PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla.— A potentially toxic algae is blanketing part of the north side of a lake in Safety Harbor.
A blue-green algae bloom at Alligator Lake was confirmed by Pinellas County Environmental Management in late June.
A lot of the algae was washed away after a few storms rolled through the area Friday.
Blue-green algae is toxic to fish, plants, invertebrates, people and their pets.
The algae could cause a skin rash, irritated eyes or more serious symptoms, according to health officials.
The toxin can magnify in mussels, crayfish, fish and crops irrigated with contaminated water.
Pinellas County officials said people and their pets should avoid the area.
This is what it looks like under a microscope:
The toxin shut down Toledo's water supply for a few days in 2014 and, for years, has occasionally nagged at Melbourne and other Florida utilities that tap lake or river water.
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