Algal blooms found in Perdido Bay that can cause skin irritation to swimmers
Kevin Robinson, Pensacola News Journal Published 3:27 p.m. CT June 3, 2020 | Updated 5:36 p.m. CT June 3, 2020
As an Alabama environmental group has raised concerns about algal blooms in Perdido Bay, Escambia County scientists say they have found no harmful toxins. Mobile Baykeeper, a community environmental advocacy organization, issued a special warning for Perdido Bay sites due to the presence of a lyngbya algal bloom. They noted the algae can cause increased levels of fecal indicator bacteria such as E. coli and enterococcus, as well as skin irritation and stomach illness in people.
"It does look like it's happening around different parts of the Bay," Meredith Diskin, Mobile Baykeeper program coordinator, said of the bloom. "Some citizens have called in and inquired about it, because they've seen it on the east side of the bay as well. So we are advising citizens to be safe and not swim if they are seeing this harmful algal bloom in their water."
Scientists from the Escambia County (Florida) Natural Resources Management Department said they responded on Monday to water quality concerns regarding reports of floating algae mats and possible high bacteria concentrations in Perdido Bay.
County test results from Monday afternoon showed low levels of enterococci bacteria well below the Florida water quality standard.
The Florida Department of Health uses 70 colonies per 100 milliliters as its threshold for issuing a health advisory under the Healthy Beaches Program. All three of the county samples collected earlier this week were below 20 colonies per 100 milliliters.
The algal mats were identified as lyngbya and spirulina. They are more common during drought conditions, and a significant rain event will likely dissipate the mats.
"Swimmers may choose to not swim in areas where these mats are floating around because contact with the algae may cause dermatitis or skin irritation in some people with sensitive skin," the county release said.
Diskin said Baykeeper took samples at Spanish Cove and Kee Avenue near U.S. 98 on last week on Friday and this week on Monday and detected low levels of enterococcus. Another environmental protection organization, Weeks Bay Preserve, tested the samples and confirmed the presence of the algal bloom that had been persisting in the Bay since April.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection conducts weekly sampling at Perdido Key State Park, which sits on a barrier island near the mouth of the Bay. DEP sampling has not detected elevated bacteria levels.
Algal blooms can form naturally around this time of year, but Diskin said excess nutrients from human activity can also contribute to their growth. She said stormwater often picks up nutrients like lawn fertilizer and nitrogen and washes them into the waterways, especially as increasing development reduces the number of places the water can seep into the soil.
Both Baykeeper and Escambia County will continue to monitor the algal blooms.
Diskin said the best way to track future updates on Pedido Bay water quality through Mobile Baykeeper is to visit mobilebaykeeper.org/swim.