What is the toxic slime in Lake Okeechobee?

A June 12, 2023, satellite image captured the lake's surface, showcasing swirls of blue-green algae. Covering around 380 square miles, this was over half of the lake's total area. Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, thrive in nutrient-rich still waters and can produce toxins like microcystin, which can harm health.



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Visiting Lake Okeechobee is worth it for many folks interested in fishing, nature, hiking, and other outdoor activities. It is not, however, an experience for those who wish to go swimming, wading, or otherwise come into contact with the water. The alligators alone make the lake a dangerous spot.

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Toxic algae fed by agricultural fertilizers spread across the wide, shallow lake, which is the largest in the Southeast United States. The algae poisons the air, and seasonal rains threaten to swell the lake and disperse the contaminated water toward popular beaches.

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As a precaution, I'd say don't eat any fish from anywhere in the lake right now, said Paul Gray, an Audubon biologist who's been studying Lake O for 30 years. Even if you don't see algae in the water, there can still be toxins in the water because when the algae dies, the toxins remain.

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Lake Okeechobee is known for its superior fishing for Large Mouth Bass and Speckled Perch. Each year the lake is visited by thousands of anglers and water fowl hunters to enjoy one of our natural resources. Visitors also visit Lake Okeechobee to photograph the flora and fauna and breathtaking views of the area.

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The Okeechobee Utility Authority usually pulls 2.5 million gallons per day from the lake. They can also pull from the Rim Canal nearby as a backup option. In about 15 to 20 minutes, raw lake water is drinkable.

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The seaweed, which smells like rotten eggs and emits toxic gases when it comes ashore, proved a nuisance for Florida beachgoers in the spring – which is also the start of the Sunshine State's tourist season.

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In and around Lake Okeechobee, you can find various water and wading birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. The lake's diverse wildlife makes it a prime habitat for many of the snakes found in Florida. South Florida is home to 34 of the 46 snake species native to the state as well as 3 non-native species.

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