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Water-Related News

Blue-green algae making its way around Tampa Bay again

Florida is perfect for summer activities by the water, however, the ongoing problem of blue-green algae has given some people pause about going to the beach.

The foul-smelling and toxic algae, officially called Lyngbya, has popped up in Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota and even Hillsborough counties in the last month according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Last year, many bodies of water became slick with from blue-green algae, along with a significant, 14-month-long red tide algae bloom that plagued all three Florida coasts at one point.

A year later, and with a hand-picked blue-green algae task force in place under Gov. Ron DeSantis, some blue-green algae may still be feeding off of the nutrients left behind.