Appendix B

Interstate Harmful Algal Bloom Outreach Matrix
Prepared by NEIWPCC in cooperation with the States of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Last Updated July 2014. For more information, contact Dan Peckham, NEIWPCC.

EPA / CDC / USGS

CT

MA

Local Health Directors can open and close swimming
facilities:

Statutory Authority: Massachusetts General
Law 111, section 122: Regulations relative to
nuisances; examinations
Statutory Authority:
- power of local boards of health to take action
Connecticut General Statutes outlines enforcement against nuisances (including HABs)
authority under Chapter 98, Municipal Powers.
Massachusetts General Law 11, section 5S:
Section 7-148:
Public bathing waters- describes roles and
- power to "control and operate” recreation places, public responsibilities of bathing beach operation
beaches and beach facilities
- power to "regulate and prohibit swimming or bathing in Bathing beach regulations: 105 CMR 445:
the public or exposed places within the municipality”
- Binding
- The regulations allow for posting advisories at
CT Public Health Code does not include a pertinent
beaches for any potential health reason, including
regulation specific for lakes and ponds, however; section HABs.
19-13-B34 may apply to impoundments.
- Regulations moved through public process

Regulations / State
Department Roles

ME

NH

DEP Rules (06-096 Chapter 581: 6B) define
algal blooms as "planktonic growth of algae
which causes Secchi disk transparency to be
less than 2.0 m."

DES: No entities are required to test for
cyanobacteria. However, if cyanobacteria is
found, an advisory sign must be posted. Still
researching the state statutes to determine if
Health & Human Services has the authority to
When DEP staff are asked about HABs, our
close a beach or lake. DES does NOT have
standard answer pertains to general conditions that authority.
(blooms, risk of contracting Girardia) rather
than HABs (e.g., don't swallow water, some
species irritate skin - shower after swimming,
relate personal perspective that if it were my
child and I couldn't see more than 6-7 feet into
the water, I wouldn't want them swimming in
the water because I might not be able to find
them if they had an accident).

Specific to Harmful Algae Blooms: MDPH
Guidelines for Cyanobacteria in Freshwater
Recreational Water Bodies in Massachusetts
Document

Visual Rank Category 2 (or blue-green algae cells
>20k/ml and < 100k): Notify CT DPH, CT DEEP,
Increase regular visual surveillance until conditions
change.

Further sampling (toxin testing of lysed cells to
ensure that guideline of 14 ppb (microcystin) is
not exceeded) if cell count exceeds 50,000
cells/mL.
Advisory: Avoid contact with water if visible scum
or mat, ≥14 μg/L microcystin-LR, or ≥70,000
cells/mL for cyanobacteria cell counts

Advisories

No official guidance for closures/advisories, but
DEP Rules (06-096 Chapter 581: 6B) define
algal blooms as "planktonic growth of algae
which causes Secchi disk transparency to be
less than 2.0 m."

NY
DEC: No specific regulations for HABs. A narrative
standard for phosphorus and nitrogen references algae
(Part 703.2) "none in amounts that will result in
growths of algae, weeds and slimes that will impair the
waters for their best uses." and taste-, color-, and odorproducing, toxic and other deleterious substances
allows "None in amounts that will adversely affect the
taste, color or odor thereof, or impair the waters for
their best usages". The latter may be disaggregated to
separate "toxins" and be interpreted through a numeric
translator for citing HAB-related standards violations.
DEC has integrated HABs sampling into their
monitoring programs; encourages the public to submit
reports; provides weekly updates on the public website
based upon the information recieved; developed
comprehensive web pages about blue-green algae &
HABs and continues to improve the content; uses
social media, DEC listserves and email to build
awareness and direct the public to DEC & DOH
information.
DOH/OPR: developed response protocols for beach
closures based on guidance, not regulations.

Beach Advisories issued when a bloom
exists, with a cyanobacteria cell count
exceeding 70,000 cells/mL OR >50% of the
bloom is a cyanobacteria.

DEC: No official guidance for advisories for freshwater
HABs. Guidance thresholds, based on literature review
and analysis of other state's criteria, are used to
categorize the alage bloom data received through DEC
monitoring programs, volunteers, and the public.
A Lake WARNING is issued when a lake has Specifically for the following DEC notification
no beach or the bloom covers area away from categories:
the beach. Action values the same as a
"Suspicious" blooms = visual evidence consistent
beach advisory.
with BGA (spilled paint, pea soup, green streaks)
"Confirmed" blooms = sample showing BG
chlorophyll a > 30 ug/l or total chlorophyll a > 50 with
dominance by BGA species; beach closure from DOH
or OPR; chlorophyll > 20 with ancillary information
"Confirmed with high toxins" = microcystis-LR > 20
ug/l or anatoxin-a levels > 4 ug/l; open water MC-LR >
10 and ancillary information (bloom increasing,
unsampled denser shoreline blooms, etc.)

Action Levels

RI

VT

Both salt and freshwater beach facilities are required The Health Department offers Guidance Document Only:
http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/bg_algae/documents/BGA_gui
to conduct sampling to ensure safe swimming
de.pdf
conditions as part of their recreational licenses.
The DEM’s Office of Water Resources screens lakes
with reported blooms and lakes that have historically
had high nutrient and/or chlorophyll a levels (factors that
lead to cyanobacteria blooms) and responds to citizen
complaints, as funding and manpower allow.
The agencies jointly issue Health Advisories when any
of the three guidelines (noted below), which indicate that
a bloom exists, are met.

Health Advisories issued when any of the following three VISUAL assessment: Post Beach at Category 2.
guidelines, which indicate that a bloom exists, are met: Health alert- keep children and pets away from algae.
- Evidence of a visible cyanobacteria scum or mat.
- Cyanobacteria cell count exceeding 70,000 cells/mL.
- Toxin (Microcystin-LR) level of lysed cells meeting or
exceeding 14 ppb (ug/l).

DOH and OPR: advisory may be issued if DEC reports
BGA near regulated beach but no evidence of bloom at
beach, or if beach has reopened and some indication
that bloom may return

Visual Rank Category 3, or blue-green algae cells >
100k/ml: POSTED BEACH CLOSURE: If public has
beach access, alert water users that a blue-green algae
bloom is present.
Closures

N/A - See Advisory.

N/A

DEC: Does not close freshwater waterbodies. Marine
waters (immediately surrounding the sample location)
are closed for shellfishing if mussels at a DEC
monitoring sites test positive for Alexandrium.
DOH/OPR: visual evidence of BGA bloom triggers
beach closure; bloom cleared and MC-LR < 10
required to reopen beach. DEC regulated beaches
would likely follow same protocol (blooms not reported
at any DEC beaches since DOH protocol established)

N/A

Visual: Close Beach at Category 3
Cell Count: Close Beach <4000 potential producer cells/mL.
Toxins: Close at >6 ug/L microcystin, >10ug/L anatoxin

Monitoring

- What public messaging
exists on how states are
gathering data?
- What monitoring can
citizens take part in and
What information are they
asked for?

No volunteering monitoring program actively managed by - Section on "Recommendations for Monitoring or
the state, but consultants and individual lake groups can Advisory Posting" in:
conduct their own as desired.
http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/environmen
tal/exposure/protocol-cyanobacteria.pdf
State swimming beaches are monitored by DEEP staff
(weekly).
- Citizens are encouraged to report blooms
(including a photo), but not involved with citizen
Further efforts ongoing with EPA R1 (Monitoring and
monitoring
Analysis Focus Team).

State program and volunteers in the Maine
Volunteer Lake Monitioring Program monitor
algal blooms using Secchi disk. Maine does
not have any monitoring specific to HABs.
We request that volunteers notify Maine DEP
when algal blooms decrease Secchi
transparencies below 2.0 meters.

Under Identification on DES Cyanobacteria
webpage: "You may also collect a sample in a
clean container (plastic or glass jar) and bring
it to DES (link to directions to DES) to identify.
Caution: If collecting a potentially toxic algal
sample: Avoid contact with skin. Wear waterproof gloves when sampling and/or
immediately wash all areas of the body where
water contact has occurred."

DEC posts information about the programs and how
N/A
the program that collect blue-green algae data:
Citizens in lake communities that have a lake
association may be able to participate in the Citizen
Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP,
http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/81576.html);
information about what data is collected is available on
DEC's website
http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/81849.html.- appx 120
lakes sampled 8x per summer for open water blooms
http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/p and as needed when shoreline blooms observed.
ip/factsheets/bb/documents/bb-13.pdf
DEC monitoring conducted on other lakes; bloom
samples collected when blooms observed

Lake Champlain Committee (LCC), Health and DEC monitor
for blooms. Citizens may work with LCC to get trained as a
volunteer monitor.

Citizens not assoicated with a lake association may
submit information about potential blooms using DEC's
online form and limited sampling may be authorized
under authority of DEC.

By Phone:
DPH: 860-509-7758
DEEP: 860-424-3020
By Email: [email protected],
[email protected]
Protocol/Contacts

By Phone:
- MDPH - (617) 624-5757
MDPH responds to all received reports of blooms
(reports come from state environmental and local
health officials, parks staff, residents, and
watershed associations). MDPH asks local health
dept or individual reporting the bloom to email
photos of the bloom before samplers are
deployed.

By Phone:
- DEP Lakes Staff: 207-287-3901
- Environmental and Occupational Health
Program: 866-292-3474 in state.

By email: [email protected] or
[email protected]
By Phone: Cyano hotline: 603-419-0918

When a bloom is called in from a lake that has
not supported chronic algal blooms in the past,
DEP staff or VLMP staff will investigate extent
and collect water samples for TP & Chl
analysis.

DEC:
By Phone: Contact RIDEM at (401) 222-6800
Online:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/algaereportform. (By Email: [email protected] or
pdf;
[email protected])
By Phone: Contact regional DEC office or DEC HAB
coordinators.

By Phone: 1-800-439-8550
By Email: [email protected]

DOH/OPR: blooms observed by beach managers
reported by DOH/OPR HAB coordinators in Albany
All data reported to any agency shared amongst all
agency HAB coordinators

Reporting

"If you believe that you have observed an algae bloom,
follow the guidance listed above and contact your Local
Public Health Agency (linked to Public Health Agencies
webpage). You may also contact CT Department of
Public Health (860-509-7758), or CT Department of
Energy and Environmental Protection (860) 424-3020, or
send an email to [email protected]"

Reports requested via phone to MDPH.

Health officials may justify lifting a blue-green algae
bloom posting if observations meet either or both of
the following two criteria:
- Visual assessment remains at the Category 1 condition
for at least two successive and representative
observational rounds one week apart
- Cell count results of the water column indicate that bluegreen algal cell abundance has markedly decreased over
at least two successive and representative sampling
rounds one week apart and is below 70,000 cells per ml.

Advisories may be lifted after two successive and
representative sampling rounds one week apart
demonstrate cell counts or toxin levels below
those at which an advisory would be posted.

MDPH asks local health dept or individual
reporting the bloom to email photos of the bloom
before samplers are deployed.

"If you want to report a bloom, contact the DEP
Lakes Staff at 207-287-3901. For information
on health effects, contact the Environmental
and Occupational Health Program (866-2923474 in state). Out of State contact The World
Health Organization (WHO)."

"You may use the tell-tale signs of
cyanobacteria to initially identify its presence
in the water, described in the Ecology section
below. However, cyanobacteria may only be
positively identified to the Genus level by
microscopic identification. If you suspect a
cyanobacteria bloom is occurring at your lake
or pond, please call DES immediately at (603)
271-2457 or [email protected] and we will
conduct a site visit. You may also collect a
sample in a clean container (plastic or glass
jar) and bring it to DES (link to directions to
DES) to identify. Caution: If collecting a
potentially toxic algal sample: Avoid contact
with skin. Wear water-proof gloves when
sampling and/or immediately wash all areas
of the body where water contact has
occurred."

"You are encouraged to include digital photographs as "To report a suspicious algae bloom, contact RIDEM at
email attachments with the form (close-up, and
(401) 222-6800"
landscape showing extent and location of bloom). If
possible, please include an image from an online
mapping application such as Google, Bing or Yahoo
Maps, with a marker at the bloom location."
(instructions included with on-line reporting form)

N/A

"When monitoring indicates that
cyanobacteria are no longer present at levels
that could harm humans or animals, the
advisory or warning will be removed."

DEC follows up with all reports received for updates to
the status of bloom:
Resampled lakes- once visual evidence and/or lab
results indicate BGA bloom conditions have dissipated,
waterbody removed from DEC nofification page
Unsampled lakes- original or follow up- waterbodies
that have not had an update for >= 4 weeks will be
removed from the list on the DEC web page due to lack
of information
All cases- DEC still advises the public to be aware of
blooms because blooms can come and go.

Outreach/ Instructions

Terminating an
Advisory/Closure

As the situation requires, health officials may consider
additional confirmation through microcystin testing of the
water column. As is stated for the above, the water
column should be below the threshold for at least two
successive and representative sampling rounds one
week apart. CT DPH suggests a toxin threshold of 15 ug/l
microcystin.

(Approach is similar to that of OR and Australia)

The Beach Program will immediately
resample all beaches upon issuing an
advisory. The sign will be removed from the
area when further samples indicate the
concentration of the cyanobacteria species is
below 50 percent of a sample.

DOH/OPR- beach reopened if bloom cleared and MCLR < 10 (sampling not initiated until bloom has
cleared)

"To report a bloom to VDH, call 1-800-439-8550 or click the
link on our website to send us an email."

Health advisories remain in effect for the remainder of
Advisory is lifted when water is visually clear and toxins are < 6
the swimming season (first of November), unless follow- ug/L microcystin and 10 ug/L anatoxin
up sampling by a city, town, or third party indicate that
the advisory can be lifted. Health Advisories may be
lifted after two successive and representative sampling
rounds, two weeks apart, demonstrate no evidence of an
algal scum or mat and demonstrate cyanobacteria cell
counts and toxin levels below threshold concentrations.

For any Advisory, signage should be posted at
N/A
(all) water body entry points and should include
the following: date of the posting, contact
information for the posting authority, language (to
be provided or reviewed by MDPH) advising
against contact with the water, and a
Further interventions include:
recommendation that pets accidentally entering
- Notifying lake associations
- Posting information for public access via the internet or the water be rinsed.
local newspapers via a press release. Include information
Current advisories are listed on MDPH
as to how the public can contact the CT DEEP for the
website:
most up-to-date information on the status of the bluehttp://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/
green algae bloom.
- In some communities it may also be important to notify programs/environmental-health/exposuretopics/beaches-algae/algae-information.html
local Veterinarians and Physicians and keep them
updated on the status of the blue-green algae bloom.

"DES will continue to monitor the water and
will notify the appropriate parties regarding
the results of initial and subsequent testing.
Public notification occurs through press
releases and the DES website."

See Section C of
Signage posted at (all) water body entry points:
http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/environmental_health/pdf/g http://village14.com/files/2012/08/Pages-fromuidance_to_lhd_for_blueCAUTION-sign_cyanobacteria-2012.pdf
green_algaeblooms_in_rec_fresh_waters_june_2014.pdf

N/A

http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/wat http://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2849/images/ A letter is sent by HEALTH to town officials with signage See appendix E:
to be posted at the point of access. DEM Fish and
er/wmb/beaches/graphics/rec-exposuresign2.jpg
http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/bg_algae/documents/BGA_
Wildlife will post if there is a state-owned boat ramp at
caption.gif
guide.pdf
the lake.
Similar signs available from DEC for posting at nonregulated sites (boat launches, common access points, http://www.southkingstownri.com/files/Health%20Adviso
ry%20Barber%20Pond%20Cyanobacteria_ENG.pdf
etc.)

N/A

http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissione No state protocol established. DEC does not provide
r/pip/factsheets/dwgb/documents/dwgb-4- information to the public about drinking water when
waterbodies classified for drinking report blooms. DEC
15.pdf

Posting closure signs at swimming areas and
advisory signs at other access points used for public
recreation is the primary intervention. Some posting
is up to local health director.

Advisories & Closures
Outreach / Disclosure to
Public

Advisory Notices
Materials

- Conducting drinking water outreach for
cyanobacteria via presentations to public water
suppliers.
- New written outreach materials under review.
- Another program working on drinking water
actions levels for cyanobacteria (although all
Mass. PWS have an Emergency Response Plan
which details actions for any water supply
emergency).

Drinking Water
Advisories and Outreach

Monitoring data are reported on the tracker:
Updated every year with new information on the
https://webmail.vdh.state.vt.us/vttracking/bluegreenalgae/d/
year's blooms:
http://www.health.ri.gov/publications/datareports/20
Conditions are reported on our website also
13CyanobacteriaBloomsInRhodeIsland.pdf

DOH/OPR regulated beaches posted with signs (and
some county DOH press releases) when beaches
closed; signs removed or changed to advisory when
beach reopened

Beach closures are also posted on the state Beach
Water Quality Information site:
https://beaches.health.ri.gov/swim/

http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/bg_algae/weekly_status.aspx

For materials posted on the state website, see
"Advisory Notices Materials" row

Process for managing anatoxin and mirocystin detections in
finished water samples for public water systems- this
document exposires in January 2015.
A DO NOT DRINK is ordered at anatoxin > 5 ug/L and
microcystin at 10 ug/L. The document can be found at
http://drinkingwater.vt.gov/wqmonitoring/pdf/practicealgaltoxind
etections.pdf

shares data with DOH, which may include information
about drinking water in press releases.

Preliminary screening data indicate that toxic
blooms are not a prevalent issue in Maine, but
the state wants to be prepared for future bloom
situations because changes in frequency and
duration of precipitation events coupled with an
extended growing season due to early ice-off
and later ice-on, might change the types of
blooms that occur in the state.

Further Comments

Health Agency

Websites: HAB Landing
Pages
Environmental Agency

CDC:
http://www.cdc.gov/health
communication/toolstempl
ates/entertainmented/tips/
algalblooms.html

http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/environmental_health/ http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/d N/A
pdf/guidance_to_lhd_for_blueph/programs/environmental-health/exposuregreen_algaeblooms_in_rec_fresh_waters_june_2014.pd topics/beaches-algae/
f

N/A

http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/b http://www.health.ri.gov/healthrisks/poisoning/cyanobact http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/bg_algae/bgalgae.aspx
eria/
luegreenalgae.htm

http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?A=2719&Q=51002
EPA:
http://www2.epa.gov/nutrient- 4
policy-data/cyanobacterialharmful-algal-bloomscyanohabs ***
http://www2.epa.gov/nutrient
pollution/harmful-algalblooms

http://www.maine.gov/dep/water/lakes/cynobact http://des.nh.gov/organization/divisions/wat http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/77145.html
DW Only:
http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/massdep/to eria.htm
er/wmb/beaches/cyano_bacteria.htm
xics/sources/cyanobacteria-in-drinkingwater.html

USGS:

Flyer:
http://neiwpcc.org/neiwpcc_docs/AlgaeBlooms.
pdf
Pets:
http://neiwpcc.org/neiwpcc_docs/protectpets.pd
f

CDC - Cyanos/Blooms:
http://www.cdc.gov/hab/cy
anobacteria/pdfs/facts.pdf
CDC - Pets:
http://www.dem.ri.gov/pro
grams/bnatres/agricult/pdf/
algaepostr.pdf

Public Informational
Documents

DEC posts waterbodies with bloom notifications on its
website.The number of new waterbodies with blooms
are announced in the Division of Water's weekly
listserv email (Making Waves).

http://www.dem.ri.gov/bart/habs.htm

BGA:
Cyanos/Blooms:
Pets:
BGA/Blooms:
http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/p http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/b http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/agricult/pdf/alg http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/bg_algae/documents/BGA_gui
ip/factsheets/wmb/documents/wmb-10.pdf
aepostr.pdf
de.pdf
luegreenalgae.pdf
Waterbody Management:
Cyanos:
Dogs:
http://www.seagrant.sunysb.edu/btide/pdfs/HABsBrochure- http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/water/quality/p http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/waterq/lakes/docs/lp_cyanobact
df/algafact.pdf
eria_basic_information.pdf
0814.pdf
Cyanos/Blooms:
Reporting:
http://www.uri.edu/ce/wq/ww/Publications/DEM_Cyanob http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/waterq/lakes/docs/lp_cyanobact
acteria_%20fact%20sheet.pdf
eria_If_you_suspect_a_bloom.pdf

CDC - Cyanobacteria:
http://www.cdc.gov/hab/cy
anobacteria/pdfs/activities.
pdf

Lake Champlain:
http://www.lakechamplaincommittee.org/fileadmin/files/Publica
tions/2014_LCC__Flier_on_Distinguishing_Blue_Green_Algae_from_other_Lake
_Phenomena.pdf

USGS - Blooms:
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/200
6/3147/pdf/FS2006_3147.p
df
N/A

Tracker/Map Site

http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/waterq/lakes/htm/lp_cyanob
acteria.htm

N/A

N/A

http://www2.des.state.nh.us/WaterShed_Be http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/83310.html
achMaps/WaterShed_BeachMaps.aspx

https://beaches.health.ri.gov/swim/

https://webmail.vdh.state.vt.us/vttracking/bluegreenalgae/d/

Contact

Internal: [email protected], [email protected]
Public: [email protected],
[email protected]

Internal: Michael Celona, Algae Project
Coordinator - [email protected]
Public: MDPH - (617) 624-5757

Internal: Linda Bacon [email protected]
Public: DEP Lakes Staff - (207) 287-3901

Internal: [email protected]
Public: [email protected]

Internal: [email protected]
Public: [email protected];
[email protected]

Internal: [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected]
Public: [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected]

Internal:
Public: 1-800-439-8550 (in state), 1-802-863-7220 (out of
state), [email protected]