Current Weekly Update

Aug. 9 – Aug. 15, 2024 - There were 33 reported site visits in the past seven days with 33 samples collected. Algal bloom conditions were observed by samplers at 18 of the sites.

Satellite imagery for Lake Okeechobee from 8/13 is partially obscured by cloud cover and shows low to moderate bloom potential, with the highest bloom potential in the northeast quadrant of the lake.

The most recent usable satellite imagery for the Caloosahatchee Estuary from 8/14 is partially obscured by cloud cover and shows no bloom potential in visible portions of the estuary.

The most recent usable satellite imagery for the St. Lucie Estuary from 8/13 is partially obscured by cloud cover and shows no bloom potential in visible portions of the estuary. 

The most recent usable satellite imagery for the St. Johns River from 8/14 is partially obscured by cloud cover and shows moderate bloom potential on visible portions of Lake George and Doctors Lake and scattered low bloom potential on the mainstem of the St. Johns River downstream of Lake George to (location).

Please keep in mind that bloom potential is subject to change due to rapidly changing environmental conditions or satellite inconsistencies (i.e., wind, rain, temperature, or stage.) 

On 8/12 – 8/14, Florida Department of Environmental Protection staff collected 14 Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) response samples. Dominant algal taxa and cyanotoxin results follow each waterbody name.

Lake Roberts - S Dock: Microcystis aeruginosa; 3.0 parts per billion (ppb) microcystins detected.
Lake Thonotosassa – Center: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.93 ppb) cylindrospermopsin detected.
Lake Rowena - W Shore: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.36 ppb) cylindrospermopsin detected.
Lake Okeechobee - S308C: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.38 ppb) microcystins detected.
C44 canal - S308C: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
Doctors Lake - Mill Cove: Microcystis aeruginosa; 6.9 ppb microcystins and trace level (0.13 ppb) cylindrospermopsin detected.
Doctors Lake - Pace Island: Microcystis aeruginosa; 3.3 ppb microcystins and trace level (0.13 ppb) cylindrospermopsin detected.
Doctors Lake - Center: Microcystis aeruginosa; 3.2 ppb microcystins and trace level (0.13 ppb) cylindrospermopsin detected.
Doctors Lake - Wyndegate Dr: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace levels microcystins and cylindrospermopsin (0.99 ppb and 0.12 ppb, respectively) detected.
Doctors Lake - Camp Echockotee: Microcystis aeruginosa; 1.1 ppb microcystins and trace level (0.12 ppb) cylindrospermopsin detected.
Doctors Lake - end of Lawrence Rd: Microcystis aeruginosa; 6.3 ppb microcystins and trace level (0.13 ppb) cylindrospermopsin detected.
Doctors Lake - Magnolia Rd: Microcystis aeruginosa; 10 ppb microcystins and trace level (0.12 ppb) cylindrospermopsin detected.
Swimming Pen Creek - Whiteys Fish Camp: Microcystis aeruginosa; 7.2 ppb microcystins and trace level (0.11 ppb) cylindrospermopsin detected.
Canal adjacent to Mack Bayou: Chlamydomonas sp. and Dolichospermum planctonicum co-dominant; no cyanotoxins detected.

On 8/12 – 8/14, South Florida Water Management District staff collected six routine HAB monitoring samples and four routine monitoring samples at structures [S77, S78, S79, S80]. Dominant algal taxa and cyanotoxin results follow each waterbody name.

L-47 Canal - S135LOCKUS: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
L8 Canal - CULV10A: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - S271: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - S352: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - S354: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - Pahokee Marina: Chlamydomonas sp.; no cyanotoxins detected.
C43 canal - S77 (upstream): no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
C43 canal - S78 (upstream):  Microcystis aeruginosa and Glenodinium sp. co-dominant; no cyanotoxins detected.
C43 canal - S79 (upstream): no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
C44 canal - C44S80: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.

On 8/13 – 8/14, St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) staff collected five routine HAB monitoring samples. Dominant algal taxa and cyanotoxin results follow each waterbody name.

St. Johns River - Mandarin Point: no dominant algal taxon; trace level (0.12 ppb) cylindrospermopsin detected.
Doctors Lake - Center: Microcystis aeruginosa; 3.4 ppb microcystins and trace level (0.13 ppb) cylindrospermopsin detected.
St. Johns River - Shands Bridge: no dominant algal taxon; trace level (0.20 ppb) cylindrospermopsin detected.
Stick Marsh - North: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
Blue Cypress Lake - Center: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Monroe - Center: results pending.
Lake Jesup - Center: results pending.

On 8/13, Highlands County staff collected two HAB response samples. Dominant algal taxa and cyanotoxin results follow each waterbody name. 

Lake Glenada - Boat Ramp: Microcystis aeruginosa and Microcystis wesenbergii co-dominant; trace level (0.41 ppb) microcystins detected.
Lake June-in-Winter - Boat Ramp: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.

Last Week

On 8/8, DEP staff collected two Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) response samples. Dominant algal taxa and cyanotoxin results follow each waterbody name.  
Blanton Lake - South Lobe: Microcystis aeruginosa and Dolichospermum planctonicum co-dominant; trace level (0.37 ppb) microcystins detected.
Dogwood Lake - Northeast Lobe: Botryococcus braunii; no cyanotoxins detected.

On 8/8, SJRWMD staff collected one HAB response sample from Lake Yale - Near Center. Microcystis aeruginosa and Mougeotia sp. were the co-dominant algal taxa and 0.41 ppb of cylindrospermopsin was detected.

On 8/8, Highlands County staff collected one HAB response sample from Lake Pearl – East Shore. There was no dominant algal taxon and no cyanotoxins detected.

Results for completed analyses are available at FloridaDEP.gov/AlgalBloom. 

This is a high-level summary of the sampling events for the reported week. For all field visit and analytical result details, please refer to the complete algal bloom map with data table by clicking the “Field and Lab Details” Quick Link from the Algal Bloom Dashboard. Different types of blue-green algal bloom species can look different and have different impacts. However, regardless of species, many types of blue-green algae can produce toxins that can make you or your pets sick if swallowed or possibly cause skin and/or eye irritation due to contact. We advise staying out of water where algae is visibly present as specks or mats or where water is discolored pea-green, blue-green or brownish-red. Additionally, pets or livestock should not come into contact with algal bloom-impacted water or with algal bloom material or fish on the shoreline.

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Last Modified: Friday, Sep 20, 2024 - 05:12pm