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| Signs like this one, above, will be posted at 11-Mile Creek in Beulah next week. |
The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County has issued an advisory that reads, in part, as follows:
"The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County has issued a Health Alert for the potential presence of cyanotoxins in surface waters of Escambia County. Cyanotoxins are toxins that can be produced by cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Recent surface water testing conducted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on September 23, 2019 showed very low levels of the cyanotoxin called Microcystin in Eleven Mile Creek downstream of the Mobile Highway Bridge. The Microcystin level of 1.09 micrograms per liter is just above the laboratory method detection limit (capability of lab equipment to detect presence). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has recently recommended a level of 8.0 micrograms per liter for Microcystin in recreational water as a basis for issuing a swimming advisory."
A dog that was swimming in 11-Mile Creek last week passed away within hours of coming out of the water, and this prompted media reports which led the county to request testing of the waters of 11 Mile Creek. This testing occurred earlier this week and confirmed the presence of very low levels of the cyanotoxin, microcystin. Now, according to the tests, the levels of microcystin found in 11-Mile Creek were extremely low; the levels would have to be 8 times as high as the levels detected to prompt the EPA to issue a swimming advisory.
Regardless, I have asked county staff to coordinate the placement of signs at the locations where the testing was conducted. The county has also requested additional testing be conducted, which will begin starting Monday.
Hopefully the levels will drop once we have some rain to push the water downstream.
Meanwhile, in an abundance of caution, I would not advise folks to swim in 11-Mile Creek, nor would I advise them to allow their pets to enter the waters of this creek at this time.
