Hillsborough County health officials are telling residents to steer clear of Lake Thonotosassa after lab tests confirmed harmful blue-green algae toxins in the water. The health alert effectively shuts the lake to anything that involves getting wet - including swimming, wading, and using personal watercraft - until officials say the bloom has passed. Boaters, anglers, and pet owners around Thonotosassa are being urged to treat the lake as contaminated for now.
What officials are saying
The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County issued a formal health alert after laboratory analysis confirmed cyanotoxins in the lake. The agency warned, "Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercrafts, or come into contact with waters where there is a visible bloom." The alert stresses that boiling the water does not remove the toxins and advises that anyone who ends up in contact with lake water should wash skin and clothing thoroughly with soap and clean water. Pet owners, the department added, should keep animals away from the lake entirely, according to the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County.
Fishing, pets and boiling: the short list
Officials say shellfish from Lake Thonotosassa are not safe to eat during the bloom, but fillets from otherwise healthy freshwater fish can be eaten if they are rinsed, gutted, and cooked well. Pet owners are being told to keep dogs and other animals completely away from the water and to call a veterinarian right away if a pet appears sick after possible exposure. These cautions were laid out in coverage by the Tampa Free Press.
Where to track the bloom
State environmental crews are continuing to sample the lake and post toxin results online, so residents can track how the bloom is moving. Field samples and lab results are added regularly to give the public up to date information on active blooms. For real time status reports and maps, see the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
Why Thonotosassa keeps getting blooms
Lake Thonotosassa is no stranger to blue-green algae. Health alerts there have been linked repeatedly to a familiar mix of warm, still conditions and nutrient runoff, factors that state and local officials cite each time they post new warnings. Because the lake feeds parts of the Hillsborough River watershed and pulls in heavy recreational traffic, health authorities say residents should expect continued monitoring and public notices through the season. That pattern of repeat alerts is documented on county health pages and in other public records, according to the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County.
Who to call if you or your pet get sick
If you or your pet start feeling ill after contact with Lake Thonotosassa, health officials say to reach out to your medical provider or call the Florida Poison Information Centers at 1-800-222-1222, then contact your veterinarian as needed for animal exposures. To report algae blooms or send in a sighting to environmental staff, residents can call the Florida Department of Environmental Protection hotline at 1-855-305-3903 or use the state reporting portal. Those contacts and resources are listed on Protecting Florida Together.
