The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's plan to deal with the growing problem of toxic algae in lakes and rivers will include setting new health guidelines for swimmers and kayakers.
Agency officials say they will focus on protecting people who are likely to swallow water during recreational activities.
A draft of the proposed guidelines is expected to be released by summer.
Twenty states already have their own regulations.
The EPA last week also issued a report to Congress saying that it will be looking at whether new health advisories are needed on algae toxins in drinking water.
The issue has taken on greater urgency since toxins from algae in Lake Erie contaminated the tap water for 400,000 people in northwestern Ohio and southeastern Michigan in August 2014.