UPDATE: Lake Alert for Lake Formosa Canal LIFTED
March 16, 2022
Based on the latest results obtained by City of Orlando staff from sampling the Lake Formosa Canal on March 16, 2022, the Lake Alert for Lake Formosa Canal has been lifted. At this time, there are no toxins present in Lake Formosa Canal, but blooms may still occur. There are always risks that could be associated with swimming, recreating, or irrigating in and from water with algal blooms, please use your own caution. If you see a visible bloom present, please report it to the FDEP Algal Bloom Dashboard, which can be found here: floridadep.gov/AlgalBloom.
March 8, 2022
UPDATED Information – A Lake Alert for Lake Formosa Canal was issued on December 16, 2021 due to a potentially unsafe concentration of toxins present in the lake. In collaboration with FDEP, the City of Orlando Stormwater staff have been monitoring and assisting with sampling Lake Formosa Canal since the Lake Alert was issued. This message is to provide an update on the status of the lake. The results from the latest sampling event performed by City of Orlando staff, on February 24, 2022, indicate there are no toxins present in the canal at this time. However, out of a preponderance of caution, the City is electing to keep the Lake Alert in effect to ensure the bloom subsides and the lake does not produce additional toxins. City of Orlando staff will resample Lake Formosa Canal in mid-March and, at that time, we will provide another update.
Please continue to call the Lake Alert number, 407.246.2220, for the most up-to-date information regarding your lake. During weekdays, the City's Lake Alert website, orlando.gov/lakealert will also have the latest information.
Original Lake Alert Below
On December 16, 2021 the City of Orlando tested water samples from the canal connecting Lake Rowena to Lake Formosa and determined that potentially unsafe concentrations of toxins are present in the lake. As a precaution, we are advising everyone to refrain from swimming, recreating and irrigating in/from Lake Formosa until further notice. This canal will be resampled in late January, and an update will be provided at that time.
For reference, cyanobacteria/blue-green algae are always present in the water, however, not all bacteria have the ability to produce toxins. Toxicity is hard to predict because a single species of algae can have toxic and non-toxic strains. Nothing can be done to treat algae blooms without causing massive fish kills. Due to this, the city will work closely with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to closely monitor the canal. The city staff will continue to routinely test the lake, but the city's tests will only provide an update on the presence of toxins. The official toxin determination is obtained from FDEP's laboratory data, and until the levels are deemed safe by sta
