Lake Estelle algae bloom status

Lake Estelle algae bloom history

Florida's Department of Environmental Protection sampled Lake Estelle 18 times between 2019 and 2023. Staff saw a bloom on 12 visits (67%).

The highest microcystin result recorded here was 7.2 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.

That puts Lake Estelle 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 Lake Estelle?

At Lake Estelle, reports are most often logged in January, March and September.

Unusually, about 50% of reports here fall between November and February, so blooms aren't only a summer problem at Lake Estelle. 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 Lake Estelle algae reports

Recent reports came from 2 different locations around Lake Estelle, including Lake Estelle - NE lobe and Lake Estelle - Dorchester and Mills. 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 Lake Estelle 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 Lake Estelle in January, March and September.

• 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 Rowena1 km away, 35 reports, last in 2025
• Lake Sue1 km away, 30 reports, last in 2025
• Lake Formosa1 km away, 18 reports, last in 2025
• Lake Chelton1 km away, 7 reports, last in 2022
• Lake Ivanhoe2 km away, 13 reports, last in 2022

All Orange County lakes with algae reports

Questions about Lake Estelle

Is there algae in Lake Estelle right now?

Florida's most recent sample from Lake Estelle, on 4 May 2023 at Lake Estelle - NE lobe, 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 Lake Estelle?

The most recent entry in Florida's data is from 4 May 2023 at Lake Estelle - NE lobe: a bloom seen during sampling.

Has Lake Estelle had toxic algae before?

Yes. Blooms are recorded in 4 of the 5 years from 2019 to 2023, most often in January, March and September.

Can dogs swim in Lake Estelle?

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 Lake Estelle 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.