Demonstration of Proactive Algaecide Treatments Targeting Overwintering Cyanobacteria in Sediments of an Urban Pond

Abstract

Most cyanobacteria that form harmful algal blooms (HABs) in inland waterbodies can overwinter in sediments. This field demonstration within an urban pond was conducted to bolster a database on the novel use of algaecide treatments to proactively target overwintering cyanobacteria located in sediments prior to HAB formation. In March 2023, a peroxide-based algaecide was applied to sediments of a water feature located in urban Kansas City, Kansas, and cyanobacteria responses were measured over subsequent weeks and months. Multiple lines of evidence were used to discern the impacts of proactive treatments on overwintering cells in sediments and HAB severity throughout the growing season. Although results of the measured cyanobacterial responses were mixed, three of five lines of evidence indicated proactive algaecide treatments were effective at decreasing the transfer of cyanobacteria to the water column and HAB severity during months when HABs tended to occur. Microcystin concentrations immediately post-treatment (hours) remained at the analytical detection limit (0.10 µg/L) and were below USEPA risk-based thresholds, highlighting the benefits of application prior to the exponential growth phase of toxin-producing cyanobacteria. These results expand the dataset and methodology for field-scale proactive algaecide applications targeting overwintering cyanobacterial cells in sediment to mitigate and delay HAB development.