We are on Overlook at Delaware. We smell it too!

Thank you for taking the time to “Report an Issue” via Doing Things for You! The Pinellas County Air Quality Division will review the request and take necessary action. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact us at (727) 464-4422 or airquality@pinellas.gov. Please note, Air Quality does not offer indoor air quality inspections or services and has no authority to regulate or respond to indoor air quality complaints regarding mold, mildew or radon. Florida Statutes do not require remediation or abatement of mold. For more information, visit our website at https://pinellas.gov/topic/environment/air-quality Campfires are allowed, please see Pinellas County code 58-216 and 58-217 for more information on open burning at https://library.municode.com/fl/pinellas_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIPICOCO_CH58EN_ARTVOPBU_S58-216PEOPBU. If you smell GAS, please call 911 and report it to your local fire department. Thank you.

Thank you for taking the time to “Report an Issue” via Doing Things for You! The Pinellas County Air Quality Division will review the request and take necessary action. If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact us at (727) 464-4422 or airquality@pinellas.gov. Please note, Air Quality does not offer indoor air quality inspections or services and has no authority to regulate or respond to indoor air quality complaints regarding mold, mildew or radon. Florida Statutes do not require remediation or abatement of mold. For more information, visit our website at https://pinellas.gov/topic/environment/air-quality Campfires are allowed, please see Pinellas County code 58-216 and 58-217 for more information on open burning at https://library.municode.com/fl/pinellas_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIPICOCO_CH58EN_ARTVOPBU_S58-216PEOPBU. If you smell GAS, please call 911 and report it to your local fire department. Thank you.

Pinellas County staff have visited the site of your odor complaint. Staff verified that there is an odor in the area, but it appears to be from decaying vegetation, not sewage. County staff have also been in contact with staff from the City of St. Petersburg (CoSP) who confirmed that there have been no Sanitary Sewer Overflows in the area. CoSP staff sampled the vegetation last week and confirmed the odor wasn’t related to fecal matter/bacteria.

The smell is most likely from decaying macroalgae, this one is “Lyngbya” or “Dapis”, as is visible in your photos. This algae is common in our area, and unfortunately, it is often stinky at certain times of the year when it washes up and decays.

Here is a link to a recent article and video about the same issue just south of you: https://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article287976920.html
You can rake up the algae and dispose of it, which might help the smell a bit in your direct area, but it will likely continue to wash up for a while as it continues to bloom during this time of year. It may be harmful to pets if they consume it, so be careful to keep pets away from it if you do remove it.