In anticipation of the 2019 algal bloom season, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has proposed changes to the Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) advisory guidance. Proposed changes can be found in this link. In the document, OHA outlines former practice and updates for the 2019 season. OHA intends make the following modifications to their advisory practice:

  1. Tailor advisories for large water bodies to target public health information where risk is high and not where continued recreation is low risk;
  2. Modify the protocol for lifting advisories where there is a high frequency of sampling;
  3. Eliminate establishment of recreational advisories based on cell count data; and
  4. Include Aphanizomenon flos-aquae in the list of potentially toxigenic species.

For details on each change, review OHA’s summary.

If you have any questions or concerns about OHA’s changes to HAB advisory guidance, call or email Rebecca Hillwig at 971-673-0431 or Rebecca.Hillwig@dhsoha.state.or.us.  

Contributed by: Megan Chuinard | Public Affairs Associate