Lake Facts & History

• 2002 thru 2018 - After the City and the Army Corp of Engineers "lake fill project" was completed and through direct observation: water clarity was greatly reduced (Secchi disk depth fell from 39" to 19" under optimum conditions and many times less) due to an increase in turbidity and drastic decrease in water quality, there was a drastic reduction in fish population (i.e. visible tilapia nests went from 39 to only 5 over a 60 foot shoreline observation area and from many jumping mullet a day to almost none - maybe one or two fish a year), and overall visible lake health has significantly worsened. Harbor Isle Lake was categorized as Eutrophic and is now considered Hyper-eutrophic. 

Important Note: Filling the lake to half of its original depth decreased the total volume of water, reducing its diluting capability, and increased the negative effect of any and all input nutrients, like nitrogen and phosphorus, by 2x (doubled or a 100% increase). 

• July 2018  - Many residents first observe large bright green (pea soup /green paint like) algae blooms in the water, unaware as to the type and any toxic components and completely unidentified at this time. 

• Summer 2018 - A 'Lake Doctors Inc.' boat was observed on lake with City personnel present, taking unidentified measurements. The purpose and data from this activity were never disclosed to all residents.

• Summer thru Fall 2018 - A proposed Micro-bubble Aeration Design Diagram is generated with grossly inaccurate lake depth measurements. One likely created by Lake Doctors Inc. (as no other contractors were observed on lake up to this time). This depth diagram was circulated to Harbor Isle Homeowner's Association (HIHA) board members, with stated depths of up to 30 feet. This directly conflicted with known design depths after the City Lake Fill Project, of a 6-10 feet average depth. 

• Oct 2018  - HIHA Board announces the 'Harbor Isle Lake Remediation Project' to homeowners via flyers. It states that "Members of the Board have been working with the City of St. Pete to help us clean up the lake".  No mention of the algal bloom, the type or potential toxicity of the blue-green algae. There were no statements regarding previous or future water quality tests. 

• Nov 2018 - City funds a limited scope Nutrient Report from Janicki Environmental, Inc. a local small firm, to analyze the algal bloom's nutrient sources.  Only 3 samples of reclaimed water from an outlet pipe and 3 lake surface water samples are taken on Nov 8 2018. This report did not identify the nature of the algae or the possibility that it was blue green algae (cyanobacteria) or the possibility of its toxicity to homeowners. 

• Jan 10 2019 - FL-DEP investigates an algal bloom report by a resident and tests Harbor Isle Lake for the type of blue-green algae and toxicity.

• Jan 15 2019 - Mr. Carlos Frey, City Engineer, finally releases the Nov 2018 sample Nutrient Report. The report fails to identity that blue-green algae is present and it’s potential to be toxic, despite being photographed and noted in the documentation. The report investigates reclaimed water only and looks at no other potential nutrient sources for the bloom, such as the fill sediment, wildlife and/or pet animal waste, decaying vegetation like cattails or human feces contribution from any leaking waste water (sewer) pipes.

• Jan 21 2019 -  FL-DEP Results confirm Harbor Isle Lake has a toxic blue-green algae type, finding Microcystin Toxin at 28.2 ppb, which is considered a high level for World Health Organization’s (WHO) recreational water guidelines. This data and information is E-mailed to the City. 

• Jan 23 2019 -  City Stormwater Personnel are seen in a boat taking measurements on lake. The City fails to state and describe this event and fails to disclose these measurements, despite multiple written requests for this information in the following months. 

The City placed signs at the neighborhood entrance, after multiple written requests for public notification, – the signage installed fails to state critical information about bloom: the type of algae, the type of toxicity and the fact that it could be hazardous by direct contact or possibly by breathing the surrounding air.

• March 7 2019 - A scheduled Algaecide Spraying described on a City delivered door-hanger is missed (not done), and never occurs at any time thereafter in 2019. No other control methods for cattails and other named invasive plant species, addressed on same City permit pulled in Feb 2019, had occurred the entire of 2019. 

• May thru Nov 2019 - City spends an unknown amount of funds (over a 7 month period) installing a Reclaimed Water Flow-Meter. No City Personnel answers to multiple written requests about calibration/verification of installed flow meter, current data being taken, or historical data previously for the Neighborhood for comparison. City doesn't notify residents of this install or its purpose. 

• June 2019 - City issues statement, dated June 7, 2019, with no City Contact signature, stating: "The city is pursuing Blanket Purchasing Agreements (BPA) with vendors ... [for] services such as lake aeration including submersed aeration systems and nano-bubble aeration systems ... Work associated with the BPAs can be anticipated in the fall ... The city will be moving forward to obtain lake management services for immediate needs ... This process is expected to be completed in July with installation anticipated to be in August 2019."  

• Aug 2019 - City misses their scheduled install deadline from the June Notice, no updates or responses from City about current status of Harbor Isle Lake. There were no immediate lake management services at all, at any time.

• Oct 2 2019 -  City issues another statement, dated September 2019, with no City Contact signature, stating: "The vendor has been selected -- Solitude Lake Management. The aeration method chosen is nano-bubbles ... system will run for at least one (1) year with an optional 2nd year ... At the end of the 1st year, an assessment will be made to see if nano-bubble technology is the best technology for long term lake aeration ... Installation of the system is anticipated to begin in October 2019 and be completed by November with system optimization." Included is a diagram with the purposed locations for the 4 nano-bubble generators and 3 outlet pipe distances along the berm and into the lake.

• Oct 11 2019 - Concerns are sent to City contacts via E-mail about nano-bubbles being an experimental solution to Harbor Isle Lake's problem, due to the lack of proven case studies and documentation on this methodology for larger and deeper lakes. Especially when compared to long-standing and well-proven micro-bubble technology case studies. See the selected contractor's own statement on their website regarding Nano-bubbles and their applications: "Nanobubble aeration has proved to be extremely effective on smaller water bodies that are less than 5 acres. At this point, more testing is needed to determine if larger water bodies would experience the same benefits. We believe larger water bodies, over 20 acres, could be positively impacted by this technology, but multiple units would be needed to ensure proper distribution. At some point, the cost of multiple units relative to benefit might not make sense for most clients."

City does not explain their design choice and engineering rationale for their preference to this type of system. At this time, no water quality data from the City has been taken and/or released despite multiple written requests.

• Oct 18 2019  -  City Representative Mr. Carlos Frey finally E-mailed the July City bid proposal after multiple requests, along with the City notice to proceed to the vendor. There was, one and only 1, bid response to City's Proposal that specifically required a Nano-bubble aeration system (and by design specifications excluded any and all other types of aeration systems). The City Proposal states that the nano-bubble system install deadline is actually December 31, 2019 for the temporary, 1 year contract (actually only 9 months to the optional renewal date in October 1, 2020). 

• Nov 1 2019 - Concerns for the experimental nano-bubble system being undersized and/or inadequate, or a defective design due to the City specifications in their bid, is stated to the City via an E-mail. The analysis was based on the manufacturer’s own specifications and a previous Solitude Management Case Study for a 2.2 acre lake. The City still refuses to answer why nano-bubbles is the preferred method of aeration, the concerns over the apparent sub-optimal design, and the possibly flawed or nonexistent engineering rationale for this choice. 

• Nov 2019 - City misses nano-bubble aeration system install deadline from September 2019 Notice, no updates or responses from City about current lake status are given to Harbor Isle residents.  

• Dec 17 thru 18 2019 -  The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) installs all 4 Nano-bubble generators (in a 48 hour period). However, the 300 foot long pipe outlet for Generator #2 (located on the eastern most end of the berm) is short and not installed 300 feet into the lake as described on the September 2019 dated City Statement, but less than 50 feet from the shoreline. 

• Jan thru Feb 2020 - While the nano-bubble generators are operational, the Harbor Isle Lake is still experiencing similar, if not worse, toxic cyanobacteria blooms as over the prior 20 months. City Personnel have still not answered multiple questions from residents via E-mail. The e-mails from October 11 2019, Oct 18 2019, November 1 2019, Dec 13 2019 and Jan 17 2019 requesting an explanation for this aeration design choice and engineering rationale have been ignored / unanswered. 

From a lay person’s observational standpoint, the current condition of the blooms was worse, year to date, with increased frequencies, concentrations of blue-green algae (BGA) scums and noxious odor from BGA and putrid odors from dead animals throughout the neighborhood at multiple simultaneous locations. 

• Feb 19 2020 - FL-DEP confirms extremely high toxic levels in water after a resident report. The Feb 19, 2020 sample had 560 ppb Microcystin toxin. 70 times the recommended safe recreational level of 8 ppb by the EPA. The City is E-mailed this fact.

• March 11 2020 - The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) sprayed,  from multiple boats onto the surface of the lake, an unknown volume of "GreenClean 5.0" -- the product described from the previous February 27, 2020 U.S. mailed letter to residents. The algacide spraying date or time frame was not disclosed in this letter. Residents were given no notice for precaution. 

• March 17 2020: The FL-DEP sampled at the southern entrance after the 'GreenClean' algacide treatment occurred, no Microcystin toxin was detected. The Northwest Lobe did have small amounts of visible blue-green algae along the shore within the vegetation and an odor, at that time, but it was not sampled/tested. 

• May 6 thru 7 2020 -  The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) sprayed,  from multiple boats onto the surface of the lake, 12,000 gallons from 3 tanker trucks, over a day and a half period,  of the stated "alum" treatment referred in the April 2020 U.S. mailed City letter to residents. 

• June 11 2020 - The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) installed bottom aeration diffusers for Micro-bubble Aeration in 1 day, while the unproven Nano-bubble system still runs; No explanation of the design rationale / placement of these new diffusers was given, despite supplied data and requests to the City that suggest the install is not optimized to best handle the lake, its run-off nutrient inputs, and current BGA build-ups in various lake lobes. The City declined to comment on these statements and also why the other nano-bubble system is running and at a higher cost.

• August 2020 - Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) has dominated the lake once more, turning it a green color, this month. Scum mats and odors have been occurring for 2+ weeks in the same previously documented locations. A citizen reported the bloom to the DEP on August 10, 2020 re-informing that the sediment should be further investigated as a source for this BGA bloom. The City and DEP refused to further investigate the sediment in April 2020, after a resident E-mailed an independently lab-tested sediment analysis that showed extremely high nutrients were found in a sample of the sediment / lake fill material.

• August 24 2020 - FL-DEP confirms blue-green algae and its toxicity once again. The Aug 24, 2020 sample had 28 ppb and 45 ppb Microcystin toxin in the respective southern and northwest lake lobe sampling sites.  

• September 11 2020 - The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) sprayed,  from multiple boats onto the surface of the lake, an unknown volume of "GreenClean 5.0" -- the product described from the previous September 3, 2020 U.S. mailed letter to residents. This is the second application of this treatment. The first occurred in March 2020.

• September 15  2020 - FL-DEP sampled at the southern entrance after the 2nd 'GreenClean' algacide treatment occurred on Sept 11. Microcystin Toxin: 7.2 micrograms/L (or ppb) 

The Northwest Lobe did have amounts of visible blue-green algae streaking, but it was not sampled/tested despite being sampled the month prior. This DEP follow-up sample did not have the same results as the March 2020 sample, where after 1 week of this algacide treatment, no Microcystin toxin was detected.

• September 29 2020 -  City sends another U.S. mailed residents stating,  a copper algacide treatment will now be preformed on the lake, due to the less effective results of the September peroxide algacide treatment. They state the City Contractor will be out "the week of October 5" to perform this treatment and if needed, any following up treatments in the coming weeks or months.

• October 5 thru 12 2020 - No treatment was performed this week.

• October 14 2020 - The City Contractor, Solitude Lake Management, was seen on the lake--  in one single boat,  around the center and berm areas of the lake. The treatment did not resemble the prior algacide peroxide treatments in time span, number of boats / personnel, or direct application.

• November 16 2020 - FL-DEP sampled at the southern entrance and northwest lobe, and measured Microcystin Toxin: 2.2 micrograms/L (or ppb)  and 1.6 micrograms/L (or ppb). The samples were taken from water not directly where BGA build-up was present.

• November 18 2020 - This week the nano-bubble generator at the neighborhood entrance has been not running (unplugged). It is likely the other units on the berm are also not running, because of the following new information.  On/around November 24, the City shared with the HIHA, a final monitoring report prepared by Janicki Environmental, Inc. and GPI Inc. regarding the effectiveness of certain lake mitigation strategies. (This separate water monitoring was not disclosed in any City letter mailed to residents, or at the July 2020 HIHA Meeting, where city engineer Mr. Frey was present, or in previous questions about GPI's purpose sent to the City via E-mail.)    The report concludes: "There are no apparent improvements in the lake that can be attributed to the Nannobubblers method. [...] We recommend that an investigation of the potential [from] the internal nutrient flux from the sediments to further characterize the nutrient budget for the Harbor Isle Lake."     The City has not sent an update letter to residents on these results.

• December 15 2020 - FL-DEP sampled at the southern entrance and northwest lobe, and measured Microcystin Toxin: 6 micrograms/L (or ppb)  and 5.4 micrograms/L (or ppb). The samples were taken from water not directly where maximum BGA build-up was present.

• December 2020  thru January 2021 -  Toxic blue-green algae continues to occur in growing quantities. See monthly photos.

• January 19 2021 - FL-DEP sampled at the southern entrance and northwest lobe, and measured Microcystin Toxin: 6 10 micrograms/L (or ppb)  and 26 micrograms/L (or ppb). The samples were taken in the BGA build-up scum was present.

• January 20 2021 - The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) sprayed,  from a single boat onto the surface of the lake, an unknown volume of a blue-colored copper algaecide, mentioned in the previous September 29, 2020 U.S. mailed letter to residents. No other follow up copper treatments occurred on the lake in this manner in the previous months, despite the last letter stating their would follow-up treatments, and the continued existence of BGA blooms in the lake.

• February 3 2021 -- The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) sprayed,  from multiple boats onto the surface of the lake, a 3rd application, of an unknown volume of "GreenClean 5.0" -- the product described from the January 28, 2021  dated U.S. mailed letter to residents.

• February 8 2021 -- FL-DEP sampled at the southern entrance and northwest lobe areas, and also center of lake, by boat and/or shoreline-- the comments on the samples do not state which type for each sample. Nor if it was taken in BGA scum present of not. Wind directions were not noted either. Microcystin values were lower and as follows: Northwest Lobe: 4.9 ppb,  Center: 3.6 ppb, Southern Entrance: 3.1 ppb

• March 4 2021 -- The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) had a single boat on the lake, where a "spot-treat" copper algaecide application was likely applied (blue-colored sprayed liquid) on the lake in certain areas. This copper algaecide application or its returned use as a method was not mentioned in the last January 28, 2021 mailed City letter.

FL-DEP sampled at the southern entrance, northwest lobe areas, and also center of lake, by boat and/or shoreline -- the comments on the samples do not state which type for each sample nor mention the fact the City contractor Solitude was out on the lake spraying algaecide that morning prior to DEP sampling. Wind directions were not noted either. Microcystin values were lower and as follows: Northwest Lobe: 1.1 ppb,  Center: 1.4 ppb, Southern Entrance: 1.2 ppb. Another harmful algae bloom type: "Prorocentrum minimum" algae a.k.a. "mahogany tide" was also detected. This bloom type has reoccurred since March, see March-May 2021 photos.

• April 15 2021 -- The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) had a single boat on the lake, where another "spot-treat" copper algaecide application was likely applied (due to the blue-colored sprayed liquid witnessed) on the lake in certain areas. Total application locations remain unknown and total quantity administered is also unknown.

• April 28 2021 -- The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) had a single boat on the lake, where another unknown chemical "spot-treat" application (a dark brown/black color liquid witnessed) was applied. It did not appear to be cooper algaecide like the previous sprayings on the lake in certain areas. An herbicide-like smell was detected. Total application locations remain unknown and total quantity administered is also unknown. This chemical type/ treatment was not described by the City.

• May 6 2021 -- The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) had a single boat on the lake, where another unknown chemical "spot-treat" application (a bright blue liquid witnessed) was applied. It did not appear to be cooper algaecide due to color difference. Total application locations remain unknown and total quantity administered is also unknown.  This chemical type/ treatment was not described by the City.

• May 24 2021 -- FL-DEP sampled 3 locations of the lake. Entrance shoreline, Northwest Lobe near Cattails, and Middle of the Lake. They detected no microcystin toxin at this time.  Considered harmful "Prorocentrum minimum" algae was present in the sample in the middle of the lake. The other samples had various algae present, but no dominant type was found.

• May 25 2021 --  The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) had a single boat on the lake, where another unknown chemical "spot-treat" application (a bright blue liquid witnessed) was applied. It did not appear to be cooper algaecide due to color difference. Total application locations remain unknown and total quantity administered is also unknown.  This chemical type/ treatment was not described by the City.

• June 3 2021 --  The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) had a single boat on the lake, where another "spot-treat" copper algaecide application was likely applied (due to the blue-colored sprayed liquid witnessed) on the lake in certain areas. Total application locations remain unknown and total quantity administered is also unknown.

• June 22 2021 --  The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) had a single boat on the lake, where another "spot-treat" copper algaecide application was likely applied (due to the blue-colored sprayed liquid residue and odor) on the lake in certain areas. Total application locations remain unknown and total quantity administered is also unknown.   **  This was very limited and haphazard spraying, the boat did not even cruise around to observe large lake sections. The contractor did not even review perimeter or spray in Southeast Lake Lobe despite algae being present in area and cattails, as observed by multiple witnesses. **
  
  These spray treatments again have had little to no effect on the filamentous algae and other types; and are a waste of time and money at improving the water quality of Harbor Isle Lake. Adding beneficial bacteria and improving the current design of the aeration system (via additional bottom aerators in lake lobes) remains unaddressed or investigated. 

• October 3 2021 -- Since the installation of the real time algae tracker data system (April 2021) there have been no results or reports available online or published for public inspection.  There has been no feedback or indications as to the efficacy of this data to assist in correcting the water quality issues.  No description or explanation of the purpose, objective, or usefulness of this type of data.  There has been no correlation of the data collected alongside any other current any water treatment plan to exhibit any direct results, effects measured or documented improvements of water quality.
  
  Water quality reports since March 2021 have shown dissolved oxygen content is decreasing in saturation levels and not controlled throughout the water column. In addition the standard water quality parameters (for example concentration of N, Ph, Ammonia and turbidity (in NTUs units) or clarity in Secchi disk depth measurements) are intermittently and randomly missing from reports.  This data is required under the Solitude contract with the City of St. Petersburg.

• October 06, 13, & 20, 2021 -- The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) had a single boat on the lake, where another "spot-treat" copper algaecide application was likely applied (due to the blue-colored sprayed liquid witnessed) on the lake in certain areas. Total application locations remain unknown and total quantity administered is also unknown.

• October 13 2021 -- FL-DEP sampled within 30 minutes of completion of Solitude's algaecide spraying. The prop wash and boat movements disturbed the BGA and likely affected the sample reading. The DEP did not note this spraying was done prior in the sample info; the DEP also failed to document and sample in the worst build-up or scum area (Neighborhood Entrance shoreline) to assess the highest risk toxin levels, and those closest to humans. Detectable Microcystin toxin levels were found. See DEP Sample Results Chart for details.

• November 2 2021 -- The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) sprayed, from a boat, on the surface of the lake, a 4th application, of an unknown volume of "GreenClean 5.0" peroxide treatment.  After this 4th treatment, the lake water does not appear the same as  after the first treatment results in March 2020, where maximum clarity and elimination of detectable Microcystin toxin were achieved for a short time period.  

• December 2 2021 -- The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) removed the 4 nano-bubble generator units on land, (1 located at the Southern Entrance Lobe, and 3 on the berm). The long lengths of PVC pipe used for these units was left in the water, and extensions of same pipe, were left all along the berm's land too, acting now as pure plastic trash in the environment.

• December 8 2021 -- The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) sprayed, from multiple boats, on the surface of the lake, a 5th application, of an unknown volume of "GreenClean 5.0" peroxide treatment. After this 5th treatment, the lake water does not appear the same as  after the first treatment results in March 2020, where maximum clarity and elimination of detectable Microcystin toxin were achieved for a short time period.  

Currently, after the 5th peroxide treatment, and countless copper algaecide treatments in Fall 2021, toxic blue-green algae (BGA) is still present in large visible quantities.  Therefore, algal toxins and their health risks to humans are still present and the long-term exposures of the Microcystin and BMAA in the air/water are compounding.  

The City continues to pay for and implement ineffective algaecide types. Why? Throughout 2021, again,  other methods for lake remediation to proactively prevent these toxic blooms (and improve overall water quality), like improving the current design of the aeration system (via additional bottom aerators in lake lobes) have not been attempted by the City and its contractor, despite multiple requests by citizens since 2020.

• December 9 2021 -- FL-DEP sampled in 3 areas, Southern, Center, Northwest lobes. Detectable Microcystin toxin levels were found  [0.85 ppb, 0.93 ppb, 1 ppb].  See DEP Sample Results Chart for details. 

• January 18 2022 -- FL-DEP sampled in 1 area, Southern Lobe. Detectable Microcystin toxin levels were found [8.2 ppb]. The level increased from last month. See DEP Sample Results Chart for details. 

•  February 10, 2022 -- The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) sprayed, from a single boat, on the surface of the lake, a 6th application, of an unknown volume of "GreenClean 5.0" peroxide treatment. After this 6th treatment, the lake water does not appear the same as  after the first treatment results in March 2020, where maximum clarity and elimination of detectable Microcystin toxin were achieved for a short time period. 

• February 14 2022 -- FL-DEP sampled in 3 areas: Southern, Southeast, Northwest lobes. Detectable Microcystin toxin levels were found, [23 ppb, 11 ppb, 8.7 ppb]. The level increased from last month again.  See DEP Sample Results Chart for details.

• March 10 2022 -- The City Lake Contractor (Solitude Lake Management) sprayed, from a single boat, on the surface of the lake, a 7th application, of an unknown volume of "GreenClean 5.0" peroxide treatment. After this 7th treatment, the lake water does not appear the same as  after the first treatment results in March 2020, where maximum clarity and elimination of detectable Microcystin toxin were achieved for a short time period.  

• DEP Sampled in March and April, Microcystin toxins were detected and still present. Blue-green algae remains present in lake-- toxin-producing Microcystis aeruginosa and in addition, Lyngbya Woleii (currently not tested for toxins).

• Currently, after the 7th peroxide treatment, and countless copper algaecide treatments in Fall 2022, toxic blue-green algae (BGA) is still present in large visible quantities.  Therefore, algal toxins and their health risks to humans are still present and the long-term exposures of the Microcystin and BMAA in the air/water are compounding.  

• March 23 2022 -- The City of St. Petersburg executes a new contract with Cardno-Stantec Inc for lake monitoring and analysis of the (prior subcontractors) GPI-ERD Sediment Impacts on water quality in Harbor Isle Lake Report.  This new contracted lake monitoring from March - September 2022 does not include bottom water data or nutrient analysis despite the lake's problems being directly related to nutrients, specifically the now confirmed high levels of nutrients in the sediment-fill that are contributing to long term toxic BGA blooms and toxins.

• December 22 2022 -- The current City Lake Contractor (Cardno-Stantec Inc) sprayed, from two boats, on the surface of the lake, a 8th application, of an unknown volume of "GreenClean 5.0" peroxide treatment around the lake perimeter where surface scums where present in multiple lobes. After this 8th treatment, the lake water does not appear the same as  after the first treatment results in March 2020, where maximum clarity and elimination of detectable Microcystin toxin were achieved for a short time period.  BGA remains.
  See December 2022 photos.

• Throughout 2022, again,  other methods for lake remediation to proactively prevent these toxic BGA blooms and reduce nutrient loading, like improving the current design of the aeration system (via additional bottom aerators in lake lobes) have not been attempted by the City and its newest contractor Cardno-Stantec, despite scientific analysis and support data sent to them in 2022 and prior for this option and 2 others (cattail removal and beneficial bacteria applications). Cardno-Stantec's review/ analysis is deliberately narrow in scope, violating known contractual requirements, and does not address and/or deny these suggestions with the associated data to occur in the interim while alleged long term plans for dredging are finalized . Cardno-Stantec has not provided adequate evidence or support data to substantiate all their claims posited in their final analysis memo.

• 2023 -- Harmful blue green algae remains present, See photos. Microcystin toxin is confirmed to still be present within the water by the City contractor Stantec, see the water quality results on Harbor Isle Lake Archive 

• July 2023 --  The City of St. Petersburg has ceased water quality sampling (including toxin testing) after the beginning of July 2023 despite confirmed toxic algal bloom dominance and Microcystin toxin levels. 

• Throughout 2023, again, there has been no additional methods used by the City to proactively prevent these toxic blooms (and improve overall water quality). No nutrient reduction treatment methods have been applied since 2020. The cost effective suggestions of increased aeration, beneficial bacterial treatments, and cattail removal have not been utilized for over 3 years. No dredging plans or schedule have been completed by the City. The City contracted September 2021 Sediment Report stated the sediment (this is the dredged material placed during the 2002 City approved USACE-SAJ Harbor Isle Lake Fill project) was the highest internal nutrient load and dredging was an applicable removal option.

• January 2024 --  No confirmed water quality monitoring, dredging, or treatment bids and contracts have been created or produced by the City of St. Petersburg, toxic blue-green algae surface scums remain visually present and a health risk