Algae alerts issued for Lake Hancock in Lakeland and Lake Rochelle in Winter Haven
The Florida Department of Health in Polk County has issued health alerts for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in the south-central s...
The Florida Department of Health in Polk County has issued health alerts for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in the south-central section of Lake Hancock in the Lakeland area and the dock at Lake Rochelle in Winter Haven. Both alerts are based on water samples taken on April 6, the department said in a news release. Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria common in Florida's freshwater environments, the agency said. A bloom occurs when rapid growth of algae leads to an accumulation of individual cells that discolor water and often produce floating mats that emit unpleasant odors.