County tests Naples' Venetian Bay for blue-green algae

Thick, blue-green algae covered the Caloosahatchee River and many canals in Southwest Florida this time last year, and now the algae could be spreading in Naples waterways. 

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection detected blue-green algae in Moorings Bay in Naples last month. Stephanie Molloy, the city's natural resources director, said the algae originated in Swan Lake, which discharges into Moorings Bay.

Jo Ann Smallwood, who lives in Park Shore, said she’s been checking Venetian Bay for blue-green algae every day since the DEP detected the presence of blue-green algae in Moorings Bay because she was concerned it might spread to Venetian Bay.

She said she suspects her fears have been realized.

“There were scummy algae pads and it just didn’t look as good. I was shocked. I’ve lived in my home for 40 years and I’ve never seen blue-green algae," Smallwood said.

"Last year off my dock there was some algae that I had the county test, but it proved to be another kind of algae. This is entirely different; it's very green and scummy, and it looks exactly like the blue-green algae on the Caloosahatchee River last summer."

Last month:Department of Environmental Protection finds blue-green algae in Moorings Bay

More:Scientists install tanks in Caloosahatchee in hopes of better understanding algae blooms

Collier County Pollution Control sampled the water Monday afternoon, said Danette Kinaszczuk, pollution control manager. The department sent the sample to the DEP for analysis and the results are expected in about a week, Kinaszczuk said.

Although it has yet to be confirmed that the algae is blue-green algae, Smallwood said she's still concerned about the potential health risks, which extend beyond respiratory irritation.

According to the Florida Department of Health "blue-green algae can cause rashes, stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. People who are very sensitive to smells can have respiratory irritation. Sometimes, high exposures of toxin can affect the liver and nervous system."

More:With toxic blue-green algae bloom, don't eat Lake Okeechobee fish, Audubon biologist says

And:Low oxygen levels likely killed fish that washed into Moorings Bay in Naples

Molloy said the toxin levels from the algae in Moorings Bay were low — 1.7 micrograms per liter near the discharge from Swan Lake, where the bloom originated — which means the algae is less likely to pose an environmental or health risk.

She also said that there's no long-term data on the presence of blue-green algae in the city's waterways, but in general there seems to be an increase in its occurrence everywhere. 

"Generally speaking scientists are beginning to note a worldwide increase in the frequency, magnitude and geographical spread of harmful algal blooms," Molloy said.

"There is still much that is not known about cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), but scientists are also beginning to make links between cyanobacteria blooms and impacts from climate change, (such as) increased water temperatures and heavy rainfall transporting nutrients into water bodies."

DEP spokeswoman Dee Ann Miller said the department actively monitors any reports of algal blooms. 

"Persistent blooms are routinely monitored and retested, and along with citizen reports, staff also regularly review satellite imagery and aerial photography, when available, to inform the development of daily sampling plans," she said. "We will continue to respond as quickly and efficiently as possible to both observed and reported blooms."

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Naples City Councilwoman Michelle McLeod said the presence of blue-green algae in Moorings Bay and potentially in other bays within the city demonstrates the need to accelerate current water quality improvement projects and possibly add more to the docket.

"This is exactly the scientific data that gives reason to accelerating the city’s projects on our storm water master plan," she said. "Addressing our lake maintenance issues, which is a key component to addressing water quality issues, is a priority that the city should consider addressing now." 

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