Can the growth of Cylindrospermopsis be prevented or controlled?
Like any other plant, blue-green algae require light, nutrients, and heat to thrive. Physical disturbance, such as water currents or mixing, can also disrupt plants. Long-term control of algae and nuisance plants usually involves land management that prevents excessive soil erosion and runoff of sediment and nutrients. Factors that can produce excessive algal blooms include: • Runoff into waterways with nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) from land clearing and soil erosion, inadequate sewage and septic systems, agriculture fertilizers, industrial effluent, lawn fertilizers and waste from livestock, pets or wildlife. • Lack of flow in reservoirs or in pooled parts of rivers — rain can flush algae from the system and disrupt its growth. • Warm, sunny weather provides both heat and light to stimulate algae growth. Warmer winters and an early spring thaw can increase plant abundance. • Clear water can also increase the depth to which light reaches and cause a larger band of algae to grow
