History and Formation

SCDHEC called several meetings with State and Federal agencies and universities for the purpose of sharing what expertise and resources each had and to encourage collaboration and coordination of existing activities. 

Additional meetings were organized to share other existing efforts from around the country.  After these various  meetings, it was decided that a new group needed to be established, similar to the retired South Carolina Task Group on Harmful Algae. This new group would have a broader scope and focus to include a focus on freshwater waterbodies as well as saltwater. The group would include  a network of agencies with environmental, human health, or wildlife resource management responsibilities and universities conducting research relevant to HAB-related subjects. This group makes up the South Carolina Harmful Algal Bloom Network known as SC HABNet.

SC HABNet has no funding and is conducting no monitoring as an organization.