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More toxic algae spotted in Lake Okeechobee

More toxic algae spotted in Lake Okeechobee
>> THESE ARE SAMPLES FROM LAKE OKEECHOBEE. ANGELA MALCOM MACFARLAND IS A : RESEARCH ASSOCIATE AT THE FAU HARBOR BRANCH OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTE. HE SAYS RECENT SAMPLES TAKEN FROM LAKE OKEECHOBEE NEAR CANAL POINT AND PORT MAYACA TEST POSITIVE FOR TOXIC ALGAE. >> EVERY SUMMER WE’RE SEEING BLOOMS IN THE LAKE AND IT’S BEEN INCREASING OVER THE LAST 5 TO YEARS. I BELIEVE IN THE LAKE AND IT SEEMS TO BE A YEARLY OCCURRENCE THAT WE GET THESE BLOOMS OF MICROCYSTIS THE TOXIC ALGA HAPPENING IN THE LAKE. ANGELA BANK -- ANGELA MACFARLAND : SAYS THE FDEP ALSO TOOK SAMPLES JUST YESTERDAY AND THEY TOO WERE POSITIVE FOR TOXIC ALGAE. WE ASKED IF THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE CONCERNED. >> WELL IT’S DEFINITELY , SOMETHING TO BE CONCERNED AND BE AWARE ABOUT IF YOU ARE BOATING OR FISHING IN THE LAKE. ANGELA THESE PHOTOS WERE SNAPPED : AT THE OVERBOARD MARINA IN RIO. SOME PEOPLE THERE WERE CONCERNED THE ALGAE WAS MAKING ITS WAY TO THE ST. LUCIE RIVER. >> THIS THING YESTERDAY WAS AN ANOMALY. I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. WHAT KIND OF ALGAE IT IS BUT I CAN TELL YOU IT WASN’T THE BL GREEN KIND. ANGELA MCFARLAND SAYS SO FAR : THIS SUMMER HE HASN’T SEEN ANY TOXIC BLUE GREEN ALGAE IN THE ST. LUCIE RIVER OR IN THE ESTUARY, IN FACT HE SAYS THEY’VE ALSO COME UP WITH A NEW TOOL TO CHECK. >> THIS IS A DEVICE THAT IS BASICALLY AN UNDERWATER MICROSCOPE. ANGELA: HE SAID HE USUALLY THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO ON A BOAT TO GET A SAMPLE AND BRING THE TO THE LAB THAT IS TIME CONSUMING AND EXPENSIVE. >> WE CAN THROW IT OUT AND IT COULD TEAM SLEEP CAPTURE IMAGES, SAY EVERY HOUR -- WE COULD THROW IT OUT THERE AND CAPTURE IMAGES, SAY EVERY HOUR. WE CAN LOOK AT THE ALGAE DIRECTLY TO DETERMINE WHAT IS THERE. ANGELA: THEY HOPE TO HAV
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More toxic algae spotted in Lake Okeechobee
Toxic blue-green algae has once again been spotted in Lake Okeechobee.Scientists at the FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute recently collected algae samples from Lake Okeechobee near Canal Point and Port Mayaca.Research associate Malcolm McFarland said the samples tested positive for toxic algae."Every summer we're seeing blooms in the lake and it's been increasing over the last five to 10 years," McFarland said. "I believe in the lake and it seems to be a yearly occurrence."McFarland said samples taken by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection also tested positive for toxic algae."It's definitely something to be concerned and be aware about if you are boating or fishing on the lake," McFarland said.Earlier this week there was a suspected blue-green algae sighting near the Outboards Only Marina in Rio.Some people were concerned the algae was making its way to the St. Lucie River."I haven't seen it in the St. Lucie River or in the estuary," McFarland said. "We have definitely started to see rather high concentrations of the toxic microcystis blue-green algae in Lake Okeechobee."McFarland said they are in the process of building an underwater microscope to check for algae in the lagoon.He said they typically would have to go out on a boat to collect samples and then bring them back to the lab which can be time consuming and expensive."With this we can basically throw it out there and it can be continuously recording images every hour," said McFarland. "We go collect data, look at the data and look at algae directly in the water column to try determine what's there."Experts hope to have the underwater microscope up and running within a few months.
FORT PIERCE, Fla. —

Toxic blue-green algae has once again been spotted in Lake Okeechobee.

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Scientists at the FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute recently collected algae samples from Lake Okeechobee near Canal Point and Port Mayaca.

Research associate Malcolm McFarland said the samples tested positive for toxic algae.

"Every summer we're seeing blooms in the lake and it's been increasing over the last five to 10 years," McFarland said. "I believe in the lake and it seems to be a yearly occurrence."

McFarland said samples taken by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection also tested positive for toxic algae.

"It's definitely something to be concerned and be aware about if you are boating or fishing on the lake," McFarland said.

Earlier this week there was a suspected blue-green algae sighting near the Outboards Only Marina in Rio.

Some people were concerned the algae was making its way to the St. Lucie River.

"I haven't seen it in the St. Lucie River or in the estuary," McFarland said. "We have definitely started to see rather high concentrations of the toxic microcystis blue-green algae in Lake Okeechobee."

McFarland said they are in the process of building an underwater microscope to check for algae in the lagoon.

He said they typically would have to go out on a boat to collect samples and then bring them back to the lab which can be time consuming and expensive.

"With this we can basically throw it out there and it can be continuously recording images every hour," said McFarland. "We go collect data, look at the data and look at algae directly in the water column to try determine what's there."

Experts hope to have the underwater microscope up and running within a few months.