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 emphasized that visual appearance alone does not indicate toxin presence and that laboratory analysis is required to determine whether cyanotoxins are present and at what concentrations.

Presenters reviewed toxin classes and health effects: microcystins and cylindrospermopsin (liver and kidney impacts, gastrointestinal and systemic symptoms), and fast-acting neurotoxins such as anatoxin A and saxitoxin (noting dogs and children may be especially vulnerable). On marine HABs, instructors noted that different algal groups produce other toxins (for example, domoic acid in shellfish) and that shellfish monitoring and fisheries actions are led by partner agencies.

A briefing on illness tracking spelled out the interagency process: interviews of reporting parties, review of medical and veterinary records where available, environmental sampling, and joint case determination by the interagency HAB-related illness workgroup. Carly Nilson said investigations can take weeks to months and often hinge on timely environmental sampling or availability of fresh biospecimens.

Representatives from partner agencies joined to introduce their roles. Stefan Cajina, manager of the Division of Drinking Water’s North Coastal section, said cyanotoxins are not regulated as enforceable drinking-water maximum contaminant levels but noted federal health advisories exist for microcystins and cylindrospermopsin; the Division is proposing notification and response levels for four toxins to guide voluntary monitoring and response. "The monitoring we have shows almost no presence of cyanotoxins in treated public water," he said, while cautioning that treatment must be appropriate and operated correctly.

Thomas Hayashi of the California Department of Public Health described his role evaluating suspected human HAB-related illnesses and reporting confirmed or suspected cases to the CDC’s OHABs database. Shannon Murphy and Beckye Stanton of the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) explained OEHHA’s toxicology support, domestic-animal casework and the agency’s role in developing advisory and notification levels; Karen Odkins from the Department of Fish and Wildlife reviewed wildlife mortality investigations and necropsy support.

Participants asked practical questions. One tribal representative, Anira G’Acha, described traditional seaweed- and shoreline-gathering practices and requested plain-language materials tailored to subsistence uses; presenters agreed to review existing fact sheets and collaborate on culturally relevant guidance. Another line of questioning addressed private household water systems and tanks: Division staff and OEHHA experts said private treatment varies in effectiveness, that maintaining a disinfectant residual (for example, properly applied chlorine) is a commonly recommended control, and warned that some home treatments can lyse cyanobacterial cells and release toxins into the water.

The FHAB team directed attendees to its HAB portal for guidance, sample protocols, bilingual fact sheets and the HABMAP advisory map, and previewed upcoming trainings on remote sensing, monitoring design and sample collection and processing. Presenters said slides and a recording would be posted and distributed to registrants.

The session closed with a commitment to follow up on tools and plain-language materials for tribes, potential funding pathways such as the CalWATCH project administered through Tracking California, and next training dates.