Water Resources Protection Program
2021 Clear Lake Monitoring Results NEW!!
2020 Clear Lake Monitoring Results
How Tribal Traditional Uses Can Be Impacted by a HAB Event
Clear Lake Cyanotoxin Monitoring Program
Clear Lake Fish Cyanotoxin Study
Animal Vet Cyanotoxin Illness Fact Sheet
Physician Cyanotoxin Illness Fact Sheet
OEHHA ACTION LEVELS FOR CYANOTOXIN EXPOSURE
2014-2018 Clear Lake HAB Data Comparison
Presentations on the Cyanotoxin Monitoring Program:
Cyanobacteria Impacts to Tribal Water Uses
Tribal Water Quality and Cyanotoxins: Leading a Multi-Jurisdictional Monitoring Program
CLEAR LAKE CYANOTOXIN ISSUES
EPA
The Environmental Protection Department (Big Valley EPA) researches, plans, funds, and implements projects that protect the Tribe’s environment. Return to Big Valley EPA's page.
The Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians began a cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin monitoring program on Clear Lake in 2014 with another shoreline Tribe, Elem Indian Colony. Together the two Tribes' Environmental Departments have collaborated with equipment, resources and time to test the water for toxins produced by cyanobacteria (AKA “Blue Green Algae”). These toxins are called cyanotoxins and can be neurotoxins, liver toxins and skin toxins. The Tribes began this program because despite the fact that Clear Lake had thick, noxious blooms covering its surface every summer since 2009, there was no regular and active monitoring of these blooms for the cyanotoxins that the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) had reviewed and suggested Action Levels for in 2012, and for which the World Health Organization provided guidance regarding exposure in the 1990’s. OEHHA's Report
CURRENT RESULTS - 2022 SAMPLING RESULTS/LOCATIONS
UPDATE ON CLEAR LAKE CYANOTOXIN LEVELS:
================
WINTER LAKE MONITORING OCCURRING. REDUCED NUMBER OF SITES SAMPLED MONTHLY.
Sudden cyanobacteria blooms noted during the first week of May led to a Special Sampling event at a few sites with blooms. Water samples were taken at 4 sites, three with noticeable blooms.
We conducted microscopy on all samples and those with the noticeable blooms had the following cyanobacteria: Woronichina sp. and Aphanizomenon sp. For more information on which cyanobacteria can produce which toxins: https://bit.ly/CyanobacteriaToxinsChart
We used Abraxis field strips to measure presence/absence of anatoxin-a and none showed detect of anatoxin-a. We submitted the 4 samples for microcystin analysis and results are below.
Identified map signage recommending restricted activity is based on CalOEHHA toxin trigger levels.
CAUTION / WARNING / DANGER SIGNAGE
5/4/22 Special Sampling RESULTS for
Microcystin:
DANGER (Anything above 20):
AP01 >30 µg/L
JB >30
WARNING (Anything above 6):
RED01 15.2µg/L
CAUTION (Anything above 0.8):
no sites
BELOW CAUTION:
BVCL6 ND
SITES NOT SAMPLED DURING THIS SAMPLING EVENT ARE NOT SHOWN ON THE MAP.
Next sampling event will be May 10, 2022
Summer cyanotoxin monitoring (twice a month) is resuming in May 2022.
EPA STAFF:
Sarah Ryan, Environmental Director (707)263-3924 x132 and (707)349-4040 cell
Alix Tyler, Water Quality Program Manager
Katherine Schrade, Environmental Specialist
Richard White, Solid Waste Technician