Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Virginia Department of Health
 
Board
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.
Previous Comment     Next Comment     Back to List of Comments
5/20/25  8:58 pm
Commenter: Valerie Bagby

HAB proposed protocol testing changes
 

My husband and I have visited Lake Anna for over 30 years and have lived here for 8 years.  We have enjoyed the beauty and water quality of the lake for many years, but the past 5 years have become increasingly concerned about the HAB’s at the lake and water quality in general.  We personally choose to never swim in the north section of the lake due to the HAB advisories even knowing there are proactive measures in place today for early detection of HAB.  It makes no sense, why would our government entertain stopping a HAB protocol that works and provides early warning to the public.

It is alarming to think that our state agencies would even entertain HAB testing protocol changes given the history of HABs at Lake Anna as well as the Ecoli event in 2024.  The state agencies mission and priority must be to continue to protect the health and well being of the public.  Please do not approve the proposed HAB changes. 

Please continue to fund Lake Anna for HAB testing and mitigation to ensure that the lake can remain a viable economic engine for Central Virginia and home to many citizens.  Don’t make citizens living here want to leave because we cannot rely on Virginia government agencies to protect us when swimming at Lake Anna. 

CommentID: 236023