The Florida Department of Health in Polk County (DOH-Polk) cautioned the public on December 30, 2025, of the presence of blue-green algae at Lake Echo – NW, observed on December 29, 2025. Water sample testing is underway. Blue-green algae have the potential to produce toxins. Environmental conditions can change at any time.
Residents and visitors are advised 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 skin and clothing with soap and water if contact occurs with algae or discolored or unpleasant-smelling water.
- Keep pets and livestock away from the area. Waters with algae blooms are not safe for animals. Provide alternative water sources.
- 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 fillets with tap or bottled water, discard guts, and cook thoroughly.
- Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.
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The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and partners collect algae samples from reported bloom locations. Toxin results are available on Protecting Florida Together or DEP’s Algal Bloom Dashboard.
SOURCE: FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN POLK COUNTY
https://polk.floridahealth.gov/
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