Toxic algae pollutes coast

Floridians head to hospitals

Blue-green algae spreading along Florida’s east coast is threatening homes and sending people to the hospital.

At least 15 people were treated last week at Martin Health System emergency rooms after having contact with the St. Lucie River, according to a report at tcpalm.com.

Toxic algae blooms have spread as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers releases water from Lake Okeechobee to keep lake levels down. Releases were suspended temporarily, but they were resuming Monday from the St. Lucie Lock & Dam.

Gov. Rick Scott this month declared a state of emergency to combat the algae blooms.

In Stuart, Florida Sportsman magazine has closed its office because a nearby blue-green algae bloom appeared to be making staffers sick, TCPalm reported.

“It smells like death,” Publisher Blair Wickstrom said as he walked along the canal.

Since June 1, when the Army Corps of Engineers began discharging Lake Okeechobee water to the St. Lucie River, TCPalm has compiled a list of 68 reported algae blooms in the river, the canal connecting Lake Okeechobee to the river and the Indian River Lagoon.

WPTV-Ch. 5 reported that blue-green algae was washing up in yards in a Palm City neighborhood.

Resident Jim George told the station he had lived in the area 40 years and never seen the algae so close to his home.