Leslie McGeorge, Vic Poretti and Alena Baldwin-Brown NJDEP Division of Water Monitoring & Standards

Transcription

1 Leslie McGeorge, Vic Poretti and Alena Baldwin-Brown NJDEP Division of Water Monitoring & Standards NJ Water Monitoring Council Meeting September 20, 2017

2 Need For State Capacity Building & Preparedness for Cyanobacterial 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.

3 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

4 Example from NY HAB Notification Website -updated weekly /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 Suffolk Confirmed with High Toxins Widespread/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

5 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

6 BEFORE CyanoHAB Strategy Thresholds What is a HAB Responders: DEP, DOH, DOA, Locals, Private Situational Awareness

7 AFTER CyanoHAB Strategy Research Thresholds What is a HAB Responders: DEP, DOH, DOA, Locals, Private Situational Communication Monitoring & Outreach Awareness Response Procedures HAB Strategy and Website Released August 28, 2017

8 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

9 Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Freshwater Recreational Response Strategy and Guidance COMPONENTS 1. PURPOSE 2. BACKGROUND 3. RECREATIONAL THRESHOLDS 4. HAB MONITORING AND RESPONSE 5. ADVISORIES 6. RESEARCH 7. OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION 8. CONTACTS AND RESOURCES

10 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.

11 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).

12 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.

13 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

14 Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)Freshwater Recreational Response Strategy and Guidance 3. HUMAN HEALTH RECREATIONAL THRESHOLDS Developed by DSREH; peer reviewed: Cell counts > 20,000 cells/ ml Microcystins: 3 μg/l Cylindrospermopsin: 8 μg/l Anatoxin-a: 27 μg/l

15 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: WARN-DEP ( ) App download: (Note App is called Warn NJDEP) Online Reporting form ed to BFBM.

16 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 Code Chapter IX Public Recreational Bathing N.J.A.C. 8:26

17 Monitoring Response Field screening and visual surveillance Taxa ID and cell counts Toxin lab analysis

18 Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Freshwater Recreational Response Strategy 5. HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM ADVISORIES

19 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/Prevention 7. OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION Training and information exchange for partners. On-line HAB Reporting Form. Enhance website information on HABs. HABHome.html 8. CONTACTS AND RESOURCES HAB Green Algae Duckweed

20 Thank you to HAB Workgroup New 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 Dan Bello (retired) William Davis, Southern Region Dave Donnelly, Central Region Blanca Chevrestt, Northern Region DEP Fish and Wildlife Lisa Barno, Freshwater Fisheries Jan Lovy, Office of Fish and Wildlife Health and Forensics 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

21 and other key players in development and implementation Monmouth County HD Montclair University Rutgers Cooperative Extension (Burlington/Camden) USEPA USGS

22 HABs/CyanoHABs Website &