As a property owner on Smith Mountain Lake, I have concerns about the change to the existing HAB guidance document for Recreational Advisory Management. The policy change is apparently supported by an over simplified analysis of a 406-sample dataset that includes paired cell counts and toxin assays. The analysis concluded that there is no correlation between cell counts and toxin concentrations. To ensure complete transparency, the dataset should be made available to the public, and should include important data elements such as sample date, location, cell counts, when sample collected within the bloom cycle, cyanobacteria species (if available), targeted analyte, analytical method, detection level, reporting level and the result. Despite the general conclusion of no correlation between cell counts and cyanotoxins, knowing there are cyanobacteria species that produce greater (or multiple) toxin concentrations based on cell count is crucial for informed management actions. Given the complexity of this issue, it makes more sense to approach advisory decisions using multiple lines of evidence that also takes cell counts into consideration.