- An Apopka city official said that testing at a Northwest Recreation Complex pond confirmed the presence of a cyanobacterial algae bloom, which can produce toxins.
- Laboratory testing detected low levels of microcystin toxin in the pond water, but its role in turtle deaths remains inconclusive.
- The city maintains the pond with monthly herbicide treatments and posts public warnings about water safety and algae conditions on its website and near the pond.
An Apopka city official said Wednesday that testing at a Northwest Recreation Complex pond confirmed the presence of a cyanobacterial algae bloom, which can produce toxins, as state investigators continue working to determine what caused the recent deaths of dozens of turtles at the site.
Interim City Administrator Radley Williams provided the update during the Apopka City Commission meeting, saying laboratory sampling detected cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, in the pond water.
“Its role in the cause of death remains inconclusive,” Williams said, reading from a statement provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. “Additional samples are still being processed, and results may take several more weeks. [The statement] goes on to state that public encouraged to report sick or strangely behaving freshwater turtles to the FWC to help monitor any situations.”…