State Water Board FHAB training stresses interagency illness tracking, tribal outreach and clearer public-health resources

Anna Holder, the State Water Board’s Open Data Science, Equity and Tribal Coordinator, opened a tribally centered training on freshwater harmful algal blooms (HABs) and said the session would focus on public-health coordination and resources for tribal governments.

FHAB program co-leads Marisa VanDyke and Carly Nilson of the State Water Board recapped the California Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Bloom (CCAB) Network’s voluntary 8-step response guidance — developed under a Monitoring Council subcommittee — and described how reports of suspected HABs and associated illnesses move from online reporting into coordinated response, sampling and, when appropriate, public advisories.

"We recommend surveilling a water body and reporting a potential HAB as soon as changing conditions are observed," said Marisa VanDyke, explaining that FHAB coordinators verify reports, follow up with reporting parties and local managers, and that environmental sampling informs advisory signage.

The training reviewed the CCAB tiers for planktonic and benthic blooms and the public-health rationale for signage that escalates from 'caution' to 'danger.' The presenters…