Water Resources Protection Program

Presentations on the Cyanotoxin Monitoring Program:
Cyanobacteria Impacts to Tribal Water Uses

Tribal Water Quality and Cyanotoxins: Leading a Multi-Jurisdictional Monitoring Program NEW!!

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 - 2019 SAMPLING RESULTS/LOCATIONS

LAB UPDATE ON CLEAR LAKE CYANOTOXIN LEVELS: 17 of 21 sites came back with levels of MICROCYSTIN toxins from our last lakewide sampling event which was 10/1/19. Lab results showed cyanotoxin levels: 1 site was above the CAUTION trigger level, 16 sites were below CAUTION trigger level and 4 sites were NON DETECT.

ANATOXIN UPDATE: 7 SITES WERE SAMPLED, 3 HAD DETECTS OF ANATOXIN, in orange below:

The results were as follows:

JB 0.81 µg/L

JB ANATOXIN LEVEL: 0.12

LUC01 0.30

KEYS01 0.22

CLOAKS01 0.21

RED01 0.19

RED01 ANATOXIN LEVEL: ND

SBMMEL01 0.18

SBMMEL01 ANATOXIN LEVEL: ND

KEYS03 0.18

BVCL6 0.17

BVCL6 ANATOXIN LEVEL: 0.12

AP01 0.16

KP01 0.16

SHADY01 0.14

RODS 0.12

LPTNT 0.12

LC01 0.11

LC01 ANATOXIN LEVEL: 0.13

HB 0.11

BP 0.11

LS2 0.11

LS2 ANATOXIN LEVEL: ND

CP ND (NO DETECT)

ELEM01 ND

ELEM01 ANATOXIN LEVEL: ND

SC01 ND

CLV7 ND

CL-1 NS (NOT SAMPLED)

CL-5 NS

CL-3 NS

CL-4 NS

GH NS

KP01 NS

UBL NS

RODS NS

LS2 NS

UA-08 NS

UA-07 NS

UA-06 NS

UA-01 NS

NR-02 NS

OA-04 NS

LA-03 NS

Summer sampling will occur every two weeks. Next sampling date is October 15, 2019.

When viewing map, click on specific spot on map to magnify it. Click again to return to regular size.

EPA STAFF:

Sarah Ryan, Environmental Director (707)263-3924 x132 and (707)349-4040 cell

John Gichuki, Assistant Environmental Director (707)263-3924 x133

Elias Rodriguez, Recycling Center Manager

Pedro Miguel, Environmental Technician

Pamela Jack, Tule Boat Coordinator

Katherine Schrade, Environmental Technician

Michael Nevarez, Solid Waste Technician

Monroe McDarment, Solid Waste Technician

GREEN MARKERS - BELOW CALIFORNIA TRIGGER

LEVELS

BLUE MARKERS - REGULAR SITES NOT SAMPLED

DURING THIS LAST SAMPLING EVENT

YELLOW MARKERS - CAUTION TRIGGER LEVEL

YELLOW "A" MARKERS - ANATOXIN CAUTION TRIGGER LEVEL

ORANGE MARKERS - WARNING TRIGGER LEVEL

RED MARKERS - DANGER TRIGGER LEVEL

Microcystin and Anatoxin Cyanotoxin Results on

Clear Lake 10/1/2019