2021 Statewide Harmful Algal Bloom Program

The 2021 Harmful Algal Bloom Program comprises two parts: Routine Monitoring and Event Response. Routine Monitoring targets public-water-supply intakes in Illinois lakes, streams, or Lake Michigan; lake beaches; or Lake Michigan nearshore areas. Event Response investigates cyanobacteria blooms in publicly owned lakes or in streams where blooms may threaten public health. All cyanobacteria-toxin samples are sent to the Illinois EPA Division of Laboratories for analysis. For beach samples, the lab analyzes primarily for the toxin, microcystin. For samples from public-water-supply intakes, the lab analyzes for three additional toxins: cylindrospermopsin, anatoxin-a, and saxitoxin. In some situations, Illinois EPA or a designated party collects a sample to distinguish different types of cyanobacteria. A contracted laboratory provides the additional identification

Routine Monitoring occurs at six general locations:

Sites in Fox River (Northern Illinois)
Illinois EPA or contractual staff collect a sample approximately every six weeks at each of four Fox River sites (DT-06, DT-09, DT-22, DT-38), during July through October.
Public-Water-Supply Intakes in Streams
Illinois EPA or contractual staff collect four samples at each of the ten following sites near public-water-supply intakes in streams, during May through October.
Salt Fork Vermilion River (BPJ-03)
Little Wabash River (C-21)
Skillet Fork (CA-05)
Illinois River (D-30)
Fox River (DT-01, DT-14)
Kankakee River (F-16)
Mississippi River (J-98, M-02)
Shoal Creek (OI-08)
Public-Water-Supply Intakes and Nearshore Areas in Lake Michigan
Illinois EPA collects at least one sample at each of five Lake Michigan intakes, six sites in harbors, and five other nearshore sites during August through October. Sampling frequency and number of samples depend on weather conditions.
Beaches in Lakes of the Illinois EPA Ambient Lake Monitoring Program
Illinois EPA collects one sample per month during June, July/August, and October at beaches in three northern-Illinois lakes and two southern-Illinois lakes (Table 1).
Public-Water-Supply Intakes in Lakes of the Ambient Lake Monitoring Program
Illinois EPA collects one sample per month during June, July, August/September, and October near public-water-supply intakes in seven central-Illinois lakes and five southern-Illinois lakes (Table 1).
Beaches in Lakes of Lake County
During 05/31/2021 through 09/06/2021, the Lake County Health Department collects a sample approximately every two weeks at a beach in each of twelve lakes (Table 1).

Region	Lake Name	County	IEPA Lake Code	Sampling Focus
Northern Illinois	Lily Lake	McHenry	RTZJ	Beach
	Lake Le Aqua Na	Stephenson	RPA
	Grays Lake	Lake	RGK
Central Illinois	Charleston Side Channel Reservoir	Coles	RBC	Public Water Supplies
	Vermont New Lake	McDonough	RDM
	Palmyra-Modesto City Lake	Macoupin	RDZP
	Loveless Lake	Macoupin	WDW
	Greenfield City Lake	Greene	RDZF
	Mauvaise Terre	Morgan	SDL
	Lake Paradise	Coles	RCG
	Lake Paradise	Coles	RCG

Southern Illinois	Forbes Lake	Marion	RCD	Beach
	Carlyle Lake	Clinton/Bond/Fayette	ROA	Beach, Public water supply intake
	Lake Fairfield	Wayne	RCZJ	Public water supply intake Beach
	Wayne City Side Channel Reservoir	Wayne	RCT
	Raccoon Lake	Marion	ROK
	Summerfield-Lebanon-Mascoutah Water Commission Off-Channel Reservoir	St. Clair	SOL
Lake County	Lake Barrington	Lake	RTZT
	Lake Catherine	Lake	RTD
	Channel Lake	Lake	RTI
	Countryside Lake	Lake	RGQ
	Dunns Lake	Lake	VTH
	Fish Lake	Lake	VTK
	Island Lake	Lake	RTZI
	Loch Lomond	Lake	RGU
	Long Lake	Lake	RTJ
	Slocum Lake	Lake	RTP
	Tower Lake	Lake	RTZF
	Valley Lake	Lake	RGZM

Event Response investigates credible reports of a cyanobacteria bloom. Credible report means direct observation by Illinois EPA staff or observations and pictures submitted by the public to Illinois EPA via our Bloom Report Form or bloomWatch

Direct Observation
Illinois EPA field staff collect a sample for the toxin, microcystin, when they observe a cyanobacteria bloom in a lake or stream during routine sampling for resource quality.
Response via Bloom Report Form or bloomWatch Application
Illinois EPA investigates reported suspected cyanobacteria blooms dependent on availability of resources. We give priority to publicly owned lakes.

Illinois EPA applies a preliminary test to screen Event Response samples typically for the toxin, microcystin, but may include other toxins. When a toxin exceeds relevant thresholds for recreation or drinking water, Illinois EPA notifies appropriate lake-management entities. Illinois EPA may perform follow-up monitoring based on availability of resources.

In October 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded a grant ($270,626) to Illinois EPA to improve the Illinois EPA Harmful Algal Bloom Program. Over the next three years Illinois EPA intends to expand public education and awareness of cyanobacteria blooms, improve our ability to respond to blooms, and provide more timely access to available data to help protect human health. Some specific activities include, but are not limited to:

Virtual Workshops on Harmful Cyanobacteria Blooms
Illinois EPA has contracted PhycoTech, Inc. to conduct six virtual workshops. Two workshops will be conducted each year for the duration of the contract. These workshops help train and educate Illinois EPA staff on how to identify a cyanobacteria bloom, how to collect toxin samples, how to pack and ship samples to the laboratory for analysis, and how to pack and ship samples to PhycoTech, Inc. for identification and enumeration.

Update the Illinois EPA Webpage
Periodically, Illinois EPA will update the program webpage to improve content and accessibility of data and information.
Update Standard Operating Procedures for Collecting Toxin Samples
Illinois EPA will update the standard operating procedure for collecting cyanobacteria toxins in lakes and streams.
Collaborate with the Illinois Department of Public Health
The Illinois EPA will work with the Illinois Department of Public Health to create social-media content about cyanobacteria in Illinois waters. This content readily provides relevant information to a wide audience.
Create Manual for Responding to Cyanobacteria Blooms
Illinois EPA will write a manual on how to prepare for a large-scale cyanobacteria bloom. This document will include, but is not limited to, a discussion of toxin-level thresholds of concern, a contact list of relevant personnel, toxin-collection guidelines, and examples of news releases and other appropriate ways to alert the public (e.g., posted warnings at sites).