2024 Harmful Algal Bloom Program

The 2024 Harmful Algal Bloom Program comprises two parts: Routine Monitoring and Event Response. Routine Monitoring is conducted at public-water-supply intakes, lake beaches, and Lake Michigan nearshore areas. Event Response investigates potential cyanobacteria blooms in lakes or streams where blooms may threaten public health. Toxin samples are sent to the Illinois EPA Division of Laboratories for analysis.

Routine Monitoring

Routine Monitoring occurs on the following waterbodies:

Public-Water-Supply Intakes - Lakes
Illinois EPA intends to collect one microcystin, cylindrospermopsin, anatoxin-a, and saxitoxin sample per month in June, July, August/September, and October near public-water-supply intakes (Table 1).
Public-Water-Supply Intakes – Lake Michigan
Illinois EPA intends to collect microcystin, cylindrospermopsin, anatoxin-a, and saxitoxin samples at four Lake Michigan intakes between April and November.
Lake Beaches
Illinois EPA intends to collect one microcystin and cylindrospermopsin sample per month in June, July/August, and October at beaches in three central-Illinois lakes (Table 1).
Beaches - Lake County Health Department
Between May and September, the Lake County Health Department intends to collect a sample approximately every two weeks at thirteen lake beaches and one stream (Table 1).

Table 1. Routine Monitoring at Illinois Lakes

Region	Lake Name	County	Illinois EPA Lake Code	Sampling Focus
Northern Illinois	Pontiac Quarry	Livingston	WDB	Public Water Supply
Northern Illinois	Shannon	Kankakee	UDZY	Public Water Supply

Central Illinois	Bloomington	McLean	RDO	Public Water Supply
	Carthage	Hancock	RLE
	Holland Reservoir	Shelby	SOU
	Loveless	Macoupin	WDW
	Staunton	Macoupin	RJA
	Waverly	Morgan	SDC
	Carlinville	Macoupin	RDG	Public Water Supply/Beach
	Evergreen	McLean	SDA	Public Water Supply/Beach
	Storey	Knox	RLB	Beach
Southern Illinois	Bloomfield	Johnson	RAZI	Public Water Supply
	Sparta Old	Randolph	RIJ
	Vienna City	Johnson	RAW
	Vienna Correctional Center	Johnson	RAT
	Little Grassy	Williamson	RNK	Beach
Lake County Health Department	Lake Barrington	Lake	RTZT	Beach
	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
	Slocum Lake	Lake	RTP
	Tower Lake	Lake	RTZF
	Valley Lake	Lake	RGZM
	Dog Training Pond at Independence Grove Dog Park	Lake	UGH
	Lake Forest Pond at Prairie Wolf Slough County Forest Preserve	Lake	UHG
	Hastings Creek at Duck Farm Dog Pond	Lake	GWAA

Event Response

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

Direct Observation
Illinois EPA field staff may collect a sample for microcystin, cylindrospermopsin, anatoxin-a, and saxitoxin when they observe a potential cyanobacteria bloom in a waterbody.
Response via Bloom Report Form
Illinois EPA may investigate reported potential cyanobacteria blooms. Response is dependent on availability of resources. Publicly owned lakes are prioritized.

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

Program Improvements

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:

Update the Illinois EPA Webpage
Periodically, Illinois EPA will update the program webpage to improve content and accessibility of data and information.
Create a Harmful Algal Bloom Dashboard
Illinois EPA has created an online Harmful Algal Bloom Dashboard. This dashboard displays information submitted through the public Illinois Bloom Report Form and has a map of blooms throughout the state.
Update Standard Operating Procedures for Collecting Toxin Samples
Illinois EPA has updated the standard operating procedure for collecting cyanobacteria toxins in lakes and streams.
Create Manual for Responding to Cyanobacteria Blooms
Illinois EPA is developing a manual to prepare for a large-scale cyanobacteria bloom. This document includes 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).