Over three decades of using algaecides, herbicides, alum and other phosphorus precipitants, aeration systems and more to fight the symptoms of eutrophication has proven that none of these symptomatic treatment provide a sustainable, holistic way to remediate and restore a lake. 

That was confirmed by the Government Accountability Office report which said you have to understand the Root Causes and develop technologies and actions that target them. It also emphasized the need for methodologies to be developed to better monitor and assess a lake’s condition and objectively track the success or failure of remediation programs in targeting root causes to reverse eutrophication and prevent toxic cyanobacteria HABs. According to a Government Accountability Office report, the key is to understand the root causes of eutrophication and develop solutions that target those root causes directly. The report also says we need better methods to monitor a lake’s condition and measure the success or failure of these efforts.

So the answer to the question “How do you remediate and restore a lake and prevent toxic HABs” is by targeting and fixing the root causes of the problem.