Aug. 30 – Sept. 5, 2024 - There were 43 reported site visits in the past seven days with 43 samples collected. Algal bloom conditions were observed by samplers at nine of the sites.
The best available satellite imagery for Lake Okeechobee from 9/4 is partially obscured by cloud cover and shows scattered low to moderate bloom potential primarily in the northwest quadrant of the lake and along the western and northern shoreline.
The most recent usable satellite imagery for the Caloosahatchee Estuary from 9/5 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 9/4 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 9/3 is partially obscured by cloud cover and shows moderate bloom potential on most of Lake George, with scattered low to moderate bloom potential on the mainstem of the St. Johns River downstream of Lake George to Shands Bridge.
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 9/3 – 9/5, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) staff collected 10 Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) response samples. Dominant algal taxa and cyanotoxin results follow each waterbody name
Doctors Lake - Mill Cove: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level [0.55 parts per billion (ppb)] microcystins detected.
Doctors Lake - Center: No dominant algal taxon; trace level (0.37 ppb) microcystins detected.
Doctors Lake - Pace Island dock: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
Doctors Lake - Wyndegate Drive: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
Doctors Lake - Camp Echockotee: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
Doctors Lake - end of Lawrence Road: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.42 ppb) microcystins detected.
Doctors Lake - Magnolia Road: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.46 ppb) microcystins detected.
Swimming Pen Creek - Whiteys Fish Camp: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.54 ppb) microcystins detected.
Ortega River – Seminole Park: Results pending.
Lake Petty Gulf: Scytonema arcangelii; trace level (0.36 ppb) cylindrospermopsin detected.
On 9/3 – 9/4, South Florida Water Management District staff collected six routine HAB monitoring samples at structures [S77, S78, S79, S80, S308C (lakeside) and C44 canal - S308C], and 27 Lake Okeechobee routine HAB monitoring samples (KISSR0.0, LZ2, NES191, L001, NES135, NCENTER, EASTSHORE, L004, L008, L005, POLESOUT3, POLESOUT2, POLESOUT1, POLESOUT, KBARSE, CLV10A, LZ40, L006, PALMOUT3, PALMOUT2, PALMOUT1, PALMOUT, LZ30, POLE3S, RITTAE2, LZ25A and L007). Dominant algal taxa and cyanotoxin results follow each waterbody name.
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.
C44 canal - C44S80: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - S308C (lakeside): Pending; no cyanotoxins detected.
C44 canal - S308C: Pending; no cyanotoxins detected.
KISSR0.0: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
LZ2: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
NES191: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
L001: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
NES135: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
NCENTER: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
EASTSHORE: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
L004: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
L008: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
L005: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
POLESOUT3: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.61 ppb) microcystins detected.
POLESOUT2: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
POLESOUT1: Microcystis aeruginosa and Planktolyngbya limnetica co-dominant; no cyanotoxins detected.
POLESOUT: Microcystis wesenbergii; no cyanotoxins detected.
KBARSE: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
CLV10A: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
LZ40: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
L006: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
PALMOUT3: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.31ppb) microcystins detected.
PALMOUT2: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
PALMOUT1: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
PALMOUT: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
LZ30: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
POLE3S: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
RITTAE2: Microcystis sp.; no cyanotoxins detected.
LZ25A: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
L007: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
Last Week
On 8/29, DEP staff collected a HAB response sample at San Marco Canal – Las Olas. The sample was dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa and had no cyanotoxins detected.
On 8/29, St. Johns River Water Management District staff collected routine HAB monitoring samples from Lake Washington – Center and Lake Jesup – Center. Dominant algal taxa and cyanotoxin results follow each waterbody name.
Lake Washington – Center: No dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Jesup – Center: Raphidiopsis raciborskii; trace level (0.20 ppb) cylindrospermopsin 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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