The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is beginning research on the efficacy of ultrasonic devices to reduce harmful algal blooms (HABs). DEC is working with the village of Southampton and Stony Brook University to study the use of ultrasonic devices on Lake Agawam throughout the summer of 2021.
Soundwaves from the ultrasonic devices are expected to affect the buoyancy of algae cells, causing them to sink in the lake to where they do not get the sunlight needed to survive. As HABs are a concern for many states, the results of this study likely will be of interest broadly to ECOS members.
For more details on the research project and other HABs reduction efforts on Lake Agawam and throughout New York State, see here.
