NHDES Publishes Statewide Cyanobacteria Plan

Last fall NHDES published “New Hampshire’s Cyanobacteria Plan: A Statewide Strategy” to address cyanobacteria blooms occurring in New Hampshire’s recreational and water supply waterbodies. As the climate warms, conditions are becoming more favorable for cyanobacteria to thrive in surface water, often forming blooms that have the potential to create cyanotoxins. These toxins can limit recreational use and affect human health when coming into contact through swimming or ingestion. The strategy was developed after passage of HB 1066 by the state legislature that tasked NHDES to "prepare a plan to prevent the increase of, and eventually control, cyanobacterial blooms in New Hampshire's lakes and other waters.”

Developed by NHDES staff in collaboration with a large stakeholder committee, the strategy includes actions to reduce the environmental impacts and public health risks associated with cyanobacteria. The new strategy tasks NHDES to:

1. Develop policies and practices to reduce, control and prevent the nutrient inputs that cause cyanobacteria blooms.
2. Enhance cyanobacteria monitoring to track when and where blooms occur and clearly communicate current conditions to the public.
3. Establish policies and procedures for prevention, early detection and response and treatment of cyanobacteria blooms and cyanotoxins in surface waters that serve as public drinking water supplies to minimize risks to customers.

The Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau (DWGB) will be working over the next several years to implement drinking water related recommendations, which include the development of cyanobacteria action plans for public water systems (PWSs) using surface water sources. In addition, DWGB will be evaluating policies and guidance needed to assist PWSs’ response to significant bloom events and coordinate efforts to minimize the release of nutrients (like phosphorous) into source water that can fuel cyanobacteria growth.

For more information, you can find the new plan online at New Hampshire’s Cyanobacteria Plan or contact Pierce Rigrod at (603) 271-0688 or pierce.rigrod@des.nh.gov.