NJ Water Monitoring Council Meeting

September 20, 2017

Leslie McGeorge, Vic Poretti and Alena Baldwin-BrownNJDEP – Division of Water Monitoring & Standards

Need For State Capacity Building & Preparedness forCyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

Increasing global concern and incidence

Human & animal health, ecosystem and economic impacts

High profile blooms

In NY - HABs confirmed in several hundred waterbodies since 2012

In 2012, NJ lacked lab capacity, monitoring, and unified HAB response

Today ~ 30 states have HAB strategies &/or public info. resources.

Established bloom response programs - CA, NY, OH, OR, VT, & NY.

How Common Are Toxic Cyanobacterial Blooms?In August 2016, 19 States Had Toxic Algal and Health Advisories for Cyanobacteria

After Graham and others, 2016, USGS OFR 2016-1174

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161174

Example from NY HAB Notification Website -updated weeklyhttp://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/77118.html

Waterbodies with HABs Notifications

Map Number Waterbody Name County Bloom Status Extent of Bloom Status Date Type of Report Change in Status

1 Agawam Lake SuffolkConfirmed with

High ToxinsWidespread/Lakewide 6/6/17 Lab sample Updated listing

2 Bowne Pond Queens Confirmed Widespread/Lakewide 6/5/17 Lab sample New

3 Dean Pond Cortland Confirmed Large localized 5/27/17 Lab sample New

4 Eagle Pond Franklin Confirmed Small localized 5/28/17 Lab sample No change

5 Georgica Pond Suffolk Confirmed Not reported 6/6/17 Lab sample New

NJ HAB Response Capacity Building

Lab capacities - Freshwater Monitoring Lab

Monitoring methods expanded

Lake network background data

Pilot monitoring - State Parks, Rutgers, Montclair U

HAB science – DSREH,NJ Water Monitoring Council, EPA, USGS

Human Health thresholds

HAB Fact Sheet

Outreach – Parks and CEHA agencies

Responded to 7 reported HABs prior to 2017

Convened Interagency HAB Workgroup in 2016

Strategy/website-related discussions at 3 Council meetings

What is a HAB

Situational

Awareness

Thresholds

Responders: DEP, DOH,

DOA, Locals, Private

BEFORE CyanoHAB Strategy

What is a HAB

Response Procedures

Monitoring

Situational

Awareness

ThresholdsResponders: DEP, DOH,

DOA, Locals, Private

Research

Communication & Outreach

AFTER CyanoHAB Strategy

HAB Strategy and Website Released – August 28, 2017

Strategy Development and Implementation

• Developed by HAB Workgroup and Coordinated by Freshwater Monitoring

o DEP: Water Resource Management; Water Monitoring and Standards; Water Supply and Geoscience; Science, Research and Environmental Health; State Park Service; Fish and Wildlife; Quality Assurance

o DOH: Epidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health; Communicable Disease Service; Consumer, Environmental and Occupational Health Service (CEOH)

o DOA: Animal Health

Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)Freshwater Recreational Response Strategy

and Guidance

COMPONENTS1. PURPOSE2. BACKGROUND3. RECREATIONAL THRESHOLDS4. HAB MONITORING AND RESPONSE5. ADVISORIES6. RESEARCH7. OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION8. CONTACTS AND RESOURCES

Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)Freshwater Recreational Response Strategy

1. PURPOSE

• Provide a unified statewide approach for responding to HABs in freshwater recreational waters and sources of drinking water.

• Identify programs and define actions for appropriate response.

Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Freshwater Recreational Response Strategy

2. Background: “What is a HAB?”

Cyanobacteria

Cyanotoxins

Freshwater cyanobacterial blooms that produce highly potent cyanotoxins are known as cyanobacterial HABs (HABs).

Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)Freshwater Recreational Response Strategy

2. BACKGROUND – “What is the Risk?”

People: flu-like symptoms, rash, and/or allergic reactions.

Animals: Many cases of wildlife, pets, and livestock sickness and death.

Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)Freshwater Recreational Response Strategy

2. BACKGROUND “What are the common toxins?”

Most common cyanotoxins in the U.S

Microcystins

o Group of at least 80 toxin variants , of which Microcystin-LR is the most common. Primarily liver toxins .

Cylindrospermopsins. Primarily liver toxins .

Anatoxins. Primarily nerve toxins

Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)Freshwater Recreational Response Strategy and Guidance

3. HUMAN HEALTH RECREATIONAL THRESHOLDSDeveloped by DSREH; peer reviewed:

Cell counts > 20,000 cells/ ml

• Microcystins: 3 μg/L• Cylindrospermopsin: 8 μg/L• Anatoxin-a: 27 μg/L

Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)Freshwater Recreational Response Strategy

4. RESPONSE TO HABS IN RECREATIONAL WATERS – “Who Responds and How?”

All suspected HABs should be reported by phone or app to DEP Hotline:1-877-WARN-DEP (927-6337)

App download: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/warndep.htm

(Note App is called Warn NJDEP)

Online Reporting form emailed to BFBM. http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wms//bfbm/CyanoHABHome.html

Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)Freshwater Recreational Response Strategy

4. RESPONSE TO HABS IN RECREATIONAL WATERS – “Who Responds and How?”

• NJDEP direct response if State owned water body or drinking water source.

• BFBM response includes monitoring and analysis.

• If at other public or private water body, including licensed freshwater bathing beaches (>380), appropriate local government agency will be notified.

• Note: licensed bathing beaches are under NJDOH regulation. New Jersey State Sanitary CodeChapter IX Public Recreational Bathing N.J.A.C. 8:26

Monitoring Response

Field screening and

visual surveillance

Taxa ID and cell counts

Toxin lab analysis

Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)Freshwater Recreational Response Strategy

5. HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM ADVISORIES

New Jersey Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Response Strategy

6. RESEARCH – Bureau of Freshwater & Biological Monitoring, Div. of Science Research and Env. Health.• Anticipated Research Workgroup

• Technology

• Monitoring/ Predictive Tools/Prevention7. OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION• Training and information exchange for

partners.• On-line HAB Reporting Form.• Enhance website information on HABs.

• http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wms//bfbm/CyanoHABHome.html

8. CONTACTS AND RESOURCES

HAB

Green Algae

Duckweed

Thank you to HAB WorkgroupNew Jersey Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Workgroup

DEP DWMS DEP WRM DEP Water Supply and Geoscience Leslie McGeorge Matt Maffei Linda Bonnette Victor Poretti Katrina Angarone Tom Miller DEP DSREH Angie Corino Dean Bryson Alan Stern Alena Baldwin-Brown Gloria Post Nick Procopio Robert Newby Tom Atherholt (retired) DEP State Park Service DEP Fish and Wildlife Dan Bello (retired) Lisa Barno, Freshwater Fisheries William Davis, Southern Region Jan Lovy, Office of Fish and Wildlife Health Dave Donnelly, Central Region and Forensics Blanca Chevrestt, Northern Region DEP Office of Quality Assurance Marc Ferko DOH Division of Epidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health/Consumer, Environmental and Occupational Health Service (CEOHS) Loel Muetter Jessie Gleason Tim Smith (retired) DOH Division of Epidemiology, Environmental and Occupational Health/ Communicable Disease Service (CDS) Deepam Thomas Rebecca Greeley Barbara Carothers Department of Agriculture/ Division of Animal Health Nicole Lewis

… and other key players in development and implementation

Monmouth County HDMontclair UniversityRutgers Cooperative Extension (Burlington/Camden)USEPAUSGS

HABs/CyanoHABs Website

www.state.nj.us/dep/wms/HABS.html&

www.state.nj.us/dep/wms/bfbm/CyanHABHome.html