Water Monitoring and Laboratory Analysis

Water Monitoring

Monitoring of cyanoHAB is critical to understanding the dynamics of a bloom, deciding on best management strategies, and protecting aquatic life and public health. There are many challenges to monitoring due to available resources, size and dynamics of the water body, and laboratory analytical techniques. The State Water Board's Surface Water Quality Monitoring Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) is focused on developing a statewide monitoring strategy for cyanotoxins, guidance for field and laboratory protocols, and a satellite monitoring program to be a first alert system for cyanoHABs in larger water bodies.  For more information on current monitoring projects, please contact CyanoHAB.Reports@waterboards.ca.gov.

• 2019 Bloom Season Outreach Letter to Land and Waterbody Managers from Interagency Working Group on Harmful Algal Bloom Related Illnesses (July 2019)
• 2018 Bloom Season Outreach Letter to Land and Waterbody Managers from Interagency Working Group on Harmful Algal Bloom Related Illnesses (April 2018)
• SWAMP’s California Freshwater Harmful Algal Bloom Field Guide
  • The goal of this manual is to provide easy-to-use, individually downloadable guidance documents, forms, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for responding to possible harmful algal blooms (HABs).
  • For questions or comments on the field guide, contact OIMA-Helpdesk@waterboards.ca.gov
• Satellite CyanoHAB Map – screening level analysis for cyanobacteria in 250 larger lakes in California
• Watershed-specific monitoring programs
  • Klamath Basin Monitoring Program
  • Eel River Recovery Project, Algae Monitoring
  • Clear Lake Cyanotoxin Monitoring
  • North Coast Region SWAMP Program
• SWAMP’s Freshwater HAB Program webpage
• US EPA’s HAB monitoring in recreational waters page and 2019 monitoring recommendations document (PDF)
• Field and Laboratory Guide to Freshwater Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Blooms for Native American and Alaska Native Communities, prepared by US Geological Survey

Laboratory Analysis

It is important to detect the presence of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in drinking and recreational water, as well as detecting bioaccumulation in freshwater and marine organism tissues. Having rapid and accurate detection methods - including visual and qualitative methods along with quantitative laboratory techniques - are critical to ensure the proper management of cyanoHABs. The State Water Board's Office of Information Management & Analysis is focused on bringing together laboratories to develop cyanoHAB data comparability and improve cyanoHAB data interpretation. Laboratories that are interested in joining the Cyano Lab Network, please contact marisa.vandyke@waterboards.ca.gov.

• Laboratory Services List - provides contacts for laboratory analysis of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins
• US EPA's resources on sampling and analysis methods for HABs
• Field and Laboratory Guide to Freshwater Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Blooms for Native American and Alaska Native Communities, prepared by US Geological Survey