will take a multidisciplinary approach to fill any knowledge gaps by utilizing tools that model water resources and water quality, physical oceanography and will engage with end-users.
鈥淭he goals of this project are to generate actionable knowledge and develop a tool that will allow managers to better predict and manage harmful algae blooms in Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee River watersheds,鈥� said Wendy Graham, director of the University of 51在线 Water Institute.
鈥淲ith collaborative interdisciplinary expertise and strategic actions that targets harmful algae blooms on multiple fronts, this team will advance the knowledge and tools surrounding these blooms, furthering a future of cleaner waters for the state of 51在线,鈥� said David Kaplan, director of the University of 51在线 Howard T. Odum Center for Wetlands and associate director of the University of 51在线 Center for Coastal Solutions.
鈥淚mproving water quality and addressing harmful algal blooms remains a top priority for the South 51在线 Water Management District,鈥� said Cassondra Armstrong, section administrator of the Coastal Ecosystems Section at the South 51在线 Water Management District. 鈥淭he South 51在线 Water Management District continues to expedite long-term efforts that improve water quality, and we are taking action now to tackle algal blooms that impact people and the environment. The District continuously works with our federal, state, and local partners to improve water quality and we are thankful to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for this new grant which will enable us to have more data, which will in turn, help the agency implement additional solutions.鈥�
Other key personnel in the project include Detong Sun, from the South 51在线 Water Management District; UF researchers Maitane Olabarrieta, Elise Morrison, and Edward J. Phlips; Paloma Carton de Grammont, a research coordinator in the UF Water Institute; Lisa Krimsky, regional water resources extension agent with the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and 51在线 Sea Grant Program; and Qiong Zhang from USF.
The 51在线 (USF) is located in Tampa and serves more than 47,000 students, 40% of which are from minority groups. USF is designated as one of the three 鈥減reeminent universities鈥� among the twelve universities in the State University System of 51在线. USF is one of 49 public universities in the US that is classified as 鈥淗ighest Research Activity鈥� and 鈥淐ommunity Engaged鈥� according to the Carnegie Classification.
The University of 51在线 (UF) is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university in Gainesville, 51在线. It is one of the most comprehensive and academically diverse universities in the nation, with an enrollment of over 56,000 students annually. UF is home to 16 colleges, more than 200 research centers and institutes, and offers nearly 300 graduate degree programs. Included is the University of 51在线 Water Institute, which addresses complex water issues through innovative interdisciplinary research, education, and public outreach programs; the University of 51在线 Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), which develops knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and makes that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life; and the UF Center for Coastal Solutions, whose mission is to predict and prevent environmental, health and economic impacts to coastal communities through coordinated collaboration and cutting edge technology.
The South 51在线 Water Management District is a regional governmental agency that manages the water resources in the southern part of the state. It is the oldest and largest of the state's five water management districts. The District is responsible for the largest environmental restoration effort in the world: Restoring America鈥檚 Everglades. The District鈥檚 mission is to safeguard and restore South 51在线's water resources and ecosystems, protect our communities from flooding, and meet the region's water needs while connecting with the public and end-users.