At a Glance

A USGS biologist spotted a small algae bloom on Florida's Lake Okeechobee this week.Some scientists are concerned that it might mean a repeat of last year's disastrous algae bloom that closed beaches along Florida's coast.But others say it's too early to tell.

Scientists are concerned that a small, blue-green algae bloom spotted this weekin Florida's Lake Okeechobee could mean a repeat of last summer's emergency that killedmarine life and closed beaches along the state'sAtlantic coast.

Barry Rosen, a biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, captured a snapshot of the bloom alongaboat ramp at Pahokee, Florida, on the lake's southern shore. The photo quickly made the rounds withother scientists via email.

"(It) looks like the mild winter is favoring early bloom formation on Lake O...or maybe this was happening at this time last year to this degree and was not observed,"James "Jim"Riley, an environmental engineer with the Army Corps of Engineers, wrote in an emailobtained by . "Would like to stay ahead of the news media on this situation."

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), , are single-celled organisms that rely on photosynthesis to turn sunlight into food. The bacteria can grow quickly when fed by nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen that are abundant in warm, still water.

A photo of an algae bloom growing on Lake Okeechobee in Florida, captured Monday, March 20, 2017, by USGS biologist Barry Rosen.

(Barry Rosen, PhD/USGS)

The harmful algae blooms (HAB) that originatein Lake Okeechobee before traveling towardthe Atlantic coast via the St. Lucie River comes from the runoff that contains phosphorus and nitrogen-rich fertilizers and human waste from nearby farms and ordinary neighborhoods, according to the FWC.

If ingested, water contaminated with toxic cyanobacteria can cause nausea, vomiting and, in severe cases, acute liver failure, according to FWC. While there have been no documented cases of anyone becoming ill from drinking water containing these toxins, it remains a concern. The Centers for Disease Control can cause a rashand some research indicates a link between long-term inhalation of toxic algae fumes and neurological disorders like Parkinson’s and Lou Gehrig’s diseases.

"Cyanobacteria can cause unsightly blooms; cause taste and odor problems in public water supplies and can kill domestic animals, pets, and fish and wildlife that drink or are otherwise exposed to untreated contaminated water or toxic biota," the FWC says.

Rosen told TCPalm that the bloom spotted on Okeechobee was small, measuring about10 by 20 feet, and noted that the bloom, which proved to be cyanobacteria, was thick but "nowhere near as thick" as the algae in the St. Lucie River last summer.

Mel Erb scoops up a handful of the algae bloom that fouled the St. Lucie River in Palm City, Florida, in this July 2005 photo. The river, in good years a fishing hot spot and picturesque playground for the booming communities, is fading fast, and scientists and water managers warn it's going to get sicker long before it gets better.

(AP Photo/Miami Herald, Curtis Morgan)

Few can forget images of . The "blanket of guacamole-green goop" that flowed out of the Lucie River into the Atlantic killed off marine wildlife, suffocated oyster beds and "triggered a ferocious outcry from coastal residents."

Man-Made Emergency

As reported by weather.com meteorologist Kait Parker, reporterMarcus Stern and producer Spencer Wilking, the.

A combination of years of political maneuvering, insufficient water treatment facilities, a damaged dike system and urban runoff resulted in a disastrous summer for the state that relies on tourism.

"It’s the culmination of 135 years of engineering missteps, hubris and a determination to turn Everglades sawgrass into cash crops," according to the weather.com investigative report. "Despite talk of spending $10.5 billion over the next two decades to fix the problem, a cloud of political uncertainty leaves it unclear when, how – or even if – the harmful algae blooms will be stopped."

(WATCH: )

In an attempt to spur the economy years ago,Florida land developers and government officials broke up the natural flowof the state's rivers, Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades to redirect water south from central Florida. The economy did grow as theland was reclaimed from the Everglades for development, but now the unnatural water flow has periodically left rivers and lagoons toxic with harmful algae blooms.

A Repeat of Last Year?

Whether last summer's emergency will occur again this summer can't be determined just yet. Rosen says it is too soon to tell if the small bloom on Lake Okeechobee will develop into a bigger bloom as summer approaches.

"Lake Ohas the nutrients and organisms, but it is a complex series of events that lead to a bloom, such as water column stability, temperature, etc.," Rosen told weather.com.

(MORE:)

Algae covered water at Stuart's Central Marine boat docks is thick, Thursday, June 30, 2016, in Stuart, Florida.

(AP Photo/Terry Spencer)

Dee Ann Miller, aspokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, has saidthatpredicting future algae blooms and preventing themare daunting and complicated tasks.

“The nature of most freshwater algal bloom events makes it difficult to predict where and when a bloom will occur or how long it will last,” Miller in July 2016. “However, lessening the negative effects of algal blooms is possible through restoration work to improve water quality by reducing nutrients. By reducing nitrogen and phosphorous levels, we can help decrease the intensity and duration of algal bloom events.”

Biologist Paul Gray told TCPalm he doesn't believe a repeat scenario of last year's harmful algae bloomis a given, noting that "there's abloom that pops up periodicallyat the boat ramp there," which he says is a result of phosphorus found inbird droppings.

"I'm afraid my bird friends are responsible," Gray told TCPalm. "I'm not saying it's a good thingbecause a lot ofpeoplefish in that water. But I don't think you can say it's a sign of bigger things to come."

MORE ON WEATHER.COM:Florida Algae Emergency 2016

Boats docked at Central Marine in Stuart, Fla., are surrounded by blue green algae, Wednesday, June 29, 2016. ( Greg Lovett/The Palm Beach Post via AP)