Dennis McGuire, who works for Ecosphere technologies, looks on as the companies Ozonix EF80 machine is used in an attempt to kill the awful smelling algae at the Outboards Only marina along the St. Lucie River on July 11, 2016, in Jensen Beach, Florida.

(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

At a Glance

Recurring toxic algal blooms have residents concerned this will become the usual. Climate change and nutrient-filled runoff is helping the algal blooms flourish.

In addition to sunshine and warm weather, the norm in Florida may soon include a not so appealing feature. Toxic algae that has been plaguing the Sunshine State has residents wondering if this is what they should learn to expect.

The clumped green slime that appeared on Florida’s beaches earlier this month marks , according to National Geographic. In 2013, the algae blooms were so widespread that the event was dubbed “Toxic Summer.”

This year’s outbreak became such an issue that .

“This is absolutely the worst,” Citizens for Clean Water founder and Stuart, Florida, resident Evan Miller told National Geographic. “We’ve never seen algae so thick. You can see it from space. There are places in Stuart that are on their third and fourth cycle of blooms now.”

Algae-covered water at Stuart's Central Marine boat docks is thin in Stuart, Florida.

(AP Photo/Terry Spencer)

The blooms appearing in Florida are known as cyanobacteria and are harmful to humans and animals. They originated from Lake Okeechobee after . The algae’s growth is fed by nitrogen, phosphorous and other nutrients from the runoff, as well as climate change which stymies the blooms with warm waters.

In addition to fouling the water, the blue-green algae has also introduced toxins into the air. Tests conducted by authorities in Martin County revealed that the toxin microcystin is in the air at sites along the St. Lucie River, which is coated with thick clumps of algae blooms. The blooms themselves contain toxic levels officials said they’d never dreamed they’d see.

Tests ran in the contaminated area found . The report noted that the amount of hydrogen sulfide found may “be intolerable for individuals with respiratory conditions and asthmatics.”

Florida’s warm climate makes battling algae blooms a formidable task.

“There is no short-term answer to this,” University of Miami marine biologist Larry Brand told National Geographic. “The Corps is trying to hold back some water up north to reduce the water coming into the lake. No matter which way that water goes, it creates problems. It is a case of who screams the loudest.”

Officials have warned residents to avoid contact with the algal blooms and to stay out of waters where it’s present.