Opportunities for Training and Collaboration

The US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water and Region 9, in collaboration with the California Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP)conducted a Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) Webinar on April 5, 2017, and an in-person HABs Meeting on April 25-27, 2017.

• Recorded Webinar presented on April 5
  The webinar offered an overview of freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in drinking and recreational surface waters, including the causes of HABs, human and animal impacts and surveillance reporting, monitoring technologies, EPA regulatory guidelines, and nutrient dynamics that effect blooms.
  • Webinar info package
  • Recording of Adobe Connect event
• HABs Meeting on April 25 to 27 in Costa Mesa, CA
  Topic areas include marine HABs, fisheries impacts, forecasting systems for both marine and freshwater HABs, freshwater HAB issues in recreational and drinking surface waters, other states' experiences, monitoring tools, and management and mitigation strategies.
  • Agenda, presentation recording and slides

Other Informational Presentations

• 2016 One Day Workshop on Identifying and Responding to Cyanobacteria Harmful Algae Waterblooms in California - Recorded June 14, 2016 at the University of California, Davis
  These lectures, organized by the State Water Resources Control Board's Training Academy and OIMA's Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) in cooperation with UC Davis Extension, were recorded and can be viewed on YouTube.
  • HABs Workshop Video Playlist
  • Introduction: Goals of Workshop 9:35
  • Lecture 1: History and Biology of Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) National and International Approaches to Detection, Management and Mitigation 56:18
  • Lecture 2: Sampling, Handling, Storage and Shipment of CyanoHABs  46:09
    Includes guidance on their classification as hazardous substances.
  • Lecture 3: Cyanobacteria taxonomy, identification, enumeration and biovolume determination 1:07:16
  • Lecture 4: SWAMP Freshwater HABS Program and Resources & CCHAB Voluntary Guidance Updates 52:47
  • Lecture 5: Management and mitigation options, a ground level approach 46:20
  • Lecture 6: Lab – Identification of CyanoHABs-discussion of taxonomy keys plus some discussion/demonstration of sampling, handling and enumeration 23:15
  • 2015 Lecture: An Introduction to Using Dichotomous Keys to Identify Organisms Causing Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) 5:08
• California Water Quality Monitoring Collaboration Network's Cyanobacteria (Blue-green algae), January 2016
  • Widespread Prevalence of Cyanobacteria & Cyanotoxins from a Variety of California Waterbodies 1:09:28
  • The California CyanoHAB Network (CCHAB) 42:21
  • Genetic Testing of Cyanobacteria Blooms 49:27
  • Biotoxin Gene qPCR Assay for the Aquatic Motoring and Management of Biotoxin Risk 49:58
• Other Presentations
  • CyanoHABs Field Testing Presentation - May 31, 2016
  • Western Regional Epidemiology Network - May 21, 2015
  • Monitoring and Assessment Partnership Webinar - May 19, 2015
• HABs You Tube Videos
  The USEPA released a series of videos to increase awareness regarding the adverse effects of nutrient pollution and HABs
  • Algal Blooms Can Harm Your Health
  • You Can Prevent Nutrient Pollution

Collaboration Opportunities

• California Cyanobacteria and Harmful Algal Bloom (CCHAB) Network
  Come join this inter-organizational workgroup of the California Water Quality Monitoring Council, whose mission is to work towards the development and maintenance of a comprehensive, coordinated program to identify and address the causes and impacts of cyanobacteria and harmful algal blooms (HABs) in California. Agencies that have key assessment, management, monitoring, or restoration programs are encouraged to participate in the CCHAB Network and its subcommittees.


• Benthic HABs Discussion Group
  Come join this international collaborative to accelerate mutual understanding of benthic HABs.


• Interagency Working Group on Harmful Algal Bloom Related Illness
  The California Water Boards, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California Department of Public Health’s California Environmental Health Tracking Program, are working together to coordinate response to reports of HABs and particularly, HABs-related illnesses. The interagency working group developed outreach letters targeted at land and water managers, veterinarians and local health officers. The outreach letters can be accessed below:
  
  • Land/Water Resource Manager Outreach Letter from Interagency Working Group on Harmful Algal Bloom Related Illnesses (Apr 11, 2018)
  • Local Health Officers Outreach Letter from Interagency Working Group on Harmful Algal Bloom Related Illnesses (Apr 11, 2018)
  • Veterinarian Outreach Letter from Interagency Working Group on Harmful Algal Bloom Related Illnesses (April 11, 2018)