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Expert panels/Panel statement
Split statement · 4–3Version 1 · issued 30 Aug 2026 after 72 hours · revisit 30 Nov · 7 experts · Illustrative

Panel statements: a split panel

Should Lake Erie beaches reopen once toxin levels fall below the advisory limit?

The panel split. Four experts say beaches can reopen after two samples below 8 µg/L taken 24 hours apart. Three say a passing sample isn’t enough while scum is still visible, because toxin levels near the shore can jump within hours.

Two positions
Reopen on two clear samples · 4Reopen when microcystin is below 8 µg/L in two samples 24 hours apart. Hourly sampling in 2024 found no case where two clear samples were followed by an unsafe one the next day.Kowalski (chair), Adeyemi, Larsen, Moreno
Also require no visible scum · 3Wind pushes scum onshore within hours, and samples are taken in open water. Keep beaches closed until both the samples pass and no scum is visible at the waterline.Hoffmann, Nwosu, Petrova
Both agree: no beach should reopen on a single sample, and shoreline sampling at 1 m depth should be added this season. The revisit will use that data.
How the panel voted
4 reopen on two clear samples3 also require no visible scum
Evidence used
Hourly toxin sampling at 4 beaches (2024)No unsafe reading within 24 h of two clear samplesSupports A
Scum drift and nearshore toxin spikes (2023)Levels rose 6× in 3 hours after onshore windSupports B
Illness reports vs. sample levels, 2015–2025Few reports; under-reporting likelyInconclusive
Recreational advisory guideline8 µg/L microcystinContext
Scope of this statement
Drinking water: this statement is about swimming and wading only.Dogs: the panel did not assess risk to pets, which is higher.Other toxins: only microcystin was considered.
How this statement was made
27 Aug 10:00Question received from the Western Basin Beach Authority
27 Aug 16:307 of 7 seats filled from 18 eligible experts
28 AugEvidence pack: 3 studies and the advisory guideline
29 AugTwo drafts; the panel agreed to publish both positions
30 Aug 10:00Vote: 4–3. Split statement published
30 NovRevisit with this season’s shoreline sampling data
Panel · 7 expertsEach panellist’s vote and declared interests
EKReviewerFreshwater toxicology · chairNone declaredPosition A
RHReviewerLimnologyNone declaredPosition B
TAReviewerEnvironmental healthNone declaredPosition A
Requested by
Western Basin Beach Authority · 27 Aug 2026The requester paid for the panel; CitePep chose its members, and the requester saw the statement when it was published.
Cite this statement
CitePep Expert Panel (Kowalski E., chair). Reopening Lake Erie beaches after algal blooms. Split statement, version 1. 30 Aug 2026.
Have new evidence?Goes to the chair. If it changes the answer, a new dated version is issued.