Saturday, May 3, 2025
5/3/2025
Strengthening Environmental Health Capacity Through HAB Monitoring - This funding will allow Bear River Health Department (BRHD) to develop sampling and testing protocols and conduct personnel training directed at monitoring and mitigating health risks associated with hazardous algae blooms (HAB) which grow in the waterways within the district. The department will be able to compile a database, which can then be used to inform, and direct decisions regarding HAB. Currently, procedures, protocols and a database do not exist within BRHD. Bear River Health Department (BRHD) is located in the northeast corner of Utah and operates six different locations in Box Elder, Cache and Rich Counties. The district serves 169230 residents, employs 109 health professionals with a 12 million dollar budget. The department includes an Environmental Health Division, which is responsible for monitoring and mitigating environmental risk. Hazardous algae blooms (HAB) form in many of the lakes and reservoirs located within BRHD jurisdiction. Due to a lack of resources, monitoring equipment, and data management systems the department has had to rely on the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to assist in testing and creating awareness of HAB. BRHD is desirous to establish procedures to collect data and maintain the HAB data pertaining to these waterways within the department. It is difficult to make evidence based decisions without maintaining the data in-house. Development of a HAB database with associated procedures and protocol will allow BRHD personnel to sample, identify and mitigate the HAB hazards and to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. BRHD currently uses Paragon software to collect and manage data collected in other health department programs, however HAB data is not collected. Personnel will develop data collection, storage and management programs within Paragon, or a similar database, to enhance the department’s ability to identify and correct HAB risks. During the period of performance, BRHD will: a. develop and implement hazardous algae bloom data collection and storage procedures and protocols to be used with the data collection software, b. train department environmental personnel regarding data and sample collection to enhance the department’s ability to quickly and accurately identify HAB risk, c. increase sampling frequencies in areas prone to HAB risks, d. use data to develop interventions designed to reduce conditions which lead to HAB formation.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).