Today we will get a science lesson and see some new shocking photos…
Eutrophication: (Ecology.) (of a lake) characterized by an abundant accumulation of nutrients that support a dense growth of algae and other organisms, the decay of which depletes the shallow waters of oxygen in summer.
Today’s blog shares new aerial photos by Dr Scott Kuhns taken 6-22-16 of the extensive blue-green algae cyanobacteria bloom on the western side of the C-44 Canal being sent through S-80. The photos show a condition caused by mixture of polluted Lake Okeechobee and C-44 agricultural basin water filled with an overabundance of nitrogen and phosphorus primarily from decades of intense agricultural farming north, south and around Lake Okeechobee. Scientists have documented this condition of “eutrophication” since the late 1960s and predicted it would worsen unless serious corrections were put in place.
http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/papers/pp1011/wqlakeo.html
These nutrients, now out of control, feed algae blooms and have caused the eutrophication (or overabundance of algae growth) of Lake Okeechobee. The St Lucie River is now experiencing this due to our manmade connection to the lake. Our agricultural canals of C-44, C-23, C-24, and C-25 are culprits too. The giant releases from the lake and canals make our river fresh and seeded with algae water. Sometimes growing toxic.
The bloom on the west side of S-80 at St Lucie Locks and Dam was first documented by local activist this time in late May. The ACOE has been dumping since January 29, 2016. The river is now almost entirely fresh. Perfect for blooms.
Yesterday the St Lucie River went up in algae with multiple reports throughout the entire river from Palm City, Rio, Stuart, Jensen, and Sewall’s Point. Could there be a correlation considering the bloom started in the eutrophic lake ? How could there not be.
Dr Kuhns’ comment?
“Ridiculous!!! What does it take?”
We should not be connected to the lake. Agricultural canals should be redirected. There must be storage to treat this algae water. It should not be sent into our estuary destroying property and the environment.
Blog June 1st with close ups of this phenomenon at S-80 weeks ago: https://jacquithurlowlippisch.com/2016/06/01/governments-toxic-algae-releases-into-our-slrirlbusted/
Jacqui, it will take an emergency injunction to close the locks at the Lake and/or at Port Mayaca
Just weighing in on you blogs, Jaquii. I don’t comment often, but I wanted you to know that I read all your reports and use the information to help educate the groups I work with. Thanks so much.
On Thu, Jun 23, 2016 at 7:55 AM, Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch wrote:
> Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch posted: ” Today we will get a science lesson and > see some new shocking photos… Eutrophication: (Ecology.) (of a lake) > characterized by an abundant accumulation of nutrients that support a dense > growth of algae and other organisms, the decay of which deplet” >
Good shots everyone. It should be made clear that in our wet times, some 75% of what is shunted out of S-80 here at Stuart first came from S-308 at Port Mayaca on the east shore of Lake O.
The releases from Lake O are mainly responsible for the big gushers of nasty algae and other bad water. As long as we let Big Sugar claim that others are at fault, we’re stuck in the same Big Sugar vice
It’s hard to figure why so many folks fail to understand the “absolute necessity” to send the excess water south from the lake in a Plan 6 concept flowway. Could it be because pols like State Senator Joe Negron have taken such huge amounts of sugar lobbying money?
How is sending the water south any kind of solution?
That’s just moving algea from one place to another, isn’t it?
What is a permanent, realistic solution?
Thanks for the article. It seems to me a solution would be to build water treatment plants at the locks. Now. Treat the problem and clean the water; redirecting the water south won’t solve the basic problem.