CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Clay County (DOH-Clay) issued an alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in Doctors Lake-Pace Island Dock and Camp Echockotee.
Officials said the alert is in response to a water sample taken on July 23.
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DOH-Clay advises residents and visitors to take the following precautions:
- Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercrafts, or come into contact with waters where there is a visible bloom.
- Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have any contact with algae, or discolored or water that smells unpleasant.
- Keep pets and livestock away from the area to avoid any contact with water. Waters where algae blooms are present are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should use an alternative 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 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 thoroughly.
- Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.
Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria that is common in Florida’s freshwater environments.
A bloom occurs when the fast growth of algae leads to a buildup of individual cells that discolor water and often produce floating mats that release unpleasant odors.
Blooms can also appear as scum, foam, or paint on the surface of the water in various colors.
Some 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.
Blue-green algae may not always be visible as a bloom, but it can still be present in the water.
Visit Protecting Florida Together to learn more about the appearance of algae blooms.