Sawgrass Lake algae bloom status

Sawgrass Lake algae bloom history

Florida's Department of Environmental Protection sampled Sawgrass Lake 13 times between 2018 and 2023. Staff saw a bloom on 12 visits (92%).

The highest microcystin result recorded here was 4.45 µg/L, below the US EPA swimming advisory level of 8 µg/L.

Blooms have been recorded every year for the last 3 years in the data.

Reports have risen in the last three years compared with the three before.

That puts Sawgrass Lake in the top 20% of the 293 Florida lakes on this site for the number of years with blooms.

When do algae blooms happen at Sawgrass Lake?

At Sawgrass Lake, reports are most often logged in October, November and December.

Unusually, about 50% of reports here fall between November and February, so blooms aren't only a summer problem at Sawgrass Lake. Some of this reflects when the lake is monitored, not just when blooms happen.

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

Recent Sawgrass Lake algae reports

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 Sawgrass Lake 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. With blooms recorded in 3 different years here, take particular care at Sawgrass Lake in October, November and December.

• 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

• Lake Hancock7 km away, 4 reports, last in 2025
• Lake Speer10 km away, 20 reports, last in 2023
• Caywood Pond11 km away, 12 reports, last in 2023
• Old Lake Davenport12 km away, 7 reports, last in 2023
• Johns Lake12 km away, 5 reports, last in 2025

All Lake County lakes with algae reports

Questions about Sawgrass Lake

Is there algae in Sawgrass Lake right now?

Florida's most recent sample from Sawgrass Lake, on 17 January 2023 at Sawgrass Lake - from CWC dock, 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 Sawgrass Lake?

The most recent entry in Florida's data is from 17 January 2023 at Sawgrass Lake - from CWC dock: a bloom seen during sampling.

Has Sawgrass Lake had toxic algae before?

Yes. Blooms are recorded in 3 of the 6 years from 2018 to 2023, most often in October, November and December.

Can dogs swim in Sawgrass Lake?

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 Sawgrass Lake 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.