June 14 - 20, 2019 - There were 18 reported site visits in the past week (6/14-6/20) with 17 sites resulting in samples collected. Blue-green algae continues to be reported by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lock operators upstream and downstream of the S79/Franklin lock (west of Lake Okeechobee) and the S308C structure (east of Lake Okeechobee). Samples were collected at both sites by South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) staff. No dominant algal taxa or detectable levels of toxin were observed in the 6/17/19 sample from the S79 sampling location. Results for the 6/20/19 sample from the S308C sampling location are pending. SFWMD staff observed algae upstream of the S352 structure on 6/17/19 and collected a sample. The sample was dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa and had a total microcystin concentration of 6.35 micrograms per liter. NOAA satellite imagery has been partially obscured by cloud cover for the past week. Approximately 15 percent of the lake indicates medium to high blue-green algal bloom potential. Satellite imagery of the estuaries did not indicate the presence of blue-green algae.
DEP staff responded to multiple algal bloom reports along the Manatee River in the vicinity of Ellenton and Bradenton and collected six samples. The River Pointe Canal sample collected on 6/18/19 was dominated by Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, but no toxins were detected. The Manatee River sample collected on 6/19/19 near Ellenton also did not have detectable toxins, but was dominated by Cuspidothrix sp. rather than Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. All other results are still pending.
Filamentous algae continue to be reported along the coast of Southwest Florida, with reports in the Bradenton, Blackburn Shores and Osprey area, with no toxins detected.
Satellite imagery of the St. Johns River continues to show bloom potential for approximately 50 percent of the river.
This is a high-level summary of the sampling events for the reported week. For all field visit and analytical result details, please refer the complete algal bloom map by visiting Field and Lab Details on 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 to stay out of water where algae is visibly present as specks, mats or water is discolored pea-green, blue-green or brownish-red. Additionally, pets or livestock should not come into contact with the algal bloom-impacted water, or the algal bloom material or fish on the shoreline.
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