Great Pond Foundation

MV CYANO

MV CYANO is a collaborative initiative among Island Boards of Health and scientists from Great Pond Foundation to monitor cyanobacteria on Martha’s Vineyard.

Cyanobacteria, a.k.a. blue-green algae, are a group of microorganisms found in all Vineyard waters. When cyanobacteria grow rapidly or bloom, they can produce cyanotoxins, which when concentrated, can cause adverse health effects in humans, pets, or livestock who wade in or ingest blooming waters.

Edgartown Great Pond

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Chilmark Pond

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Tisbury Great Pond

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Crackatuxet Pond

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Sengekontacket Pond

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Wilfred’s Pond

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Mink Meadows

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Lake Tashmoo

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James Pond

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Seth’s Pond

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Squibnocket Pond

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Watcha Pond

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What happened in 2022?

2022 MV CYANO Data

What happened in 2021?

Cyanobacteria Bloom, Squibnocket Pond, July 2021.
Photo courtesy of Tim DeWitt.

In 2021 this coordinated pilot program monitored cyanobacteria presence and potential for toxic blooms in Chilmark Pond, Tisbury Great Pond, Edgartown Great Pond, and Crackatuxet Pond. 2022 cyanobacteria monitoring will begin in May.

2021 MV CYANO Data

Watch and Listen

Watch a presentation about the first year of MV CYANO, where cyanobacteria monitoring data from 2021 is discussed.

Learn about the 1st year of MV CYANO and plans for 2022 on the Vineyard Current, recorded March 2022.

What is MV CYANO? Listen & Watch:

Learn about MV CYANO on the Vineyard Current.

Watch a Zoom presentation Introducing MV CYANO.

HOW IT WORKS

Great Pond Foundation scientific staff collect & analyze environmental and cyanobacteria data weekly
Data and analyses are sent to Island Boards of Health for review
Island Boards of Health use Massachusetts and EPA recreational limits and issue public health recommendations
MV CYANO releases coordinated color-coded maps indicating the cyanobacteria bloom risk level and associated recommendations as seen on the right –>
Signage will also be posted along pond shores if YELLOW, ORANGE, or RED risk levels are present.

MV CYANO Maps

OUR PARTNERS

This program was developed through a collaboration of Island Boards of Health

with scientific and financial support provided by

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

If you have come into contact with a cyanobacteria bloom and are having adverse health symptoms, please contact your physician immediately. Please also follow up with your local board of health.

If your pet or livestock has come in contact with a cyanobacteria bloom, please contact your veterinarian immediately. Please also follow up with your local board of health.

For blooms in Edgartown Great Pond, Crackatuxet Pond, Sengekontacket Pond, or within the Town of Edgartown:

Connor Downing, Edgartown Board of Health Agent | p: 508.627.6120 | e: healthagent@edgartown-ma.us

For blooms in Tisbury Great Pond, or within the Towns of West Tisbury and Chilmark:

Alex Lam, West Tisbury Board of Health Agent | p: 508.696.0105 | e: boh@westtisbury-ma.gov

For blooms in Chilmark Pond, or within the Town of Chilmark:

Anna McCaffrey, Chilmark Board of Health Administrator | p: 508.645.2105 | e: boh@chilmarkma.gov

For blooms in Sengekontacket Pond, or within the Town of Oak Bluffs:

Garrett Albiston, Oak Bluffs Board of Health Agent | p: 508.693.3554 ex127 | e: healthagent@oakbluffsma.gov

For blooms in Lake Tashmoo, or within the Town of Tisbury:

Drew Belsky, Tisbury Board of Health Agent | p: 774.563.3870 | e: dbelsky@tisburyma.gov

For blooms within the Town of Aquinnah:

Marina Lent, Aquinnah Board of Health Agent | p: 508.645.2309 | e: health-agent@aquinnah-ma.gov