Federal Action Sought For Florida Coastline Tainted By Algae

Officials believe toxic algae-laden water from Lake Okeechobee is pouring into Florida’s waterways spreading the algae bloom.

State water managers have been working to direct more water south of the lake into the parched Everglades, but federal regulations, conservation mandates and stalled restoration projects complicate those efforts. “However, after visiting with local elected officials in Martin County yesterday and viewing the algae first hand, we felt compelled to take action”. Many believe the source of the outbreak is because of the water released form Lake Okeechobee. Drinking water and showers at parks are safe and not affected by algae blooms.

“This is an emergency and we are asking them to stop the flow of water into Lake Okeechobee”, Nelson said.

I am declaring a state of emergency in Martin & St. Lucie Counties following algal blooms. The governor has declared a state of emergency in two of the affected counties.

“Governor Scott’s emergency declaration gives the South Florida Water Management District the ability to reduce some of the flows coming into the lake”, said Kirk.

Debates about federal and state management of Lake Okeechobee are not new.

While Gov. Rick Scott has blamed the federal government for neglecting repairs to Lake Okeechobee’s aging dike, some residents have instead blamed him, saying he hasn’t done enough to curb pollution from farms north of the lake or purchase land farther south where lake waters could be stored and cleaned.

The foul-smelling problem – which has closed beaches along the Treasure Coast – stems in part from stopgap measures put in place by the feds.

KDHE says high levels of blue-green algae have been found in Central Park Lake in Shawnee County, Lake Afton in Sedgwick County, Marion Reservoir (not Marion County Lake) in Marion County, and in Milford Reservoir (all zones, A, B and C) in Clay, Dickinson and Geary Counties. Together with Martin County commissioners, they’ve called on the Corps of Engineers to reduce the flow of water it has been pumping out of Lake Okeechobee, and recently gained support from Florida senators.

A massive blue-green algae bloom in recent weeks has expanded from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie River in Martin County and extended along the county’s oceanfront, leading officials to temporarily close some beaches where the algae was reported. The Corps announced it would begin a “pulse release” that will reduce output levels.

“Business owners along the coast could incur significant financial losses if residents and visitors are forced to avoid the algae-laden waterways and beaches for long periods of time”, he wrote.

Florida’s US senators, Republican Marco Rubio and Democrat Bill Nelson, have joined Martin County commissioners in calling for the Army Corps of Engineers to stop the flow of water between the river and Lake Okeechobee. U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is expected to visit to the area on Thursday, and U.S. Sen. The algae is just the ecological response to excess nutrients.