Sept. 15 – Sept. 21, 2023 – There were 53 reported site visits in the past seven days with 53 samples collected. Algal bloom conditions were observed by samplers at seven of the sites.
Satellite imagery from 9/21 for Lake Okeechobee shows low to moderate bloom potential on approximately 15% of the lake, primarily in the northwest quadrant.
Satellite imagery from 9/21 for the Caloosahatchee Estuary and from 9/20 for the St. Lucie Estuary show no visible bloom potential.
Satellite imagery from 9/21 for the St. Johns River shows low to moderate bloom potential on approximately 30% of Lake George, with scattered low to moderate bloom potential extending down the mainstem of the river to Doctors Lake.
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 9/18-9/21, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) staff collected 11 harmful algal bloom (HAB) response samples. Dominant algal taxa and cyanotoxin results follow each waterbody name.
• C44 Canal - Timer Powers Park: Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii; no cyanotoxins detected.
• South Fork New River - Rio Nuevo A Condo: Microcystis aeruginosa and Chlamydomonas sp. co-dominant; no cyanotoxins detected.
• Lake Marian - Boat Ramp: Microcystis aeruginosa and Microcystis wesenbergii co-dominant; microcystins estimated at 1.6 parts per billion (ppb).
• Pioneer Lake - NE Shore: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
• Lake Leon: Euglena sp.; cyanotoxin results pending.
There was no dominant algal taxon and no cyanotoxins detected in samples from Caloosahatchee River - Overiver Dr; Caloosahatchee River - End of Canal Cir; Caloosahatchee River - Whitecap Cir Dock; Caloosahatchee River - Horton Park; Caloosahatchee River - Jaycee Park; and Old Lake Davenport - SW Dock.
On 9/18-9/20, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) staff collected nine HAB response samples.
• C44 Canal - S308C: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
• Lake Okeechobee - S308C (lakeside): No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
• C43 Canal - S77 (upstream): No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
• C43 Canal - S78 (upstream): No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
• C43 Canal - S79 (upstream): No dominant algal taxon; 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 - Pahokee Marina Boat Ramp: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
• Lake Okeechobee - S352: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
On 9/18-9/20, SFWMD staff collected 30 routine HAB samples on Lake Okeechobee.
Stations FEBIN, L008, POLESOUT3, POLESOUT2, POLESOUT1, LZ40 and L006 were dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa and had no cyanotoxins detected. Stations LZ2, L001, POLESOUT, POLE3S and RITTAE2 were dominated by Planktolyngbya limnetica, and only POLESOUT had a detectable level of cyanotoxin, with a trace level 0.34 (ppb) of anatoxin-a detected.
There was no dominant algal taxon and no cyanotoxins detected at FEBOUT, KISSR0.0, NES191, NES135, NCENTER, EASTSHORE, L004, L005, KBARSE, CLV10A, PALMOUT3, PALMOUT2, PALMOUT1, PALMOUT, LZ30, LZ25A, L007 and PELBAY3.
On 9/18, St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) staff collected one HAB response and one HAB routine sample. The Georges Lake – Center sample was co-dominated by Planktolyngbya limnetica and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and had a trace level (0.12 ppb) of microcystins detected. The Lake Washington - Center sample was dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa and had no cyanotoxins detected.
On 9/20, Southwest Florida Water Management District staff collected a HAB response sample from Lake Panasoffkee – Southern Tip. Microcystis aeruginosa and Planktolyngbya limnetica were co-dominant and no cyanotoxins were detected.
Pending Results from Last Week
On 9/14, DEP staff collected five HAB response samples. The Georges Lake - Boat Ramp sample was co-dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and had a trace level (0.20 ppb) of microcystins detected. No dominant algal taxon and no cyanotoxins were detected in samples from Caloosahatchee - Raleigh Canal; Lake George – North; Little Half Moon Lake – South; and Lake Worrell – Ridge Rd.
On 9/14, SFWMD staff collected HAB response samples at C44 Canal - Timer Powers Park; Lake Okeechobee -S354; Lake Okeechobee -S352; L8 Canal - CULV10A; and Lake Okeechobee- S271. Lake Okeechobee -S354 was dominated by Planktolyngbya limnetica and Lake Okeechobee - S352 was dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa. There was no dominant algal taxon in the remaining three samples and no cyanotoxins detected in any of the five samples.
On 9/14, SJRWMD collected one HAB response and three HAB routine samples. Crescent Lake - Mouth of Dunns Creek, Crescent Lake - Mouth of Haw Creek and Lake Jesup – Center were dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa and had no cyanotoxins detected. Lake Monroe - Center had 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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