Virginia Regulatory Town Hall View Comments

Virginia Department of Health

State Board of Health

Guidance Document Change: The Guidance for Cyanobacteria Bloom Recreational Advisory Management requires revision for the Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) response season, beginning in April 2025. The proposed revision includes the DEQ and VDH staff recommendations, which allow for more extensive and targeted monitoring of algal toxins in recreational freshwater areas during a HAB, and for using toxin data alone for recreational advisory determinations. These recommendations are based on a review of current processes for HAB monitoring and managing recreational HAB advisories, final recommendations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on protecting human health risks from incidental ingestion while recreating in freshwaters, data collected from Virginia HAB investigations with paired cell counts and toxin assays, and budget and staff efficiencies. This approach is supported by both VDH and DEQ agency secretaries.

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5/16/25 11:17 am

Commenter: Anonymous

LKA HAB

· I have significant concerns about the potential for delayed advisories if cell counts are no longer a primary trigger.

· consider the importance of a proactive and precautionary approach to public health protection.

· Try to understand the value of cell counts as an early indicator of potential HAB risks.

· There is huge need for a comprehensive advisory protocol that considers multiple lines of evidence, including cell counts, visual observations, and toxin testing.

· it needs to be demonstrated that the ongoing HAB issue at Lake Anna to secure continued mitigation funding.

CommentID: 235337