Environmental Health Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) Response Team, Tompkins County Health Department

Back row left to right:
Clayton Maybee, Sanitarian; Chris Laverack, Sanitarian; Mikhail Kern, Sanitarian

Front row left to right:
Becky Sims, Sanitarian; Adriel Shea, Sanitarian; Anne Wildman, Sanitarian

The Environmental Health Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) Response Team coordinated our community effort to address the first detection of Harmful Algal Blooms in the southern portion of Cayuga Lake. They were responsible for working with public and private water supplies, regulated facilities including bathing beaches, and the general public. There were several large events scheduled for the lake and the team worked to ensure the events could go on without risk to participants. These included fundraising events for organizations for which delays or cancelations could have been financially detrimental. The Team created information for participants and coordinated water checks ahead of time that allowed the events to be successful. The team was able to respond to an emerging threat by providing coordination and guidance limiting the impact of the HABs on our community.

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