Scott Lake algae bloom status

Scott Lake algae bloom history

Florida's Department of Environmental Protection sampled Scott Lake 24 times between 2019 and 2024. Staff saw a bloom on 23 visits (96%).

The highest microcystin result recorded here was 2.59 µg/L, below the US EPA swimming advisory level of 8 µg/L.

That puts Scott Lake in the top 10% of the 293 Florida lakes on this site for the number of years with blooms.

When do algae blooms happen at Scott Lake?

At Scott Lake, reports are most often logged in March, April and May.

Reports are spread across the year, with 57% between May and September.

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

Recent Scott Lake algae reports

Recent reports came from 2 different locations around Scott Lake, including Scott Lake - West and Scott Lake - at Fitzgerald Rd Boat Ramp. A bloom in one cove or beach doesn't mean the whole lake is affected, and conditions can differ a short distance away.

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 Scott 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 4 different years here, take particular care at Scott Lake in March, April and May.

• 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

• Banana Lake4 km away, 4 reports, last in 2022
• Lake Hollingsworth6 km away, 6 reports, last in 2023
• Lake Hunter8 km away, 5 reports, last in 2020
• Lake Bonny9 km away, 3 reports, last in 2025
• Lake Hancock11 km away, 26 reports, last in 2025

All Polk County lakes with algae reports

Questions about Scott Lake

Is there algae in Scott Lake right now?

Florida's most recent sample from Scott Lake, on 2 July 2024 at Scott Lake - West, 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 Scott Lake?

The most recent entry in Florida's data is from 2 July 2024 at Scott Lake - West: a bloom seen during sampling.

Has Scott Lake had toxic algae before?

Yes. Blooms are recorded in 4 of the 6 years from 2019 to 2024, most often in March, April and May.

Can dogs swim in Scott 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 Scott 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.