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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5/19/25 3:08 pm

Commenter: Anonymous

HAB Advisory Protocol

It is very important to have a proactive and precautionary approach to the HAB issue at Lake Anna VA for the health and safety of those who live here, visitors and all who swim in our lake, including our pets. I believe we need to keep cell counts as an early indicator of potential HAB risks.

I am very concerned about the potential for delayed advisories if cell counts are no longer a primary trigger. We need to have a comprehensive advisory protocol that considers multiple lines of evidence, including cell counts, visual observations, and toxin testing.

CommentID: 235717