STUART — The Florida Department of Health in Martin County has issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in parts of Lake Okeechobee, following recent water testing.
The advisory, announced in a press release from DOH-Martin, applies to four sites where water samples taken Aug. 18 and 19 detected toxins: Lake Okeechobee-S308C (Lakeside), Lake Okeechobee-L004, Lake Okeechobee Eastshore, and Lake Okeechobee-NES135. Officials are urging the public to use caution in and around the lake until further notice.
Health officials warn residents and visitors not to drink, swim, wade, or use personal watercraft in areas with visible blooms. People who come into contact with the water should wash their skin and clothing with soap and water. Pets and livestock should also be kept away from the lake and given alternative sources of drinking water…