PALATKA, Fla., April 29, 2009 - With algal blooms observed in the St. Johns River earlier than usual this year, the St. Johns River Water Management District has begun its annual harmful algal bloom monitoring program and has launched new informational pages on its Web site.
While the peak season for algae to proliferate is typically late summer to early fall, current conditions appear to have triggered early blooms. Algal blooms are caused by a combination of hot, overcast days, calm wind and excessive nutrients in the water, such as fertilizer runoff, stormwater runoff and wastewater.
Algae and the District's efforts to track blooms and gather data are the focus of a new informational Web page at floridaswater.com/algae/index.html. The page offers answers to frequently asked questions about algae, links to contact information for various agencies, and photos of algal blooms in the Lower St. Johns River Basin for reference.
District staff routinely monitor algal growth in the river and collect samples during peak periods to determine if algal toxins are associated with them. Many algal blooms are not harmful to people, but some species are associated with the production of toxic compounds.
Samples were collected recently from several sites in the lower St. Johns River and examined by phycologists (algae experts) to determine the algal species and concentration of any toxins. Results showed that levels of algal toxins in the samples did not exceed World Health Organization recommended guidelines for recreational activities.
District staff provide any significant results to other agencies, including the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. When data show toxins, the results also are released to media to communicate with the public and encourage people to seek guidance from the appropriate agencies on swimming and fishing during a bloom.
To alert the District to an algal bloom or ask questions about algae, members of the public can send an e-mail with their name, phone number and e-mail address, as well as any available information about the location of the bloom, such as GIS coordinates, to algae@sjrwmd.com.