[Griffis]

Our plan is to move to.the panhandle by the end of the year. My wife is concerned about reports she sees of high levels of nasty bacteria all around the gulf. I realize we wouldn't be getting in the water until it warms up next year, but how big an issue is this? Are people regularly advised not to go in the water at the beaches down there?

[beachmouse]

The bacteria problems typically come from heavy rain washing fertilizer into the bays and Intracoastal, leading to algae bloom and bacteria growth. Generally the problem impacts the Gulf proper five days or less a year after a period of monsoon rains.

[jghorton]

A cartoon in the newspaper this morning expressed a concern about driving down the highway at 70 MPH and having something go wrong with the glove box. That's probably similar to the amount of time you should be spending worrying about gulf bacteria at the beach.

[Restrain]

We can have 'red tide' which is a seasonal issue depending on fresh water, temperatures. Far bigger PITA. On occasion there have been sewage dumps, screwing up the water (St Pete had one with Matthew) but these are few and far between. However, these issues are scattered and no real hazard to people living here.

[jambo101]

Your local Florida news will give ample warning when there is a red tide event,the condition might last a week or two, a more relevant worry would be sandspurs that lurk in that little berm of vegetation just before you get to the actual sandy beach..Ouch=
https://www.google.ca/search?q=sands...iw=853&bih=538

[yalaspa]

The last time I swam in the Gulf was after it rained. I have swam in the Gulf thousands of times and I entirely knew not to swim after a rain storm. A life guard educated me about how many poisons lurk in the water. But I could not resist. After swimming I dried off and drove home. For the rest of the day I smelled a very strong odor of soldering iron fumes. It seeped into my skin and I smelled it in my lungs. It most definately was from the water.

Beach: Lido Key

[NALEXAND]

Yes, you should. That bacteria is harming people and Florida officials aren't giving enough warning out of fear of losing tourist dollars. I went to Siesta Key a month or so ago and the beach was filled with stinking, rotting, dead fish. We've had 2 straight years of not getting in the beach waters here due to the bacteria.

[vacoder]

Personally I would worry way more about swimming in fresh water.

[Bobdreamz]

Why don't you ask Rick Scott? The Environmental Governor !

[Tominftl]

The Gulf is more stagnant than the other coast of Florida...