Indian River Lagoon algae bloom status

Indian River Lagoon algae bloom history

Florida's Department of Environmental Protection sampled Indian River Lagoon 4 times between 2017 and 2023. Staff saw a bloom on 1 visit (25%).

Microcystin, the most common algal toxin, was not detected in any sample tested here.

When do algae blooms happen at Indian River Lagoon?

About 100% of reports fall between May and September, when warm, calm, sunny weather lets blue-green algae multiply.

Blooms can appear, move with the wind and fade within hours or days, so the time of year is only a guide.

Recent Indian River Lagoon algae reports

Recent reports came from 4 different locations around Indian River Lagoon, including Indian River Lagoon - Canal at Lucia Drive, Indian River Lagoon - Queens Cove Canal and Indian River Lagoon - Harbor Island Boat Basin. A bloom in one cove or beach doesn't mean the whole lake is affected, and conditions can differ a short distance away.

What the Florida results mean

Florida records whether staff saw a bloom at each visit and, when a sample is tested, how much microcystin it contained.

Bloom seen

Staff saw a bloom at the sampling site, and no toxin was found or tested.

Toxin detected

Microcystin, a liver toxin made by blue-green algae, was found in the sample.

8 µg/L or more

At or above the level where the US EPA recommends swimming advisories.

Is Indian River Lagoon safe for dogs?

Dogs are at the greatest risk from toxic algae. They swallow water while swimming, eat scum on the shore and lick algae off their fur afterwards, and a small amount can kill a dog within hours.

• Keep your dog on a lead near water that looks green, scummy, foamy or discoloured, and away from algae washed up on the shore.
• If your dog gets in, rinse it straight away with clean water and don't let it lick its coat.
• Call a vet immediately if your dog vomits, drools, has diarrhoea, staggers, shakes or seems weak after being near the water.

Read the full guide to toxic algae and dogs: symptoms, what to do in the first minutes and how vets treat it.

Health effects of toxic algae

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) can produce toxins that affect the liver, nervous system and skin. Swallowing water during a bloom can cause stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Skin contact can cause rashes, and breathing spray from the water can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. Children are at higher risk because they are smaller and more likely to swallow water.

How to spot a bloom

Toxic blooms can look like pea soup, spilled paint or green streaks on the surface, and they can also be blue, brown, white or red. Scum often collects along the shore downwind. If you can't see your feet in knee-deep water, or you aren't sure, stay out.

Don't drink untreated lake water, and don't boil it to make it safe: boiling doesn't destroy algal toxins. If you feel unwell after contact with the water, contact a doctor or Poison Control on 1-800-222-1222.

Nearby lakes with algae reports

• Stick Marsh33 km away, 105 reports, last in 2025
• Lateral M Canal33 km away, 4 reports, last in 2023
• Blue Cypress Lake34 km away, 120 reports, last in 2025
• Kenansville Lake39 km away, 2 reports, last in 2018
• Warner Creek57 km away, 3 reports, last in 2018

All Indian River County lakes with algae reports

Questions about Indian River Lagoon

Is there algae in Indian River Lagoon right now?

Florida's most recent sample from Indian River Lagoon, on 14 August 2023 at Indian River Lagoon - Canal at Lucia Drive, found a bloom and no microcystin toxin was detected. Florida publishes its data in yearly batches, so for today's conditions check the DEP Algal Bloom Dashboard and the signs at the shore.

When was the last algae bloom at Indian River Lagoon?

The most recent entry in Florida's data is from 14 August 2023 at Indian River Lagoon - Canal at Lucia Drive: a bloom seen during sampling.

Has Indian River Lagoon had toxic algae before?

Reports for Indian River Lagoon come from 2017 only.

Can dogs swim in Indian River Lagoon?

Keep dogs out of the water whenever a bloom is reported or the water looks green, scummy or discoloured. Dogs are the animals most often killed by algal toxins because they swallow water and lick their fur. If your dog swims in water that might have algae, rinse it with clean water and call a vet if it vomits, drools, staggers or seems weak.

Can you eat fish caught in Indian River Lagoon during a bloom?

If you keep fish caught during a bloom, health agencies advise removing the guts and liver and rinsing the fillets in clean water before cooking, because toxins collect most in the organs. Some agencies advise not eating fish from an active bloom at all, so follow local guidance.