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Tag: blue green algae

Blue-green algae patches pop up in Lovers Key State Park

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — A local fisherman spotted patches of brown and green floating near Lovers Key State Park earlier this week.  At first Jeremy Robertson thought it was just floating grass. When he got a closer look, it was something much more complicated. “There were a number of these six-feet circles with the bright green stuff actively growing on it,” he said. “And it smelled, and there were bugs around. I’ve never seen them like that.” FGCU Water School professor, Dr. Barry Rosen, was able to determine what the mass was.   “It’s got at least two species of blue-green algae in...

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Algae covers water from Lake Okechobee to Fort Myers

FORT MYERS, Fla.– Algae is covering water from Lake Okechobee down to Fort Myers. Right now, more than half of Lake Okeechobee is covered by algal blooms. Captains For Clean Water co-founder Chris Wittman said it’s too late to make a big change for our summer. He hopes we do not experience heavy rain before June.   “Water quality is the most important issue that affects our community and our economy,” Wittman said. “If we have a very wet summer, it’s going to be bad news for our communities.” Captains for Clean Water is calling on the Army Corps...

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Blue-green algae toxins detected at Franklin Lock on Caloosahatchee

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – Blue-green algae toxins have been detected near Franklin Lock on the Caloosahatchee River in Lee County. The Florida Department of Health in Lee County said they have issued a health alert for the ramp. When blue-green toxins are detected, health officials do recommend that people avoid contact with the water. Blue-green algae can cause gastrointestinal effects if swallowed, according to FDOH officials. Children and pets are especially vulnerable, so local health officials said you should keep them away form the water during the bloom. Anyone wanting to report a...

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Rinse & repeat: Blue-green algae covers Lake Okeechobee

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – Lake Okeechobee is plagued with blue-green algae, again. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, can produce harmful toxins in our water and along our coastline, killing the animals, fish, and wildlife of Southwest Florida. SOURCE: NOAA Lake Okeechobee is the largest lake in Florida ‘Lake O’ has a surface area of about 730 square miles. New satellite images from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), show algal blooms cover about 500 square miles of the lake — quick math — that’s 68.5% of the lake. Remember —...

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Calusa Waterkeeper urging Governor to stop water flow from Lake O to Caloosahatchee

FORT MYERS, Fla. — As the algae situation on Lake Okeechobee continues to worsen, numerous conservationists sent a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis urging him to stop the release of water from the lake to the Caloosahatchee River. The letter — signed by 14 local conservation leaders — asks DeSantis to issue an emergency order that would prevent southbound water releases from Lake Okeechobee. They’re also asking that homeowners and businesses affected by red tide be compensated. In the last couple months, the algae on Lake O has continued to spread. Here’s a monthly...

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