The Lake Worth Waterkeeper Talks about Blue-green Algae and What We Can Do about It

by Reinaldo Diaz

Reinaldo Diaz is president of the Lake Worth Waterkeeper, an organization he founded to advocate for the Lake Worth Lagoon and its connected watershed, which includes nearly all the water in Palm Beach County, starting with Lake Okeechobee. Lake Worth Waterkeeper is a member of Waterkeeper Alliance, an international group of advocates that fight for “drinkable, fishable, and swimmable water.”

Synopsis of situation: Discuss how much of the water we get from Lake O, who gets the rest, and why this is a concern. Basic overview.

At the heart of the cyanobacteria problem is south Florida’s flood control system, which inadvertently serves as a pollution delivery system. The clear majority of Florida at and below Lake Okeechobee was once submerged underwater as wetlands. Historically, Lake Okeechobee flowed over its south bank and into the Everglades with the characteristic sheet flow of a big wide river. A very complex system of canals now drains these lands to make way for development.  Water that came from the Lake was diverted into canals to send it toward our coasts. The priority mission of these canals is to protect our communities from flooding. The problem lies in Lake Okeechobee’s pollution, which makes its way through the canals, contaminating everything along the way.

In a typical year, the Caloosahatchee River will take most, or about 60%, of this diverted water. The Indian River Lagoon will take about 30% annually. Therefore, they get the worst of the cyanobacterial blooms. Annually, about 10% of the Lake water can be diverted through Palm Beach County, but this is usually reserved as an emergency plan, when the whole system takes on an extreme amount of rainfall, causing a dire need for draining.

Are blue-green algae and cyanobacteria the same thing? What makes blue-green algae toxic? What is microcystin?

Somewhere along the way cyanobacteria were given the nickname of blue-green algae because they look and behave very similarly to algae. Cyanobacteria are bacteria, not algae. Specifically, “cyanobacteria” refer to a phylum of bacteria that receives its energy from photosynthesis; hence they are often described as algae. There are many species of cyanobacteria, and they are genius chemists because of their capability to create many different chemical compounds. These organisms are some of the oldest in the world and are likely responsible for creating the earth’s first atmosphere. But, unfortunately for us, many species of cyanobacteria create toxic compounds that are harmful to humans and wildlife. One such species is Microcystis aeruginosa, which has been the dominant species in recent blooms. This species produces microcystin, a group of 50+ toxins discovered so far.

Is there a connection between the red tides and the blue-green algae?

Red tide is a bloom of marine phytoplankton.  There are many species that can make up these blooms, but, like cyanobacteria, they are photosynthetic and capable of taking over an environment. Both can thrive on similar conditions of warm water loaded with nutrient pollution. Typically, cyanobacteria start in freshwater and slowly die as they make their way towards saltwater. Red tide works in the opposite direction. However, we do have a study that shows that, where these two meet, the red tide can feed on the cyanobacteria as an energy source.

What is the life cycle of the algae? You said it was a natural occurrence so why is it a problem?

When cyanobacteria bloom, they can essentially replenish their own population if the right conditions are met, specifically if the water stays warm and there is an abundance of nutrient pollution. These organisms do exist in nature, but, like everything else in nature, they become a problem when the ecosysem is thrown off balance. Cyanobacteria thrive on the nutrient pollution in Lake Okeechobee, namely, from phosphorus and nitrogen in fertilizers being used around the Lake and from decades of legacy nutrients that have taken over the bottom of the Lake. When the water gets warm enough, the cyanobacteria use these nutrients to feed their reproduction.  When this happens, their population grows to throw the whole ecosystem off balance. If they have access to this nutrient pollution and the water stays warm enough, they can theoretically continue to live as a bloom indefinitely.

How does the water get from Lake Okeechobee to the Lake Worth Lagoon? Are the Lake Worth Lagoon and Intracoastal Waterway the same thing?

The Lake Worth Lagoon was a freshwater lake that spanned from just north of MacArthur State Park (near PGA) to Ocean Drive in Boynton Beach (where Banana Boat is). A little over 100 years ago, the inlets were cut, bringing in saltwater from the Atlantic and turning the lagoon into a coastal estuary. Around the same time, canals were dug to connect the lagoon to the chain of lakes, creating what we know today as the Intracoastal Waterway.

Before development, the Lake Worth Lagoon was connected to Lake Okeechobee via an underground aquifer; there were springs that fed the lagoon. Now it is connected by canals, as part of the flood control system. Three canals can bring Lake Okeechobee water to the Arthur R Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and other Water Conservation Areas, where the water is treated and stored before being sent south toward the Everglades. If this cannot be done, then Lake water can be diverted down the C-51 (West Palm Beach Canal) that runs along Southern Blvd., where it eventually leads into the Lake Worth Lagoon. This is an excellent map from the SFWMD: https://www.sfwmd.gov/sites/default/files/documents/facility_map_overview.pdf

By the time it leaves Lake Okeechobee and gets to the Lake Worth Lagoon in West Palm Beach, is the blue-green algae still alive? When the water is released from Lake Okeechobee, how long does the algae live?

As cyanobacteria are carried towards the coast, their population is confined into smaller canals, and they must rely on nutrient pollution from runoff around the canal. These are the same pollutants (phosphorus and nitrogen from fertilizers) that are found in Lake Okeechobee, but there isn’t enough for the cyanobacteria to keep living. So, in essence, they slowly starve, and, as they die and decompose, we see them turn into psychedelic blues and purples. Most cyanobacteria don’t fare too well in saltwater, so as they come into contact with the coast they dissipate and die.

The death of cyanobacteria sounds like a relief, but, when this happens, their cell walls break down and they release all their toxic contents at once, leading to serious public health concerns.

Can this algae become aerosolized or airborne?

Wind and waves can bring cyanobacteria into the air, especially if the water has been still for some

time, giving the cyanobacteria a chance to float to the surface and form foamy mats.  This foam can be picked up by wind and carried for a long distance. It is highly recommended to use a respirator or fine particle mask if near cyanobacteria; otherwise you may suffer headaches or worse.

Will I know if it’s in the water by looking at it?

For the most part, cyanobacteria will be somewhat visible in the water. However, it is important to understand that only testing will tell you if they are toxic. The cyanobacteria can be well dissipated and barely visible but still producing toxins beyond safe levels. Consequently, the water can look like split pea soup but still not be producing toxins. This is an area ripe for study; our hunch is that Microcystin prefers certain types of nitrogen.

Who is testing the water in PBC? Do they test regularly? Do they test in enough locations? Do we have toxic blue-green algae in PBC?

The Department of Environmental Protection does testing, but it is dependent on reports, and the testing is infrequent, at best. Other agencies like South Florida Water Management and some public utilities will test, but the results are typically used for their own internal use and not intended for public warning.

If I live in a house on the shores of the WPB Canal or by the spillway, what should I do? If we see it who should we report it to?

If you live on the C-51 (West Palm Beach Canal) or on any of the smaller canals that connect to it, you should keep an eye on the water. Even without Lake Okeechobee water, there is a slight chance that a bloom can occur, if the same conditions are there. It’s easiest to see the cyanobacteria along the shore or in an area where water movement dead ends; here you’ll see little specks of green, like a snow globe. If you see cyanobacteria, you should report it.

Avoid cyanobacteria-contaminated water whenever possible. If near it, be sure to wash hands regularly, disinfect any outdoor furniture, and keep children and pets away. A respirator/dust mask should help prevent irritation. If cyanobacteria are present as surface scum, do not under any circumstances remove them from the water. Using a pool skimmer to bring cyanobacteria onto your lawn will only make the release of toxins worse.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has an excellent website, where you can report details and even include photos: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3444948/Algal-Bloom-ReportingForm

You can also call them at 855-305-3903

Are there warning signs, so people don’t fish, swim, etc.?

In Palm Beach County there are no warning signs. The problem is that there is no statewide standard policy on public warning.  There is only a county-by-county determination, and it is up to the Department of Health’s county offices to post signs. In Palm Beach County, the Department of Health has chosen not to post signs at contaminated areas, but rather to rely on a blanket general warning to avoid algae blooms.

Will we be experiencing fish kills in PBC? How do cyanobacteria kill fish? Birds? Other wildlife?

Even though cyanobacteria and other algae blooms are creating oxygen by photosynthesis, they are also capable of respiration. So, when their population blooms, they take over and breathe up most of the available oxygen, suffocating the fish and other wildlife. That is just one way they cause kills. As mentioned before, cyanobacteria are chemists that create many toxins. And, of course, if the fish die, wildlife (birds included) that rely on those fish will die, too. Additionally, when cyanobacteria and other algae take over the water column, they block sunlight, killing the aquatic plants beneath, which, of course, are the foundation of so much of our ecosystem.

What kinds of precautions should people take? Can I swim in it? Can my dog?

Cyanobacteria must be avoided at all costs. To exemplify just how toxic this stuff is, the World Health Organization sets the safe level of microcystin at 1 ppb for drinking water and 10 ppb for recreational waters. That is literally one single drop of microcystin in a truck tanker of drinking water or 10 drops in a truck tanker of recreational water. In my opinion, anything more than 0 is not worth the risk.

I certainly won’t swim in it, and it’s not recommended to eat fish from these waters.  It’s simply not worth the risk. For dogs and other pets, the risk is even greater and often fatal.

Should all this water be tested?

It would be a monumental task to test all the waters involved, but it is necessary to test waters that have the potential to harm the public. Waters near neighborhoods or public use areas need to be tested regularly, because, if they are unsafe, people need to be warned to avoid exposure.

Also, testing in Lake Okeechobee itself is necessary to better understand how these blooms start and move throughout the Lake, not just along the shores, but throughout the middle of the Lake as well.

Are there short-term health effects? Long-term health effects? Has anyone in PBC had to be treated for exposure to toxic blue-green algae?

Cyanobacteria can create too many toxins to talk about.  Assuming you survive the initial dose, there are concerns with repeated exposure to toxins like microcystin. Microcystin is a hepatotoxin, meaning it attacks the liver; liver toxicity from microcystin can lead to death. Inhaling vapors from wind- and wave- swept cyanobacteria can cause asthma attacks or other respiratory problems. Consuming cyanobacteria by drinking the water by consuming fish can lead to a world of health problems. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal problems, and headaches can begin within hours of consumption. Boiling the water will not kill any of these toxins. Simply being near cyanobacteria-laden water can bring on skin rashes and other irritations around your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Perhaps most troubling is that some cyanobacteria can produce β-Methylamino-L-alanine, or BMAA, a substance whose repeated exposure is linked to serious neurodegenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).

Reporting of affected people in our area is spotty at best; this also highlights the need for serious study.

Darbster is one of my favorite restaurants, and they are right on the bank of the C-51. They have outside seating overlooking the canal. Should they take any precautions?

So far this year cyanobacteria has not made it to Darbster’s back yard, but it did two years ago, if that happens again, I would recommend that they close their outdoor patio until the cyanobacteria go away.

We hear a lot about the St. Lucie River and the Caloosahatchee River in the news…but not so much about Palm Beach County. Why?

Simply put, disaster is good for ratings. Since we usually don’t get it as bad as the Caloosahatchee or St. Lucie, we are often excluded from the conversation. Our area needs to be included because we are often accused as the originator of our cyanobacteria blooms. A red herring out there asserts that other causes, such as leaking septic tanks, are the real creators of the blooms. Although this is true for many areas around the world, it is not what we’ve been seeing in our area for the last few blooms. Nutrient pollution in the Everglades/Lake Okeechobee system begins in the Kissimmee River valley from the extensive development that is happening in the Orlando area. This nutrient pollution is exacerbated by the substantial use of fertilizers from the agriculture around Lake Okeechobee, as well as from the decades of legacy pollution on the bottom of the Lake. There the cyanobacteria really explode in population;  then, as they are sent through the canals and into our coastal estuaries, they are slowly dying because the cyanobacteria population does not have enough nutrients to sustain itself.

Septic tanks do contribute some nutrients, but that is a problem that is being addressed. Every day more and more neighborhoods are converting their sewers, and recently lots of money is becoming available for these conversions. So, it’s a problem that is getting fixed.  It takes time, but it’s happening. The same can be said for stormwater management, which would address urban runoff, another contributor of nutrient pollution.

Meanwhile, nutrient pollution from the agriculture surrounding Lake Okeechobee continues with little to no hindrance. Unfortunately, the agriculture industry in these areas has been unwilling to accept that their nutrient pollution contributions must be limited. They are, so far, the largest contributors, and there is little sign that a change will happen anytime soon without significant litigation, which is unfortunately unaffordable for small groups like mine to undertake.

Are the algae blooms having an economic effect on Florida? PBC?

Absolutely. There is a significant economic impact on all of Florida. Algae blooms are a statewide issue. When a potential tourist from another part of the country or world sees on the news that any of our water is polluted,  they’ll understandably choose another destination.  The economic impact is another area ripe for study,  because we are seeing that effects are sometimes for the better. For example, the recent cyanobacteria bloom has had massive negative environmental impact on the Caloosahatchee, as tourists decide to not visit places like Sanibel,  and they end up in Sebastian, which has seen an increase in tourism.

But this isn’t always the case; in general, the statewide effects are negative. Tourists in another part of the world can rarely make a distinction between Sanibel and Palm Beach; as far as they are concerned, all of Florida is like this.

The long-term effects will always be felt;  the more intense and frequent these blooms are, the more environmental destruction will occur. Years ago, we had a long cold snap that resulted in a massive die-off of Snook, one of our most valuable fisheries. A moratorium on fishing Snook was put in place, and it took nearly a decade for the population to recover.

Similar fish kills resulting from cyanobacteria blooms would be too much to handle, especially if they’re happening every two years. If the fish die, people won’t come here to fish. When the birds leave, people won’t come here to bird. If critical nursery habitats like sea grass and mangroves are killed off, Florida won’t have anything left. Tourists don’t come here to see lifeless beaches  too toxic to be around. Our economy would collapse.

How do we fix the problem?

Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet that’ll slay the algae bloom monster.  We can categorize the best fixes as better flood control, reducing the possibility of future blooms, and addressing climate change.

Better flood control requires an adequate means to clean up Lake Okeechobee water so that it can be sent south back into the Everglades, thereby reducing the need to discharge it into the northern estuaries. There is a reservoir in the works, that will be in the Everglades Agricultural Area just south of the Lake.  It may not be the greatest design, but it should reduce the need for discharging. It is a phenomenal project and is needed. Our concern is that the design proposed is not taking full advantage of its potential to treat as much of the water as possible to really cut back or even eliminate discharging.

Reducing the possibility of future blooms would require regulation that would limit the use of the nutrients that cyanobacteria thrive on. Reducing phosphorus and nitrogen-based fertilizers would take away cyanobacteria’s food source, thereby taking away their chance of blooming. For this to be successful, we would need the ability to hold polluters accountable for using too much fertilizer, something that is currently not happening in Florida. However,  the model exists in the Chesapeake Bay; it’s a so-called “nutrient diet.”

Addressing climate change by reducing carbon emissions would really help us to prevent the rapid rise in water temperature that cyanobacteria prefer. It would also protect vital habitats such as wetlands that do their part in reducing the excess nutrient pollution in the Lake and other environments.

How do we start working towards these goals?

Related to the problem of not having a standard statewide policy for public warning, we don’t really have any statewide effort to address algae blooms. Twenty-two states have an “action plan” that addresses harmful algae blooms. These plans are designed to get everyone in the state on the same page so that they are all working in unison to fix this problem. The action plan would figure out what needs to be studied and how and who will perform these studies and would put in place protocols for when blooms happen. Among these protocols would be a standard statewide warning policy.

In 1999 a Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force was enacted into state statute; this law is still valid. However,  in 2001 it was defunded before it ever accomplished anything. We have been working to get funds through legislative appropriation requests to get this going again. It is simply absurd that a state like Florida, where water is our lifeblood, does not have a plan in place to address algae blooms.

Where can we go to get more information?

Florida DEP has a pretty decent website with general information regarding algae blooms: https://floridadep.gov/dear/algal-bloom

For information specific to Palm Beach County, it’s best to rely on NGO’s such as Lake Worth Waterkeeper, which are better prepared to inform the public: http://www.lakeworthwaterkeeper.org