leslie mcgeorge, administrator · need for state capacity building & preparedness for...
TRANSCRIPT
NJ Water Monitoring Council Meeting
January 24, 2018
Leslie McGeorge, Administrator
Bureau of Freshwater & Biological Monitoring (BFBM)Division of Water Monitoring & Standards (DWM&S)
NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)
www.nj.gov/dep/wms/HABS.html
Need For State Capacity Building & Preparedness forCyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
Increasing global concern and incidence
High profile U.S. blooms – e.g., Lake Erie, Ohio River, Lake Okeechobee
Human & animal health, ecosystem and economic impacts
National Water Quality Monitoring Council (NWQMC)
– heightened awareness of HABs and monitoring methods
State bloom response programs – e.g., CA, OH, OR, VT, & NY
In 2012, NJ lacked HAB lab capacity, monitoring, website & response
HAB Response Capacity Building
2007/2012
Sample Collection for EPA’s National Lakes Assessment - microcystins
2013
NJDEP Freshwater Monitoring Lab – ELISA microcystins analysis equipment/ training (EPA Monitoring Initiative funds)
Added microcystins to Statewide Lake Survey Network
2014 - Lab methods expanded - anatoxin-a & cylindrospermopsin
HAB Response Capacity Building (cont’d)
2015
Pilot monitoring: State Parks, Rutgers U, Montclair U
Enhanced HAB science – NJDEP Division of Science, Research & Environmental Health (DSREH), EPA, USGS
Developed HAB Fact Sheet - posted on Lakes Monitoring website
NJ Water Monitoring Council (NJWMC) – HABs technical session
NYSDEC – Scott Kishbaugh, EPA – Lesley D’Anglada,
USGS – Jennifer Graham, Montclair U – Meiyin Wu
HAB Response Capacity Building (cont’d)
2016
HAB science - NWQMC webinars, Conferences, EPA/USGS Webinars
Additional input from NY HAB program
Convened NJ Interagency HAB Workgroup
Drafted NJ Response Strategy
Council input to Strategy
➢ HABs discussion at all Council meetings
HAB Response Capacity Building (cont’d)
2017
Toxin thresholds finalized by NJDEP’s DSREH
Recreational Exposure & Health Effects Fact Sheet
HAB Briefing for NJDEP upper management (June)
Release of final Strategy & HAB Website launch (August)
NJ Strategy/Website in EPA HAB Newsletter & State Resources webpage
Presentation to NJWMC on Strategy & Website (September)
Responded to 30 reported HABs
Outreach - Parks & local health agencies
EPA Region 2 HABs Workshop
➢ November 30, 2017 - NYC
➢ NJWMC Attendees – DEP, EPA, DOH, USGS, NJWSA, Montclair
➢ DEP presentations - BFBM and DWSG (agenda – handout)
➢ Workshop Included: NY & NJ HAB Strategies, Analytical Tools,
Treatment Techniques, & HABs Management
➢ Presentations now available
HAB Response Capacity Building (cont’d)
2018
Statewide occurrence & distribution study w/ Montclair U
Cyanoscope kits and other monitoring with partners
Advanced monitoring – UAV for bloom surveillance
Enhance NJ HAB Strategy with input from NJWMC & Research
Committee (Rob Newby/Tom Miller)
Respond to 2018 HABs
Information or Collaboration Needs
Cell count guidance for allergenic / irritant responses
More research & guidance on fish consumption
Tech transfer on factors resulting in HABs
Information Resources for prevention/treatment
Additional HAB lab capacity for rec or drinking water