A water sample taken from the C-44 canal (St. Lucie canal) had high levels of microcystin toxins.
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A water sample taken from the C-44 canal (St. Lucie canal) on June 28 had high levels of microcystin toxins according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).
FDEP tests from June 28 on water samples from the Port Mayaca lock found Microcystis aeruginosa in both samples, with low levels of microcystin toxins (2 ppb) on lake side and high levels (53 ppb) in the canal side algal bloom.
The World Health Organization considers microcystin levels higher than 8 ppb to be unsafe for human recreational contact and levels above 1 ppb to be unsafe to drink.
Due to rainfall in the basin, water from the C-44 canal has been flowing from the basin into the lake over the past week. On July 5, the average flow into the lake at Port Mayaca was 529 cubic feet per second (cfs). Over the past seven days, the flow from the C-44 canal into the lake averaged 289 cfs. Water from the C-44 basin is, on average, higher in phosphorus than the lake water, so flow from that basin into the lake can feed algae there.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) regularly samples water from the Lake Okeechobee Waterway. FDEP also conducts sampling when notified about algal bloom sightings.
On June 28, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) staff collected samples from Lake Okeechobee – Pahokee Marina Boat Ramp; Lake Okeechobee – S308C (lakeside); Lake Okeechobee – S308C (canal side); Lake Okeechobee – (rim canal at Hoover Dike Road City Boat Ramp); C43 Canal – S77 Structure (upstream); and C-43 Canal – S79 (upstream).
The Lake Okeechobee – Pahokee Marina Boat Ramp sample was dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa and had a trace level -- 0.53 parts per billion (ppb) -- microcystins detected. The Lake Okeechobee – S308C (lakeside) and Lake Okeechobee – S308C (canal side) samples were both dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa and had 2.0 ppb and 53 ppb microcystins detected, respectively.
The Lake Okeechobee – (rim canal at Hoover Dike Road City Boat Ramp) sample had no dominant algal taxon and no cyanotoxins were detected. The C43 Canal – S77 Structure (upstream) was dominated by Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and had a trace level (0.32 ppb) of microcystins detected. The C-43 Canal – S79 (upstream) sample was dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa and had 3.0 ppb of microcystins detected.
On June 29, Lee County staff collected a sample from Caloosahatchee River – Davis Boat Ramp. The sample was dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa and had 3.0 ppb of microcystins detected.
On June 30, DEP staff collected a sample at Lake Okeechobee – (rim canal north of Kissimmee Inflow). The sample had no dominant algal taxon and no cyanotoxins detected.
On June 30, SFWMD staff collected a sample at Lake Okeechobee – CULV10A. The sample was dominated by Microcystis aeruginosa and had a trace level (0.45 ppb) of microcystins detected.
On July 1, SFWMD collected a sample from C44 Canal – Timer Powers Park. The sample results are still pending.
FDEP warns that 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. FDEP advises 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 the algal bloom-impacted water, or the algal bloom material or fish on the shoreline.
