Lochloosa Lake algae history from satellite

We read Lochloosa Lake from 395 cloud-free satellite scenes between May 14, 2016 – Oct 1, 2026. Here is what the surface water showed.

Clear scenes: 395
Typical (median), index: 112
Highest reading: 408 · Dec 8, 2025
Latest scene: 248 · Oct 1, 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	27	67	63%
Feb	34	79	62%
Mar	33	69	70%
Apr	32	68	53%
May	37	111	76%
Jun	33	148	85%
Jul	32	144	94%
Aug	31	140	81%
Sep	37	132	89%
Oct	35	110	89%
Nov	35	101	77%
Dec	29	100	72%

By year (median / highest): 2016: 151 / 282 (9 scenes) · 2017: 26 / 219 (13 scenes) · 2018: 72 / 214 (41 scenes) · 2019: 111 / 146 (41 scenes) · 2020: 114 / 230 (40 scenes) · 2021: 56 / 143 (36 scenes) · 2022: 104 / 266 (49 scenes) · 2023: 129 / 221 (41 scenes) · 2024: 76 / 140 (36 scenes) · 2025: 139 / 408 (55 scenes) · 2026: 227 / 310 (34 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	27	67	63%
Feb	34	79	62%
Mar	33	69	70%
Apr	32	68	53%
May	37	111	76%
Jun	33	148	85%
Jul	32	144	94%
Aug	31	140	81%
Sep	37	132	89%
Oct	35	110	89%
Nov	35	101	77%
Dec	29	100	72%

Month	Clear scenes	Median, index	Scenes rated high
Jan	27	67	63%
Feb	34	79	62%
Mar	33	69	70%
Apr	32	68	53%
May	37	111	76%
Jun	33	148	85%
Jul	32	144	94%
Aug	31	140	81%
Sep	37	132	89%
Oct	35	110	89%
Nov	35	101	77%
Dec	29	100	72%

Month	Clear scenes	Median, index	Scenes rated high
Jan	27	67	63%
Feb	34	79	62%
Mar	33	69	70%
Apr	32	68	53%
May	37	111	76%
Jun	33	148	85%
Jul	32	144	94%
Aug	31	140	81%
Sep	37	132	89%
Oct	35	110	89%
Nov	35	101	77%
Dec	29	100	72%