May 3 - May 16, 2024 - Following the severe weather that impacted North Florida last week, the DEP Laboratory lost power for a prolonged duration and was unable to process samples collected after May 8, 2024. Power has been restored at the Laboratory, and staff are assessing the equipment to ensure it is functional and able to be calibrated. DEP is coordinating with partners to continue laboratory services once normal operations at the DEP Laboratory can be resumed.
There were 66 reported site visits in the past 13 days with 66 samples collected. Algal bloom conditions were observed by samplers at 36 of the sites.
The satellite imagery for Lake Okeechobee from 5/11 is partially obscured by cloud cover and shows low to moderate bloom potential on approximately 20% of the lake, primarily in the northern portion of the lake.
The satellite imagery for the Caloosahatchee Estuary from 5/10 is partially obscured by cloud cover and shows no visible bloom potential.
The satellite imagery for the St. Lucie Estuary from 5/10 is partially obscured by cloud cover and shows no visible bloom potential.
The satellite imagery for the St. Johns River from 5/16 is partially obscured by cloud cover and shows moderate to high bloom potential from Lake George downstream to Green Cove Springs.
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 5/6 – 5/7, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) staff collected 17 harmful algal bloom (HAB) response samples. Dominant algal taxa and cyanotoxin results follow each waterbody name.
Caloosahatchee River - Sebastian Ct: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Gibson - West: Microcystis aeruginosa and Botryococcus braunii co-dominant; trace levels of microcystins and cylindrospermopsin were detected (0.82 ppb and 0.11 ppb, respectively).
Lake Van: Microcystis aeruginosa and Dolichospermum circinale co-dominant; trace levels of microcystins and cylindrospermopsin were detected (0.55 ppb and 0.39 ppb, respectively).
Lake Conine - Boat Ramp: Microcystis aeruginosa and Microcystis wesenbergii co-dominant; trace levels of microcystins and anatoxin-a were detected (0.71 ppb and 0.25 ppb, respectively).
East Crooked Lake - NW Shore: Microcystis sp. and Botryococcus braunii co-dominant; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Hancock - South Central: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.27 ppb) anatoxin-a detected.
Lake Formosa - pedestrian bridge: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
Scott Lake - West: Microcystis aeruginosa and Microcystis wesenbergii co-dominant; trace level (0.29 ppb) microcystins detected.
Lake Thonotosassa - Center: Microcystis aeruginosa; 1.0 ppb microcystins detected.
C44 canal - S308C (canal side): Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - S308C (lakeside): no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
St. Lucie Canal - 96th Street Bridge: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
St. Lucie Canal - Army Corps Campground: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
St. Lucie River - at Four Rivers: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
Deerpoint Lake - near center: Mougeotia sp.; no cyanotoxins detected.
St. Lucie River - at Palm City Bridge: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
St. Lucie River - Harborage: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
On 5/6 – 5/8, South Florida Water Management District staff collected six HAB response samples and 28 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, L007 and PELBAY3.). Dominant algal taxa and cyanotoxin results follow each waterbody name.
C43 Canal - S77 (upstream): Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
C44 Canal - C44S80 (upstream): no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
C43 Canal - S78 (upstream): Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
C43 Canal - S79 (upstream): Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.26 ppb) microcystins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - KISSR0.0: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - LZ2: Microcystis aeruginosa and Dolichospermum circinale co-dominant; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - NES191: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - L001: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - NES135: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - NCENTER: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - EASTSHORE: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.26 ppb) microcystins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - L004: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.60 ppb) microcystins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - L008: Microcystis aeruginosa and Dolichospermum circinale co-dominant; 4.8 ppb microcystins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - L005: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.30 ppb) microcystins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - POLESOUT3: Microcystis aeruginosa; 1.3 ppb microcystins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - POLESOUT2: Microcystis aeruginosa; 6.3 ppb microcystins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - POLESOUT1: Microcystis aeruginosa; microcystins estimated to be 1.1 ppb.
Lake Okeechobee - POLESOUT: Dolichospermum circinale; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - KBARSE: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - CLV10A: Dolichospermum circinale; trace level (0.34 ppb) microcystins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - LZ40: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - Pahokee Marina: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - L006: Microcystis aeruginosa; 2.3 ppb microcystins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - PALMOUT3: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.47 ppb) microcystins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - PALMOUT2: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.35 ppb) microcystins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - PALMOUT1: Microcystis aeruginosa; 2.0 ppb microcystins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - PALMOUT: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.55 ppb) microcystins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - LZ30: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.51 ppb) microcystins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - POLE3S: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - RITTAE2: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - LZ25A: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - L007: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Okeechobee - PELBAY3: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
On 5/7 – 5/16, St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) staff collected five HAB response samples and 10 routine HAB monitoring samples. Dominant algal taxa and cyanotoxin results follow each waterbody name.
St. Johns River - Mandarin Point: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Eustis - Southeast: Microcystis aeruginosa and Raphidiopsis raciborskii, formerly known as Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii, co-dominant; no cyanotoxins detected.
Doctors Lake - Center: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
St. Johns River - Shands Bridge: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake Yale - Center: Microcystis aeruginosa; no cyanotoxins detected.
Harris Bayou - Center: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
Lake George - Center: no dominant algal taxon; no cyanotoxins detected.
St. Johns River - at Little Lake George: Dolichospermum circinale; no cyanotoxins detected.
St. Johns River - at Andersons Point: Dolichospermum circinale; no cyanotoxins detected.
Crescent Lake - mouth of Dunns Creek: Microcystis aeruginosa; trace level (0.86 ppb) microcystins detected.
Lake Dorr - Northeast of center, Blue Cypress Lake – Center, Stick Marsh – North, Lake Monroe – Center and Lake Jesup - Center: results pending.
On 5/6, Highlands County staff collected one HAB response sample at Lake Lotela - Boat Ramp. Botryococcus braunii was the dominant algal taxon and no cyanotoxins were detected.
Two Weeks Ago:
On 5/4, SFWMD staff collected one HAB response sample on the L8 Canal – Junction with M Canal: no dominant algal taxon; 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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