FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 4, 2017
Residents and Visitors Reminded to Avoid Swimming or Fishing When
Visible Algal Bloom is Present
~Toxins detected in
algae sample near Canal Point Park in Palm Beach County~
PAHOKEE,
Fla. –
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida
Department of Health are reminding residents and visitors to be mindful during
summertime recreational activities as the season’s high temperatures, abundant
sunlight and frequent rainstorms annually increase the presence of algal blooms
in certain Florida waterbodies.
Since a bloom was first identified on Lake Okeechobee, DEP has
coordinated with the South Florida Water Management District to perform
frequent surveillance and sampling. While most of these
results have been non-detect or very low levels of toxins, DEP received results of
one sample with elevated levels of toxins (microcystin) near Canal Point Park in
northwest Palm Beach County on the eastern shore of Lake Okeechobee today. It is recommended that
you avoid swimming and fishing in this area. The area will be
resampled Monday and results will continue to be posted online. At this time, the Army Corps of Engineers is not planning any Lake Okeechobee discharges.
DEP and Florida’s water management districts
frequently monitor Florida’s water quality and routinely collect algal bloom
samples as soon as they are observed to identify algal type and test toxin levels. In addition, staff are deployed to take additional samples in
response to reported blooms – whether from a citizen, other response team
agencies or other sources. To keep residents and visitors informed of the
latest algal bloom monitoring results and activities, DEP has a website where it posts the
dates and locations of samples collected. Test results are added as they become
available. Persistent blooms are routinely monitored and retested.
Individuals should avoid contact with algae
and can report algal blooms using DEP’s toll-free hotline (855-305-3903) and
online at (www.reportalgalbloom.com).
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