Algae

Kids fish off of a narrow dock in Manatee Pocket, casting lines into coffee-colored water untouched by the toxic algae bloom fouling the St. Lucie River a mile up the canal.For three days these young summer camp-goers have reeled in snapper, puffer fish, catfish, trout and much else from the dock. Normally they would have ventured by boat to fish beneath the Roosevelt Bridge, which spans the Saint Lucie River in Stuart. But not this year.

Mary Radabaugh peers over her mask at the toxic algae spread across Haney Creek off of the St. Lucie River."You can see the flies that are on the top of it. They're eating the rot so that's like the sewage that is out there. You can see the big brown spots that look like sewage."

The toxic algae bloom gripping the southern Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie River on Florida's east coast has residents fearing the water and air they breathe.The algae releases a foul smell as it dies and decays.90.7 environmental reporter Amy Green traveled to the area. Her stories will air starting Thursday. She joins us now.

Weeks after a massive fish die off in the Indian River Lagoon, there are signs of a new algal bloom. Scientists think the fish kill last month was linked…