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Figure 1. Dates and Locations of USEPA's HABs Regional Workshops
Region 5
Chicago, IL
April 27-29, 2016
Region 7
Lenexa, KS
February 15-16, 2017
Region 9
Costa Mesa, CA
April 25-27, 2017
Region 2
New York, NY
November 30, 2017
Region 1
Worcester, MA
December 14, 2017
Region 4
Atlanta, GA
May 14-16, 2018
Region 10
Seattle, WA
March 29-31, 2016
Region 3
Philadelphia, PA
December 6-7, 2017
Region 8
Rapid City, SD
September 30-October 1, 2015
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Table 1. Description of USEPA's HABs Regional Workshops
Region 1: Cyanobacteria-
Monitoring and Treating
Drinking Water: A Workshop for
Water Suppliers
-	One-day workshop
-	Drinking water focused
-	Two sessions: Waterbody
Management and Drinking Water
Treatment
-	Presentations from EPA, New
England, VT, CT, NY and OH.
Region 2: Freshwater HABs
and Public Drinking Water
Systems in New York and New
Jersey
-	One-day workshop
-	Drinking and recreational waters
focused
-	Presentations from NY, NJ,
academia, a NJ water operator and
EPA.
Region 3: HABs Technical
Workshop
-	Two-day workshop
-	Drinking and recreational waters
focused
-	Five sessions: Health, Management,
Response, Drinking Water and
Recreational Water.
-	Round-table discussions
-	Presentations from EPA, MD, VA,
WV, DE, OH, NY, and DC.
Region 4: HABs Southeastern
Regional Workshop
-	Three-day workshop
-	Drinking, recreational and marine
waters focused
-	Four sessions: Source Water
Protection, Guidelines and
Management, Monitoring, and
States HABs Programs
-	Presentations from EPA, FL, AL,
NC, SC, KY, MS, GA, and TN.
-	Interactive algae identification
workshop and a toxins field test
screening demonstration.
Region 5: HABs Clean Water
Act/ Safe Drinking Water Act
Workshop and Public Meeting
-	Two-day workshop
-	Drinking and recreational waters
focused
-	Five sessions: Health, Monitoring,
Prevention and Management,
Drinking Water Treatment and
Risk Communication.
-	Public meeting to get input on the
EPA Health Advisories and
Recommendations document for
cyanotoxins in drinking water.
Region 7: HABs Workshop
-	Virtual one-day webinar before the
workshop.
-	Two-day workshop
-	Drinking and recreational waters
focused
-	Two sessions: Health, Guidelines and
Management; and Monitoring
-	Presentations from EPA, other federal
agencies and academia, Kickapoo
Tribe, IA, NE, KS, MO, and case
studies from UT, and ID.
-	Interactive algae identification
workshop.
Region 8: HABs Workshop
-	Two-day workshop
-	Drinking and recreational waters
focused
-	Presentations from EPA, SD, WY,
UT, CO and OH.
-	Federal agencies panel discussion.
Region 9: HABs Meeting
- Virtual one-day webinar before the
workshop
-	Drinking, recreational and marine
waters focused
-	Five sessions: Fresh and Marine
Waters Overview, Monitoring,
Management and Mitigation,
Drinking Water Management and
States and Tribal HABs
Experiences
-	Presentations from EPA, WA, OH
and UT.
-	Basic cyanobacteria ID workshop.
Region 10: HABs Workshop
- Three-day workshop
-	Drinking, recreational and marine
waters focused
-	Six sessions: Health, Water Quality
Trends, Monitoring, Guidelines and
Management Strategies, Building
Partnerships, and State and Tribal
HABs Efforts
-	Presentations from EPA, AK, ID, OR,
WA, Sitka Tribe, and Jamestown
S'Klallam Tribe.
-	Basic cyanobacteria ID workshop.
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The nine workshops included face-to face participants from 36 states, 25 tribes, and the District of
Columbia, with around a total of 450 attending in person workshops, and an additional 300 joining
the workshops online.
Participant Takeaways from the ™
Workshops
At the end of each workshop, a short
evaluation was distributed to the participants.
The comments received were largely
favorable and constructive and represented the
different agencies, departments and
organizations that participated in the
workshop. Most of the participants
commented on the importance of having
discussion sessions and appreciated the
experience of networking with other states,
tribes and federal experts. Many evaluations
recommended including more in-depth small-
group discussion sessions to improve the overa
workshop experience.
Over the course of the nine workshops, the following themes emerged in the feedback from
participants about steps EPA could take to better support the Regions on managing HABs:
•	Provide tools and resources for managing cyanotoxins In drinking and recreational waters
In addition to the tools EPA developed to assist the states and tribes, participants suggested the
EPA provide additional tools and resources on control and management of cyanobacterial
blooms in surface waters, treatment of cyanotoxins in drinking water, and risk communication.
•	Provide more information and tools on public health risks from exposure to cyanotoxins
Many participants indicated interest in learning more about human and animal health impacts
from exposure to cyanotoxins in water and food, especially from consuming toxin-contaminated
fish. Also, participants requested more information on the adverse effects from exposure to
anatoxin-a and saxitoxins, and from ingesting food irrigated with toxin-contaminated water.
•	Provide information on funding opportunities for cyanotoxin monitoring and
management
Many attendees requested information on available cost-effective techniques and funding
opportunities to assist in monitoring and management of cyanotoxins in surface water systems.
•	Continue outreach and communication opportunities
Most of the participants commented that learning from other states' experiences with blooms
and monitoring programs helped them review and improve their own monitoring and
cyanotoxins management plans. Many suggested using these workshops as a starting point for
developing regional workgroups to discuss HABs issues such as blooms mitigation, watershed
restoration, benthic HABs, and analytical analysis, among others.
Mrs. Laura Webb, USEPA Region 7. presenting at the
HABs Workshop, February, 2017
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•	Facilitate cyanobacteria ID training and other "hands on" monitoring and analysis
training
Most of the attendees that participated in the algae-identification workshops (three regions) and
the toxins field test screening demonstration (R4), commented that in addition to learning about
cyanobacterial species and analytical methods, these activities created engagement, and
facilitated a successful networking experience.
•	Continue hosting Regional HABs Workshops
Many of the participants suggested to have more opportunities such as in-person workshops,
webinars, and newsletters for states, tribes, federal agencies and other stakeholders to share
information. Many participants also requested that EPA hold these HABs workshops
annually.
Successes
As a result of the workshops, the Office of
Water and the participant Regions have built
relationships and exchanged information
with federal, state, tribal and local partners
such as public water utilities, to effectively
address HABs in drinking and recreational
waters. Other successes from the regional
workshops are:
•	Increase knowledge of State and
Tribal goals, needs, and barriers in
addressing HABs
During the workshops, EPA had the
opportunity to learn about state and
tribal experiences with HABs, and their
needs and barriers to prevent, control and
manage HABs in drinking and recreational
waters. This information helps EPA to provide better support that responds directly to their
needs.
•	Increase integration among SDWA and CWA programs
Having workshops that incorporate both drinking and recreational HABs issues resulted in more
coordination among surface and drinking water managers across State lines.
•	Regional follow-up activities to increase collaboration and support to states and tribes
Several regions have established workgroups and set-up calls to promote communication
among the Region, the states and tribes as follow-up activities from the workshops. For
example, EPA's Water Division in Regions 5, 7, 8 and 10 hold monthly (R8), quarterly (7 and
10), and triannual (5) calls with states and tribal staff and managers from CWA and SDWA
programs to discuss HABs-related issues. In many of these calls, a guest speaker is invited to
discuss current issues and research on HABs. While also increasing information and
coordination between the Regions and states and tribes, these follow-up activities provide the
Participants looking at samples on microscopes during
the interactive algae identification workshop at Region
4, May 2018
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opportunity for technical assistance and the development of HABs research projects. Other
regions, for example, Region 10, hold annual in person and/or virtual harmful algae
identification trainings for states, tribes, and their partners.
•	Enhanced research coordination among the Regions and the Office of Research and
Development
As a result of sharing information and networking activities during the workshops, some regions
have engaged in research activities with the EPA Office of Research and Development.
•	Additional follow on workshops to support Regional needs associated with managing
HABs
As a result of the Regional workshops, two additional workshops have been executed in Region
10 and in Region 7 to address specific topics related to HABs
The Office of Water and Region 10 hosted a Regional Cyanobacterial HABs Workshop and
Tabletop Exercise (TTX) in October 2019, to help states and tribes in enhancing the ability of
drinking water utilities and water managers to prepare for, manage and respond to
cyanobacterial blooms and their toxins in drinking and recreational waters. During the TTX, a
hypothetical HABs scenario was presented for participants to discuss in small groups.
Participants had the opportunity to share their individual experiences in responding to previous
events, and their roles and responsibilities in their organizations. Following the TTX,
participants were engaged in a "Hotwash" session to discuss the key issues raised during the
TTX section and opportunities for program improvements.
In February 2020, a multi-regional HABs workshop was hosted in partnership with Office of
Water, Office of Research and Development and Regions 5, 7 and 8, as well as the University
of Kansas. This workshop focused on discussing common issues and solutions for managing
HABs and excess nutrients in Regions 5, 7 and 8. Over 170 people attended the workshop
including water quality professionals from federal, state and local governments, drinking water
systems, regional watershed associations, the agricultural community and academic institutions
representing more than 17 states and
two tribes, including states from
Regions 5, 7 and 8. Attendees
presented on, discussed and shared
their experiences managing HABs and
nutrients, including opportunities for
source water protection and prevention
of HABs in agricultural landscapes.
Outcomes of the workshop included a
proceedings document that outlines
next steps in managing HABs and
nutrients in Regions 5, 7 and 8 as well
as a shared understanding of best
practices for managing HABs and
nutrients across the participating states.
EPA Region 2 Freshwai
Harmful Algal Blooms and
ublic Drinking Water Systerr
Mr. Jeff Gratz. USEPA Region 2, delivers opening
remarks at the Region 2 Workshop, November 2017
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Next Steps
The EPA intends to continue supporting
HABs workshops on topics of interest to
states and tribes. Such topics include
holding regional HABs response and
preparedness trainings to promptly and
effectively respond to HABs and their
toxins in drinking and recreational
waters. EPA also plans to continue
hosting national and regional
webinars focusing on approaches for
monitoring, managing and preventing
HABs in drinking, recreational and
marine waters, including EPA's tools
and resources that can be used by public
water systems and water managers to
address cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins.
Dr. Elizabeth Hinchey, USEPA Great Lakes National
Program Office, presenting at the Region 5 HABs
Workshop, April 2016
For More Information
Additional information on the Office of Water's efforts to address harmful algal blooms in
freshwater systems is available on the EPA's Cyanobacteria Harmful Algal Blooms (CyanoHABs)
in Water website: https://www.epa.gov/cvanohabs
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