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  3:53 pm
Commenter: Patricia Denbrook

Concern about Proposed Change to VDH HAP Advisory Protocol
 

We are waterfront residents in Lake Anna's Cuckoo's Nest community and are concerned about a proposed change to the VDH HAB Advisory Protocol which would eliminate cell counts of cyanobacteria as a primary trigger for issuing a HAB Advisory. We have had HAB outbreaks in our cove over the past several years and believe these pose a serious health risk to all who use the lake. Recording cell counts are part of a proactive approach to dealing with the HAB problem, and we are concerned about the potential for delayed advisories if cell counts are no longer a primary trigger. We are also concerned about the potential impact this changed could have on demonstrating the ongoing need for funding and support for HAB mitigation efforts at Lake Anna, as historical cell count data provides critical evidence of the persistent nature of these blooms. We support a comprehensive advisory protocol that considers multiple lines of evidence, including cell counts, visual observations, and toxin testing.

CommentID: 235374