Health officials in Orange County have issued blue-green algae alerts for two separate lakes in the Orlando area.
On Thursday, Florida Department of Health in Orange County officials issued blue-green algae alerts for Sunset Lake’s West Shore and Lake Ola’s NE Shore. The alerts come in response to site visits and water samples taken by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on Tuesday, January 17.
Algae blooms have the potential to produce toxins that may be harmful to visitors and local wildlife. Health officials are emphasizing the importance of exercising caution when near them and are advising residents and visitors to not drink, swim, wade, or use personal watercraft in waters where blooms are present.
Visitors should avoid getting algal water in eyes, noses, or mouths, and pets and livestock should be kept away from the waters until the alerts are lifted, according to health officials.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection collects algae samples from reported bloom locations for toxin analysis. Once completed, the results are posted through the department’s website.
To report an algal bloom, visit the Florida Department of Environmental Protection algal bloom monitoring and response webpage.