DOH-Polk Cautions About Blue Green Algae at Lake Crago by the Boat Ramp

Polk County, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Polk County (DOH-Polk) cautions the public of the presence of blue-green algae in Lake Crago by the boat ramp on June 4, 2025. Water sample testing is underway. Blue-green algae have the potential to produce toxins. Since environmental conditions can change at any time, it is important to exercise caution, even if presence of toxins has not yet been confirmed. Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions: • Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercrafts, or come into contact with waters where there is a visible bloom.  • Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have any contact with algae, or discolored or water that smells unpleasant.  • Keep pets and livestock away from the area to avoid any contact with water. Waters where algae blooms are present are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should use an alternative source of water when algae blooms are present.  • Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate toxins. • Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts, and cook fish thoroughly.  • Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and partners collect algae samples from reported bloom locations. After samples are analyzed at their laboratory, the toxin results can be viewed on Protecting Florida Together or on DEP’s Algal Bloom Dashboard. What is Blue-Green Algae? Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria that is common in Florida’s freshwater environments. A bloom occurs when rapid growth of algae leads to an accumulation of individual cells that discolor water and often produce floating mats that emit unpleasant odors.  Blue-green algae blooms can also appear as scum, foam, or paint on the surface of the water in various colors. To learn more about the appearance of algae blooms, visit Protecting Florida Together.  Some environmental factors that contribute to blue-green algae blooms are sunny days, warm water temperatures, still water conditions, and excess nutrients. Blooms can appear year-round but are more frequent in summer and fall. Many types of blue-green algae can produce toxins. Blue-green algae may not always be visible as a bloom, but it can still be present in the water. Is Blue-Green Algae Harmful? Blue-green algae can produce toxins, which can be harmful to human and pets as well as ecosystems, including fish and other aquatic animals. Sensitive individuals (e.g., children, the elderly and those who are immunocompromised) may still be at risk even at low concentrations and should avoid any exposure. For additional information on potential health effects of algae blooms, visit the Florida Department of Health's harmful algae blooms webpage. Where Can I Find Current Water Status Information? Current information about Florida’s water quality status and public health notifications for harmful algae blooms and beach conditions is available at Protecting Florida Together. You can subscribe to receive notifications when water quality changes in your area. Where Can I Report Issues Related to Algae Blooms?  • Algae Blooms: DEP monitors algae blooms and collects samples for analysis. Blooms can be reported to DEP online or by calling toll-free at 1-855-305-3903.  • Human Health: Report symptoms from exposure to a harmful algae bloom or any aquatic toxin to the Florida Poison Information Center by calling 800-222-1222 to speak to a poison specialist. • Animal Health: Contact your veterinarian if you believe your pet has become ill after consuming or having contact with blue-green algae contaminated water. • Fish Kills: Dead, diseased, or abnormally behaving fish or wildlife should be reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission online or at 800-636-0511. If you have other health questions or concerns about blue-green algae, please call DOH-Polk at 863-578-2024. 

DEP Awards $10 Million for Innovative Technologies to Combat Harmful Algal Blooms

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) awarded $10 million in grants for 15 projects focused on mitigating the effects of harmful algal blooms, including blue-green algae. These projects will deploy and evaluate cutting-edge technologies to prevent bloom occurrences and implement treatment strategies to minimize environmental and economic impacts. 

“With this investment, we are enhancing our ability to take proactive steps to prevent harmful algal blooms and, if they were to occur, to respond to blooms more effectively than ever before, protecting both our natural resources and local communities,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. 

“Through our comprehensive regulatory and restoration efforts, we remain committed to reducing nutrient loading in our waterbodies and minimizing the frequency and severity of harmful algal blooms,” said Florida Chief Science Officer Dr. Mark Rains. “While progress continues, occasional blooms will still occur. The innovative technologies developed through this program are equipping responders with critical tools to mitigate their impacts more effectively.” 

New Prediction Model for Harmful Algal Blooms

The SCCF Marine Lab collaborated with the University of Florida (UF), University of South Florida (USF), and North Carolina State University (NCSU) scientists on a next-day prediction model to help water managers be better informed about harmful algal blooms.

The Marine Lab hosted the researchers and provided data from SCCF’s River, Estuary and Coastal Observing Network (RECON) and field campaigns in support of the research. 

The study, published in the March 2025 issue of Journal of Environmental Management, developed a statistical risk forecasting framework for the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary, which receives engineered water releases from the eutrophic Lake Okeechobee, as well as hydrologic inputs from the surrounding watershed.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reduces target releases to Caloosahatchee Estuary after Recovery Operat

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District will reduce target  releases from Lake Okeechobee through the S-79 into the Caloosahatchee River Estuary, June 4, 2025.

With the onset of the wet season, Recovery Operations have concluded and lake stages are low for this time of year.  The USACE will reduce targeted lake releases to 250 cfs at WP Franklin Lock and Dam (S-79) in an effort to conserve water in Lake Okeechobee and allow lake levels to rise gradually now that the wet season has begun.

Local basin runoff into the Caloosahatchee River (C-43) is forecasted to be well above this target, which means that observed flows at S-79 will be above this target of 250 cfs.  Lake water will be released at Julian Keen Junior Lock and Dam (S-77) in the event that basin runoff is insufficient to achieve flows of 250 cfs at S-79.

Lake Okeechobee has been at or below 12 feet for 51 days and below 11.5 feet for 40 days. Achieving stages below 12 or below 11.5 feet for 90 and 60 days respectively will provide the submerged aquatic vegetation on the bottom of Lake Okeechobee with ideal conditions for regrowth.

If rainfall subsides and the Caloosahatchee River experiences dry conditions once again, the USACE will do everything possible within the current structural constraints to achieve the 250 cfs including potentially lowering the upper pool of the C-43 (between S-77 and S-78) below its optimal level.  This will increase the capacity to get water out of S-77, but may cause some navigation challenges. Boaters are encouraged to check water levels prior to making plans at: https://w3.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/currentLL.shtml)

Blue-green algae in Charlotte Harbor spurs health advisory; more of both certain to come

The Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County has issued a health advisory about toxic blue-green algae showing up east of Rotunda, in Zephyr Waterway near South Gulf Cove, warning people to stay away from the noxious algae bloom.

Microscopic parts of the harmful bloom can make adults sick. Children, too, need to stay away from the dangerous water. Dogs and cats can die.

Toxic blue-green algae have been found in the inland portions of the Peace River off and on for weeks, as the worst drought in 25 years has parched Southwest Florida.

“It’s nice and warm and sunny. They like the warm temperatures, they like the low flow, and they like to multiply,” said Barry Rosen, a leading expert on algae and cyanobacteria based at The Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University. “They love being in a stationary environment like lakes and canals.”

Rosen is a professor at FGCU’s Department of Ecology & Environmental Studies who has been studying freshwater bacteria for several decades with a focus on Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee River.

Water quality monitoring station to be unveiled at Mound House on Fort Myers Beach

UF water researchers develop prediction system for harmful algae

The slimy algae topping Florida’s waterways are more than just unsightly. They are often toxic to humans, animals and the environment.

To mitigate those risks, University of Florida researchers are collaborating with North Carolina State University and University of South Florida scientists on a next-day prediction model to warn and inform water managers about harmful algal blooms.

The research is funded by two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers grants for two phases, totaling $4.4 million. The project is led by David Kaplan, Ph.D., a professor with the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and director of the Howard T. Odum Center for Wetlands, and Mauricio Arias, Ph.D., an associate professor at USF.

In a paper published recently in the Journal of Environmental Management, Kaplan, UF assistant professor Elise Morrison, Ph.D., and NCSU’s Maria Menchu Maldonado, Ph.D., chronicled their work with harmful algal blooms in the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary, the environmentally sensitive link between Lake Okeechobee and Florida’s southwestern coast. Maldonado performed the work under the guidance of NCSU collaborator Natalie Nelson.

Southwest Water Reclamation Facility Named Best Large Wastewater Treatment Plant in Florida

The City of Cape Coral’s Southwest Water Reclamation Facility earned first place in the greater than 5 million gallons per day (MGD) category for the prestigious Earle B. Phelps Award, presented by the Florida Water Environment Association. This top honor recognizes Cape Coral as having Florida's best large wastewater treatment plant.

The Earle B. Phelps Award annually honors wastewater treatment facilities that achieve the highest standards in removing major pollution-causing constituents from wastewater before discharge. Awards are issued based on treatment classification and plant size — small, medium, or large — ensuring a fair comparison across facilities.

Cape Coral’s Southwest Water Reclamation Facility, which treats up to 15.1 MGD, took first place in the large plant category for advanced wastewater treatment, setting a statewide benchmark for operational excellence and environmental protection.

The city’s Utilities Water Reclamation Division is responsible for processing wastewater to meet or exceed all Environmental Protection Agency and Florida Department of Environmental Protection standards for river discharge, deep injection, and reclaimed water use in the city’s irrigation system. In addition to the Southwest facility, the Division operates the 13.4 MGD Everest Water Reclamation Facility, 311 wastewater lift stations, and six freshwater canal pump stations that help supplement the irrigation network.