Photo: CBS 12
Concerns over toxic algae after the Florida Department of Health issued a blue-green algae bloom alert for Lake Okeechobee in Palm Beach County.
While the area effected near the Pahokee Marina is miles away from the Indian River Lagoon, folks who make their living on the water are worried that discharges from the lake will result in the algae spoiling their summer.
"People depend on this for their livelihood and if the water's not clean you're affecting a lot of people."
Sherry Adams, who owns a boat rental company, tells CBS 12 News that lost thousands in 2018 when she had to close her business for months due to a toxic algae crisis.
Daniel Andrews is Co-Founder of the non-profit Captains for Clean Water.
"If we have high volume discharges from the lake in June, July or early August I think it's highly likely that we'll see that guacamole-thick blue-green algae in the St. Lucie (River)."
He says that's because water will have to be released from Lake Okeechobee if enough rain moves through.
That water ultimately reaches the Indian River Lagoon, where residents and tourists enjoy their summer.
The lake is currently at 14.01 feet, which is higher than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers likes to have it during the rainy season.
The Army Corps is expected to make known its plans with regard to discharges during a conference call on Friday.