As discharges from the swollen lake have been released through canals to the east and west, the bloom has spread.ĭata from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection shows that dozens of rivers and lakes on either coast radiate from the massive lake. Unfortunately, this unsightly mess isn't just contained to Lake Okeechobee, which just so happens to be the largest freshwater lake in the state. There's a technical term for the layer of toxic sludge blanketing Lake Okeechobee: blue-green algae. You can see an interactive version of the same map embedded above by going to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's harmful algal blooms observing website here, and you can also find information on red tide forecast predictions from the Ocean Circulation Group here. Although that web page is usually only updated once a week, anyone interested in the current red tide status can call FWC's hotline at 86 if you're calling from within Florida or 72 if you're calling from out of state. Weekly change is also noted on the page, meaning Floridians can see where red tide conditions are improving and where they're getting worse. Bright red dots indicate where the bloom is the worst, while orange dots show where levels are in the medium range and yellow dots illustrate areas where red tide is present but in low levels. Each week, FWC posts the latest counts and conditions on a special section of its website dedicated to red tide monitoring.Ĭontained among the information on /redtidestatus is a color-coded status map that's updated every Friday. To hear a recording about red tide conditions throughout the state, call the toll-free hotline at 86.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has been monitoring the Karenia brevis bloom, also known as red tide, on the Gulf Coast for months. Results are updated multiple times a day and can be found at /redtidemap/) status updates are issued twice weekly during blooms ( Red Tide Current Status). The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission collects and analyzes red tide samples. Up-to-date information regarding Florida’s water quality status and public health notifications for harmful algal blooms and beach conditions can be found at and /environmental-health/aquatic-toxins. Blooms can last into the winter or spring, but sometimes endure more than a year, according to DOH. It’s carried to coastal waters by winds and currents. Red tide is a type of microscopic algae found in the Gulf of Mexico, usually formed naturally offshore, and more often in the late summer or early fall. ▪ Residents living in beach areas are advised to close windows and run the air conditioner. If pets swim in these waters, wash them as soon as possible. ▪ Keep pets and livestock away from the water, sea foam and dead sea life. ▪ Wash your skin and clothing with soap and fresh water if you had recent contact with red tide. The DOH recommends washing the fillets with bottled water. Fin fish caught live and healthy are safe to eat as long as they are filleted and the guts are discarded. ▪ Don’t eat shellfish or distressed or dead fish from the area. ▪ Those with chronic respiratory problems should be extra cautious near the water because red tide can affect people’s breathing. ▪ Stay away from the water and don’t swim near dead fish. The health department issued the following steps that should be taken if you are in an area where red tide has been detected: As of Tuesday, it hasn’t been detected anywhere else in the Keys and “county public beaches remain free of Red Tide,” DOH spokespeople Jennifer Lefalar and Alison Kerr said in a statement. The DOH said it has no timeline as to when the red tide near Sawyer Key could dissipate.
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