Red Tide-algae bloom??? Florida residents

[kandb]

We are going to WDW for 8 nights mid August. Before that we were planning on spending 4 nights in Clearwater, FL. I just read about this many issues they are having on the Gulf/West Coast of Florida with a lot of dead marine life and Red Tide which they say can affect human's health as well. My son has a pre-asthma condition and now I am thinking we should switch our "beach" vacation to the east coast of Florida? Any info will be greatly appreciated.

 

[SRQ57]

We are a bit further south in Manatee Co. and so far we haven't had an issue ....yet. Watching carefully.

 

[kandb]

We are supposed to arrive in Clearwater on 8/11, wondering if I should switch to the east coast of Florida???

 

[John VN]

Map indicates concentrations -----

http://myfwc.com/media/4472814/rt-count-map0727.pdf

 

[monorailsilver]

I would check for sure! We went in April and got a spot to park in the small lot on Bonita Beach! We figured out why when the dead fish were rolling up. My dh and 2 of my kids have asthma and they had runny noses to start with so we left.

So sad, we love the beaches in that area and had to skip them. We went to Sanibel/Captiva and it was fine up there when we went.

 

[TheRealTeal]

I live in the Clearwater area, it's not here. The current zone starts more than an hour south of us.

 

[Southernmiss]

We are going to WDW for 8 nights mid August. Before that we were planning on spending 4 nights in Clearwater, FL. I just read about this many issues they are having on the Gulf/West Coast of Florida with a lot of dead marine life and Red Tide which they say can affect human's health as well. My son has a pre-asthma condition and now I am thinking we should switch our "beach" vacation to the east coast of Florida? Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Call the resort/hotel where you are staying to ask them what is going on. And then call closer to the date of your travel. Might also call the chamber of commerce for the area and ask them, too.

Also realize that the tides and winds can change between now and your trip in 2 weeks. And what affects one place may not affect the beach where you would be.

Looks like the red tide has been particularly nasty in some areas this year.

 

[NotUrsula]

For those looking at the map who don't know county names, Clearwater is in Pinellas Co., pretty much in the middle of the Pinellas coastline.

 

[kandb]

Thank you everyone for all the info. I wound up changing to New Smyrna beach on the east coast. I didn't want to wait til the last minute to change and didn't want to have to worry about it. I got a nice hotel and we will have fun there. Will try the west coast another time.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Sanibel and South is getting it. We have some on Marco Island, but it's not as bad as Sanibel and Fort Myers.

There are even dead turtles, manatees and dolphins. And thousands of fish.

 

[Bella Paige]

Sanibel and South is getting it. We have some on Marco Island, but it's not as bad as Sanibel and Fort Myers.

There are even dead turtles, manatees and dolphins. And thousands of fish.

We spent yesterday on Marco Island and this evening on Bonita Beach and the difference was huge! So many dead eels and fish everywhere - the smell was pretty awful.

 

[Psychodisney]

Don’t trust the resorts to tell you the truth about the conditions. They want your $. My friends are down in the Ft. Myers beach area. Coughing, itching faces and congestion. That’s being on the beach, not being in the water. They are leaving and heading to our condo inland in Naples.
The east coast is not spared either but up you are probably safe in New Smyrna Beach. The problem is the water draining from Lake O—goes east and west.
It is sooo sad to see the photos of the dead sea turtles, fish, manatees etc.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Don’t trust the resorts to tell you the truth about the conditions. They want your $. My friends are down in the Ft. Myers beach area. Coughing, itching faces and congestion. That’s being on the beach, not being in the water. They are leaving and heading to our condo inland in Naples.
The east coast is not spared either but up you are probably safe in New Smyrna Beach. The problem is the water draining from Lake O—goes east and west.
It is sooo sad to see the photos of the dead sea turtles, fish, manatees etc.

The Algae from Lake Okeechobee does not cause red tide. The algae that causes red tied grows out in the gulf and is usually pushed in by the typical winter wind patterns. But this year it's hanging on well into the summer. The algae from the lake is a different kind. Oh and if that double whammy isn't enough. Sargassum is hitting some South Florida beaches too.

 

[NotUrsula]

The Algae from Lake Okeechobee does not cause red tide. The algae that causes red tied grows out in the gulf and is usually pushed in by the typical winter wind patterns. But this year it's hanging on well into the summer. The algae from the lake is a different kind. Oh and if that double whammy isn't enough. Sargassum is hitting some South Florida beaches too.

Yep; two completely different issues. Florida's "red tide" also is not actually red; it's more brown. The algae will bloom well offshore in relatively calm waters that contain a lot of nitrogen (ironically, a quiet hurricane season often means a bad red tide season). Inshore winds and the tide will cause it to drift toward land, where the dinoflagellate can often pick up more food sources before their lifecycle ends.

The green sludge that comes out of Lake Okechobee is a different species entirely, one that thrives in fresh water. It also feeds on nitrogen, however. Almost all types of algae will grow more robustly in the presence of nitrogen-rich runoff

 

[jerseygal]

We are going to WDW for 8 nights mid August. Before that we were planning on spending 4 nights in Clearwater, FL. I just read about this many issues they are having on the Gulf/West Coast of Florida with a lot of dead marine life and Red Tide which they say can affect human's health as well. My son has a pre-asthma condition and now I am thinking we should switch our "beach" vacation to the east coast of Florida? Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Years ago, we had a trip to St.Petersburg Beach planned; both sons had reactive airway disease for many years(thank goodness, "grew" out of it by about 21). Same situation, Red Tide, and I was apprehensive, so changed our plans that year. What a shame, because I truly prefer the west coast to east. Good Luck; hope that things work out!

 

[jerseygal]

Don’t trust the resorts to tell you the truth about the conditions. They want your $. My friends are down in the Ft. Myers beach area. Coughing, itching faces and congestion. That’s being on the beach, not being in the water. They are leaving and heading to our condo inland in Naples.
The east coast is not spared either but up you are probably safe in New Smyrna Beach. The problem is the water draining from Lake O—goes east and west.
It is sooo sad to see the photos of the dead sea turtles, fish, manatees etc.

Wow! Is there a certain "season" that Red Tide typically happens? As I said in a previous post, many years ago in summer, August our trip was planned, same thing, I had read about Red Tide and cancelled, both sons with asthma. Thanks!

 

[jerseygal]

We spent yesterday on Marco Island and this evening on Bonita Beach and the difference was huge! So many dead eels and fish everywhere - the smell was pretty awful.

Anyone know about Red Tide and Siesta Key area/Longboat Key, same issue? Thanks!

 

[Deb & Bill]

You can check this website to find out where the red tide is. They test one week and it takes a while to get the report out. A new report comes out each Friday. http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/

 

[surfgirl]

anyone in Sanibel now or any local residents? any improvement?

What does the forecast look like?

We are scheduled to arrive Sunday (8/5) ... for about a week. Very concerned about the reports but my cousin is telling me "it is fine". I don't want to come to Sanibel to sit at a crowded condo pool - I can do that at home! Would rather eat airplane tickets than throw good money after bad...

We would primarily be at Bowman's Beach. according to the beach report, it is still "heavy" for the dead fish. ugh. I hate disappointing people, but don't want to be miserable.
https://visitbeaches.org/#

 

[jump00]

Hello!! Just arrived back from a 10 day stay in Clearwater beach. Fabulous vacation and spent nearly every day at the beach. No issues. Have a wonderful trip