Blue-Green Algae Alert remains in effect on Lake Ola

The Florida Department of Health in Orange County has issued a second Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Lake OLA - NE Shore. This is in response to a water sample taken by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on February 6th.

Lake Ola is a 426-acre body of water that sits in the northwest corner of Orange County near the town of Tangerine, about eight miles from the center of Apopka. 

A previous alert was issued on January 20th.

The public should exercise caution in and around Lake OLA – NE Shore.

Ned Bowers, a resident of Tangerine who lives on Lake Ola, has been frustrated by actions taken by Orange County for over a decade.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

• Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
• Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
• Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different 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 the 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 well.
• Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.

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. 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.

Is it harmful?

Blue-green algae blooms can impact human health and ecosystems, including fish and other aquatic animals. For additional information on potential health effects of algal blooms, visit floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/aquatic-toxins.

Find current information about Florida’s water quality status and public health notifications for harmful algal blooms and beach conditions by visiting ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov.Protecting Florida Together is the state’s joint effort to provide statewide water quality information to prioritize environmental transparency and commitment to action.

What do I do if I see an algal bloom?

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) collects and analyzes algal bloom samples. To report a bloom to FDEP, call the toll-free hotline at 855-305-3903 or reportonline.

To report fish kills, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute at 1-800-636-0511.

Report symptoms from exposure to a harmful algal bloom or any aquatic toxin to the Florida Poison Information Center, call 1-800-222-1222 to speak to a poison specialist immediately.

Contact your veterinarian if you believe your pet has become ill after consuming or having contact with blue-green algae contaminated water.

If you have other health questions or concerns about blue-green algae blooms, please call the Florida Department of Health in Orange County Call Center at 407-723-5004.

In Orange County, Blue Green Algae Alerts have also recently been issued for Lake Mann-McQueen Park, Lake Pineloch-East Shore, Starke Lake-Boat Ramp, Lake Killarney-N Lobe, Lake Sue-NW Shore, Lake Martha-NE Shore, Lake Burkett-Center, see articles (https://orange.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/all-articles.html).

Of the recent Blue Green Algae Alerts listed, only Starke Lake is currently considered "Impaired."  The other Lakes mentioned are classified as, "Not Impaired" according to data found on the Orange County Water Atlas website (https://orange.wateratlas.usf.edu/). In Florida, according to Water Management District Policy, regulators issuing Environmental Resource Permits are not required to consider water quality of runoff flowing into lakes until the water body is classified as "Impaired."

"It may be time to urge our elected officials and policy-makers to raise the bar. Our clean Lakes are becoming polluted with nutrient rich runoff feeding Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB's)," said Kim Buchheit, Orange County Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor for District 2, covering Northwest Orange County. "I plan to take a careful look at these issues and help educate elected officials and constituents about sending dirty runoff to our clean waters. I wish our local officials would take an interest and lower their guard to have the conversations that are needed. Unfortunately, that is not happening. We have to do better."

Buchheit can be reached at kimbuchheit2022@gmail.com regarding protection of soil and water natural resources.