Develop A Statement On Research Direction.
The research community and front-line managers clearly stated what they believe needs to be done. Future research and field work should be targeted for developing golden alga management strategies. Proposed research should be examined using the following criteria. If it does not directly contribute to one of the criteria, it may not represent an activity that is addressing identified needs.

• Predicting future golden alga blooms
• Preventing golden alga blooms and their dispersal
• Treating and mitigating blooms in natural systems with approved techniques
• Containing the release of toxins when blooms occur
• Protecting hatchery stocks

Create An Action Plan With Defined Roles And Responsibilities.
The most effective role for TPWD will be that of a facilitator for gathering and focusing a broad range of state, national, and international stakeholders to address this issue…not that of the unilateral problem solver. Multiple stakeholders will have roles to play in addressing and advancing the knowledge on this issue. TPWD should focus on increasing the size and scope of the dialog and the problem-solvers working toward a solution.

Identify Collaborative Research Priorities.
Initial research priorities were jointly developed by teams of scientists and front line managers. These priorities are not listed in any order of importance but include the following:

Priorities identified by researchers:
New field tools are needed to accelerate identification and classification of toxic alga, and toxin dynamics. Hand-held detection device for cells and/or toxins need to be evaluated for field suitability, cost-effectiveness, and accuracy compared to conventional lab techniques. The ones showing greatest promise are:

• Electrochemical detection of toxic algae via a hand-held device
• Rapid Detection rRNA probes for toxic algae
• ChemScanRDI, a laser based system to quickly analyze FISH-experiments
• DNA-microarrays for monitoring phytoplankton composition
• Oligonucleotide probes

More systematic monitoring is needed that focuses on the complete history of specific blooms start to finish. Affected water systems should be monitored at least monthly to establish better baseline data. Daily sampling would be preferable for many researchers. While no single partner may be able to handle the entire task, a coalition of volunteers working together can show progress. A preliminary parameter request list includes:

• Physics (temperature, salinity, alkalinity, light, Secchi depth),
• Chemistry (dissolved oxygen, dissolved and particulate nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon)
• Phytoplankton composition and concentrations

These will need to be “reality-checked” against the measurements that can reliably be delivered if field volunteers with limited technical experience are used. Some compromises may need to be made.

Research and data protocols must be established to enable the exchange and correlation of data from independent studies.

• Historical analysis and data mining of bloom and non-bloom areas will allow for better data and may lead to defensible recommendations.
• The strengths and weaknesses of current mitigation strategies must be studied and communicated. Specific recommendations are needed for hatcheries, contained systems, and large natural ecosystems.
• Additional research is needed to identify control mechanisms for golden alga blooms. Some prioritization may be required.
• Long-term bloom causes and effects related to nitrogen and phosphorus ratios and nutrient loading conditions must be established. Ultimately, these will lead to prevention strategies. These may lead to difficult discussions in the future on changes in land, water, and agricultural practices. Anticipating and reaching out to willing representatives of these communities may be beneficial. If involved early in the process, the likelihood of achieving future consensus-based solutions may go up.
• Meteorological data and long-term relationships should be compared. Data management with Geographic Information System (GIS) databases are needed for georeferencing information gathered.
• The “lethal cocktail” of toxins released from P. parvum and the dynamics of toxin production in different systems needs to be understood. These include hemolysins, neurotoxins, fast-acting ichthyotoxins (cycloamines), reactive oxygen species (H2O2, O 2- , OH-, and DMSP), and toxic fatty acids.
• The conditions necessary for toxin production must be investigated. These include the roles, dependencies, and need for a dark cycle; nutrients and their interactions; conflicting temperature and salinity evidence; and possible fish-stimulated production.
• The spatial and temporal variations in toxicity of the golden alga need to be understood.
• The importance of grazing and nutrient limitation for controlling P. parvum populations must be understood.
• Toxin levels as a function of P. parvum density, conductivity, and nutrient limitations should be assessed.
• Biocontrol of Prymnesium should be investigated.
• Carbon dioxide availability as a limiting factor in Prymnesium growth needs to be investigated.

Priorities identified by front-line managers:

• Predictive models, tools, and techniques that enable reliable recognition of the conditions that can support future blooms must be developed in order to prevent them. Focus on golden alga origins and triggers, specifically the alteration of nutrient inputs and potential means of dispersal. Being able to predict and act on emerging problems is the single most important issue to those who interact with the public.

These models will be used to spotlight information gaps that will help direct future research on preventing or reducing the severity of blooms and to fully understand the full range of golden alga parameters that require monitoring.

• Controls to prevent and contain the spread of golden alga blooms must be evaluated.
• The number and relationship of strains in Texas must be established. Additional information on numbers, affected species, and range must be developed.
• Associations, if any, with introduced species in Texas need to be established.
• Cost-effective, viable mitigation for bloom treatments must be developed. The logistical and economic implications of each treatment alternative and parameters for appropriate use must be defined. A current list of treatment alternatives includes the following:
  • Use decomposing barley straw to limit or prevent cell proliferation.
  • Explore the use of clay flocculation for in certain locations.
  • Investigate comparative advantages of PAC (or other flocculants) application with clays.
  • Evaluate and explore biological control options.
  • Determine if ultrasonics, ozonation, and chemical flocculation offer promise.
  • Determine what “last resort” chemical control alternatives may be appropriate in specific situations where severe lethality and other environmental concerns take a back seat.
• Managers want an easy-to-use hand-held detection device for cost-effective early warning in the field.
• Statewide coordination of water quality data must be provided.
• Reliable economic statistics for golden alga bloom impacts and remediation must be established and communicated. Cost/benefit analyses should be established to definitively state if reasonable controls (e.g., septic tanks, etc.) are likely to help or not.
• Water system operation and potential alternatives for river flow alteration should be explored. All have political dimensions that have to be considered.

Secure Needed Funding.
The present level of funding was acknowledged as probably not being sufficient to address all the issues and needs raised at the workshop. The need for continued funding was expressed. Potential components of a funding strategy were identified by a discussion group and include the following:

• Clearly identify the problem in terms all stakeholders can comprehend.
• For interagency harmful algal bloom partners, speak with the same voice, deliver consistent messages on impact of the harmful algal bloom (HAB) challenge and share resources effectively. This will be essential.
• Define baseline assumptions surrounding economic impact and a series of common yardsticks. Validate immediately with potential partners and stakeholders.
• Align potential strategies with appropriate partnerships of affected stakeholders (anglers/lakeshore residents/guides/businesses). These will comprise the main support group for solutions.
• Develop a list of potential resource agencies including state/federal HAB partners. Specific agencies that were mentioned included the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) that is working on long-term monitoring of the Pecos River and other locations. More cooperation is needed and planned with this agency. The USDA South Texas Agricultural Research Laboratory in Weslaco may have aircraft available for bloom monitoring that can be contributed and leveraged.
• (TPWD) Help coordinate monitoring meetings between TCEQ and Texas Clean Rivers Program partners.
• Include international partners; the problem is bigger than Texas. Efforts between the National Science Foundation and the European Community on HABs should be continued. Remain engaged on this front.
• Immediately assemble a “coalition of the willing” for rapid response. Barley straw bales, hay bales, and Christmas trees all offer opportunities for experiments with partners/constituents. The worst thing that can happen in these experiments may be adding some new fish habitat. Results may generate momentum, establish grass-roots support, and establish tangible results.
• Identify River Watch partners and other volunteer groups that can assist with data collection. Provide them with tools and techniques to assist in monitoring and data collection.
• Use TPWD resources wisely. Use a review process to select the best of the best from proposal alternatives.
• Raise the level of funding as other partners contribute resources.

Funds are limited and it will be critical to award research funds to those that can generate tangible results. Invest in proposals that can produce the greatest short-term “bang for the buck.” Use these results to build momentum and establish credibility that a successful plan is being built.

One potential strategy for screening research requests would be to use a simple matrix scoring potential research and action using 1 to 10 criteria. A starting point for this evaluation list might include the following:

• How well does it address a specific priority identified by the task force?
• What is the likelihood of tangible results within 12 months?
• What is the Cost Effectiveness?
• To what extent is new ground being broken?
• To what extent can TPWD funds be used as “seed money” to attract additional resources?

Define Roles And Responsibilities For Communication And Coordination.
Central to the success of this effort is establishing consistent messages that can be agreed to by key stakeholders and reinforced by repetition. Specific distribution lists have been requested for statewide data distribution. Additional distributions may be required for regional, national, and international partners.

Create A Public Outreach Plan and Communication Strategy.
Important first steps have been taken to establish a comprehensive website that will become the central source of information for citizens and stakeholders. The website may prove useful as a central “data portal”, providing scientists and other interested people an entry point to all research and data. There appears to be a site already available through the TCEQ that can be linked to for historical water quality data in many water bodies.

The discussion group identified a preliminary list of communication messages, strategies, and guidance:

• Golden alga blooms are NOT a public health threat.
• HABs and the golden alga have been around for a long time. Their impacts may be severe, but they are temporary.
• Typically golden alga blooms seldom kill all the fish any single reservoir.
• This is a big problem affecting millions of anglers and businesses.
• Blooms are bad news if you have gills, but don’t physically affect animals or people.
• There is no silver bullet; solutions will require time, resources, and patience.
• The knowns are...Research is needed to better understand:

• The golden alga can exist without causing kills or other problems.
• The problems and solutions are complex; learning is continuous, and we have a lot to learn.
• Communicate the root CAUSES of blooms that can be addressed through their sources.
• Develop a “Top 10” list of Frequently Asked Questions for the website.
• Maintain a golden alga website to offer interactivity for researchers and the public.
• Provide as much information as possible immediately, but make it “scannable”. Minimize the number of clicks to get to desired information.
• Offer “after-hours” points of contact for the media and citizens.
• Develop a focused, consistent message that everyone can deliver and reinforce.
• Be proactive; get messages out earlier rather than waiting for complete or perfect information.
• Frame needed messages in terms of possible animal (and pet) health issues.
• Frame messages in terms of economic impact, especially the potential number of lost jobs in the affected counties or regions.
• Anticipate distrust and skepticism from the general public.
• Enlist the support of all Texans in solving the problem.
• Include small community papers in the communication strategy.
• Use California’s invasive species pamphlet as an example: what it is, what it does, what we know. Use at Boat ramps. Be concise. Be simple - just the facts
• Communicate the results of today’s session to the press. State results and communicate regularly.

Guiding Principles
To supplement the action plan, several important guiding principles may be useful to keep in mind when choosing between the many action alternatives with which the Golden Alga Task Force will be faced.

• Do not duplicate the successful work of others. Global partners in Israel, Korea, Scandinavia and Florida have a wealth of experience that can be leveraged. Related lessons learned from red tide and brown tide can be applied in the development of “knowns” and best practices.
• “How can we help you solve this problem?” should become a mantra for the Golden Alga Task Force. TPWD needs to define its role as facilitator, organizer, and flight controller of larger issues. Making this a “big tent” that accommodates local, state, federal, and international partners will help.
• Well-crafted plans of attack that are well-understood and widely supported get funded.
• Stretch conventional definitions. Some creativity may be useful in making funding efforts successful. Consider creative definitions of the problem when applying for partner funds. There may be linkages with invasive species, homeland security, or public health work that could prove useful. A little might be able to go a long way.
  

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