Lake Talquin algae history from satellite

We read Lake Talquin from 375 cloud-free satellite scenes between May 7, 2016 – Sep 17, 2026. Here is what the surface water showed.

Clear scenes: 375
Typical (median), index: 61
Highest reading: 189 · Oct 19, 2019
Latest scene: 68 · Sep 17, 2026

Algae signal (red-edge index) over time

Algae signal (red-edge index), index. One dot per cloud-free scene; dates are local to the lake.

When it peaks

Month	Clear scenes	Median, index	Scenes rated high
Jan	24	59	63%
Feb	18	74	39%
Mar	35	58	40%
Apr	31	54	39%
May	31	65	35%
Jun	28	78	64%
Jul	32	73	56%
Aug	32	69	72%
Sep	40	59	65%
Oct	37	57	57%
Nov	37	52	46%
Dec	30	47	37%

By year (median / highest): 2016: 64 / 86 (11 scenes) · 2017: 61 / 87 (20 scenes) · 2018: 61 / 111 (41 scenes) · 2019: 65 / 189 (43 scenes) · 2020: 56 / 92 (40 scenes) · 2021: 62 / 122 (37 scenes) · 2022: 64 / 126 (39 scenes) · 2023: 62 / 116 (29 scenes) · 2024: 57 / 171 (40 scenes) · 2025: 57 / 101 (44 scenes) · 2026: 55 / 134 (31 scenes).

What a satellite can and can’t tell you

Satellites see only the surface layer, only on cloud-free days, and only away from the shoreline. They estimate algae; they do not measure toxins, and they can’t see what the lake bottom is doing. A clear reading is not a safety clearance.

For current conditions and health advisories, check the Florida DEP algal bloom page and the Florida Department of Health. If a person or pet may have been exposed to a bloom, call a doctor, a veterinarian, or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.

Source: Sentinel-2 MSI (ESA Copernicus), Red-edge cyanobacteria index (CI-cyano); a scene counts as a bloom when the index is above 50 and stays high relative to turbidity (bloom rule v1 (2026-10)). Snapshot exported Oct 9, 2026.

Worried about your own pond or lake?

One pond? Start with a free satellite read (ponds and lakes 1 acre and up), or get a $179 Pond Health Check: a mail-in kit for your water and your pond bottom, 14 lab measurements, and a scientist's call with a diagnosis and a ranked plan. Bigger or higher-stakes water gets a custom program, quoted per site.

Pond Health Check guarantee: Clear answer or your money back — if we can't tell you what's driving it, you get your money back. Details

Pond Health Check · $179 Get a free read Talk to a scientist

Month	Clear scenes	Median, index	Scenes rated high
Jan	24	59	63%
Feb	18	74	39%
Mar	35	58	40%
Apr	31	54	39%
May	31	65	35%
Jun	28	78	64%
Jul	32	73	56%
Aug	32	69	72%
Sep	40	59	65%
Oct	37	57	57%
Nov	37	52	46%
Dec	30	47	37%

Month	Clear scenes	Median, index	Scenes rated high
Jan	24	59	63%
Feb	18	74	39%
Mar	35	58	40%
Apr	31	54	39%
May	31	65	35%
Jun	28	78	64%
Jul	32	73	56%
Aug	32	69	72%
Sep	40	59	65%
Oct	37	57	57%
Nov	37	52	46%
Dec	30	47	37%

Month	Clear scenes	Median, index	Scenes rated high
Jan	24	59	63%
Feb	18	74	39%
Mar	35	58	40%
Apr	31	54	39%
May	31	65	35%
Jun	28	78	64%
Jul	32	73	56%
Aug	32	69	72%
Sep	40	59	65%
Oct	37	57	57%
Nov	37	52	46%
Dec	30	47	37%