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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5/21/25 7:36 pm

Commenter: Gary and Cathy Sells

Oppose change by VDH to eliminate triggers for HAB

We are long time waterfront property owners and full time residents at Lake Anna. We fully support the commenters that have responded to this survey in favor of the importance that cell counts of Cyanobacteria continue to be used as a trigger for issuing a HAB advisory. These individuals are intelligent and knowledgeable about the potential public health risks caused by HAB. The VDH’s goals should ensured that ALL local families, visitors and pets are safe while recreating at Lake Anna. Therefore, we strongly oppose any change by VDH that would compromise cell counts of Cyanobacteria as a trigger for issuing HAB Advisories.

CommentID: 236191