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.
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5/16/25  1:21 pm
Commenter: M Page, Duke’ Plantation

Lake Anna HAB Studies and Reporting
 

Apparently the people determining how and when to report on harmful bacteria’s do not live at or use Lake Anna. WHEN the algae blooms release their toxins is ONLY PREDICTABLE if you are measuring the CELL COUNT. If you are only watching for the blooms, you are TOO LATE…it has already released the toxins, so you are TOO LATE in reporting to the public of the danger or any advisory for contact with the water OR eating fish in the lake.  This affects residents, tourists, their pets, and property values. 
I cannot believe you are willing to put the residents and VISITORS (who know nothing about this) at risk for the sake of skipping the CELL COUNTS! 
Please use cell counts to protect our health and the health of all living creatures in and around the lake. Better yet…FIX THE PROBLEM! Fight for funding using our tax dollars. 
Thank you from this worried science-educated person. 

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