The word is out. There have been sightings of bright green, toxic-looking algae in Palm City, just two weeks after the Army Corp of Engineers, with the blessing of state agencies, began releasing toxic waters from Lake Okeechobee. Such has been the fate for many years for our St Lucie River/Indian River Lagoon, but now we’re “on it.”
As we continue to document this issue, we can draw the line on abuses from Lake Okeechobee, and promote change within the law.
What is the procedure for our government to “dump toxic algae” anyway?
Well, at this point according to my research, the process goes something like this:
–the South Florida Water Management District test water quality at various locations in Lake Okeechobee; if they see a substantial algae bloom, they contact the Department of Environmental Protection, DEP, a state agency, who then test for toxins; if the bloom is toxic, the DEP then contacts the Florida Department of Health who together with DEP is responsible for communicating with others such as the Florida Wildlife Commission, local governments, the public and the Army Corp of Engineers. Then if the bloom is not too much of a health hazard…the blessing is given to the ACOE to dump.
How quaint…what teamwork, don’t you think?
I think our state and federal agencies have dumped many times with out us really understanding what was happening and we thought the algae was coming just from our own watershed….certainly the problems of our own, over-enlarged watershed exacerbate the situation, but there is no question the microcystis species of algae comes from the lake and that the lake has poisoned our estuary over the years so the bacteria/algae is latent in the fresher areas of our river now, at all times….
Anyway, as we have seen this round of releases, the ACOE and the state agencies decided on May 1st to release the toxic algae into the St Lucie River even after a call regarding the toxic algae from Senator Joe Negron, and inquiries from Congressman Patrick Murphy’s office. After great study, and determining the bloom was toxic, but not “too toxic,” the various state agencies determined the salinity in the St Lucie River would “break up the bloom,” a freshwater bloom known as microcystis that can only grow in the lake. So then the ACOE opened the gates.
For two weeks the fresh waters of Lake Okeechobee have flowed through S-308 and S-80 into the C-44 canal into the St Lucie River….
And as our estuary becomes fresh, losing salinity due to these freshwater releases, the microcystis species of algae can now grow and reproduce in the river. In 2013, the river was so fresh that even at the Crossroads of the St Lucie River/Indian River Lagoon, off of south Sewall’s Point, toxic microcystis blooms blossomed from shore to 40 feet off the peninsula– a peninsula that basically sits inside the mouth of the St Lucie Inlet!
We must remember as mad as we are, not to kill the messenger….
Our state and federal agencies are the “messenger,” as well as the “executioner,” in this scenario. The guiltily who created this poison water of Lake Okeechobee, and how they are protected is a story for another blog, and one we all actually know quite well.
DEP History and condition of C-44 canal: (http://www.dep.state.fl.us/southeast/ecosum/ecosums/C-44%20Canal%20.pdf)
DEP:(http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/bgalgae/faq.htm)
Florida Dept. Health: (http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/aquatic-toxins/cyanobacteria.html)
Florida Wildlife Commission: (http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/health-disease/other-wildlife/cyanobacteria/)
SFWMD -no information came up for my SFWMD search on this subject: (http://www.sfwmd.gov/portal/page/portal/sfwmdmain/home%20page)
ACOE (HABs) Questions and Answers:(http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/Portals/64/docs/CWProjects/WaterQuality/General%20Lake%20Questions%20and%20Answers%20on%20Algae%20Blooms.pdf)
Understanding Cyanobacteria or Toxic Algae: (http://jacquithurlowlippisch.com/2015/05/05/understanding-cyanobacteria-or-toxic-algae-slrirl/)
LORS is a mess…. Our estuary was not properly represented when these regulations were developed. They are due for adjustments and alterations soon and by supporting a stricter process using actual considerations and current upgrades, discharges can be better managed and our estuary better protected.
As LORS defines how and when discharges occur, LORS can also work in our favor. Do not miss filling the room when this comes back up for discussion. This is a far better approach than voting out this guy or that gal.. Change the rules…. Change the game.
Great job Jacqui.
When do you think it will come up for review? Don thank for chiming in. It is appreciate what you can share….
To me what has been done to our lagoon should be compaired to what was done to the Indians when they killed all the buffalo and forced them to beg for cattle or what Stalin did to Ukraine when he caused the Ukraine famine. It is a tactic that is brutaly effective in having total control of the people and no one is ever charged in any crimes.Big sugar may not be no saint in this situation but I do not think it is their fresh water runoff causing the problems
I thought the white people killed the buffalo.
changes to LORS could work in our favor so long as they continue to get the lake down to 12’6″ in june, but allow for an *emergency, temporary* higher level in summer/fall in years like 2013…
but of course we still have to vote out this guy and vote in that gal… the fish stinketh from the head and this stinky SFWMD board has a big rick scott head with lots of stinky scales in the state legislature, including several who should be representing us but put the wants of their sugar donors first.
actually, LORS changes should lower the 12’6″ boundary further. a reservoir in the EAA could make up the difference.
Chris it means a lot to have you on my blog. Thank you for writing your ideas and please continue.
I think I saw the sign in your yard. Awesome.
Please remove glynn39003@bellsouth.net. Mike Glynn now receives email at mjglynn1962@gmail.com thank you.
Thank you Facebook Friends:
Evan Miller Make the polluters clean it up! Simple law.
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Bill Murphy Eminent domain. Pollution, public hazard. Take for the public good.
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Anne Thompson Schafer political merry go round!!
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Pat Channing Why has this ever been allowed?
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Michael Ramer The solution is plain and simple, but power and money corrupt. This didn’t just start two years ago, but now your “on it”!!! The real solution is to level the dike around the lake, and fill the canals
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Pat Channing
Pat Channing’s photo.
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Michael Ramer People like Nat Reed have been “on it” for decades…..here’s a quote for ya…” When the power of love outweighs the love of power, the world will know peace”…Jimi Hendrix!!!!!
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Pat Channing
Here is my quote of the week…
“I don’t support any party anymore. I’m for abolishing all political parties and making candidates run on their name alone. That’s what I stand for today….See More
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Michael Conner “Not too much” of a health hazard. Criminal
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Xavier Blatch
Never understood why if so many are angered and outraged over the actions politicians take, yet they continue to vote for those same POLITICIANS who continue to vote against the will of the people. I agree with some of the comments, but I believe the …See More
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Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch The long and winding road….
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Let me clearafy—–What white people done to the Indians when white people killed all the buffalo and made the Indians beg for cattle.—It must be the Indian blood in me writeing this
Thanks Brent. I am with you.