On almost any summer day, Lake Okeechobee is green with algae.
A recent press release states:
“Congressman Brain Mast has introduced legislation to prohibit toxic discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie Estuary and the Indian River Lagoon. This legislation would make it illegal for the Army Corps of Engineers to discharge water containing algal blooms with a level of toxicity above the Environmental Protection Agency’s human health standard of 8 parts per billion microcystin.”
(Microcystins are hepatotoxins (liver toxins) produced by cyanobacteria, blue green algae.)
Such a law regarding blue-green algae would push back and change everything. ~The toxic algae, the discharges, the years’ long built up non-point pollution that has made Lake Okeechobee eutrophic.
Let’s think about this.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has codified exactly what level of microcystin is too toxic for human contact. The number is 8 parts per billion.
Some people in opposition to this bill say it is outlandish. I think it is outlandish that any business interests, neighboring communities, or level of government would think it is OK to literally dump toxic water onto the citizenry of Martin County.
Thank you Congressman Mast!
Please be familiar with this press release and accompanying bill.
August 12, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kyle VonEnde, 202-329-1890
Mast Introduces Legislation Prohibiting Toxic Discharges
Stuart, Fla. – U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today introduced legislation to prohibit toxic discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie Estuary and the Indian River Lagoon. This legislation would make it illegal for the Army Corps of Engineers to discharge water containing algal blooms with a level of toxicity above the Environmental Protection Agency’s human health standard of 8 parts per billion microcystin.
“The Army Corps has proven that if left to their own devices, they will continue to poison our communities with toxic discharges from Lake Okeechobee that they have acknowledged to be toxic. No Floridian should tolerate being poisoned by their government,” Rep. Mast said. “The EPA has told us exactly what level of microcystin is too toxic for human contact, and now we must tell the Corps to stop these discharges that are destroying our waterways and putting our health at risk!”
The legislation is supported by Captains For Clean Water and Friends of the Everglades.
BACKGROUND
For decades, Florida’s coastal communities have been on the receiving end of toxic discharges, including recently discharges that have tested more than 60 times more toxic than the Environmental Protection Agency considers safe for human contact. These discharges put public health at risk, damage the economy and destroy the environment. Last year, Rep. Mast worked with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set a new public health standard for microcystin (8 parts per billion), which in turn forced the Army Corps of Engineers to admit to knowingly discharging toxic water to the coastal estuaries. Despite acknowledging that these releases are toxic, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has continued to poison Americans.
The legislation is attached: MAST_8ppb
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The photos below were taken just today, 8-12-20, at 9:30 am, by pilot Dr Scott Kuhns from the SuperCub. They show algae clusters in Lake Okeechobee. These algae clusters can grow very rapidly. Following are aerials of S-80 in the C-44 canal: when opened by the ACOE this structure allows water to discharge from Lake Okeechobee into the St Lucie River. Photo#1 JTL & Congressman Mast today at the Riverwalk along the St Lucie River, Stuart, Florida.
Jackie, this is a very important development but only if the bill gets passed and signed by the president. Otherwise it’s just more noise.
The East Coast is VERY fortunate to have Rep. Brian Mast representing you. This is a good Bill that become a great Bill if the Rep. Mast would amend it to include the Caloosahatchee River here on the West Coast. It is a way to gain West Coast support for this important Bill.
Great job, it’s about time!
Props to Rep. Mast and all that helped put this Bill together. Boy, have we come a long way.
Thanks Ezra. We have come a long way.
Hi Jacqui,
I’ve always loved your blog and am very happy to finally be a subscriber! If this bill passes, this could be very impactful. My only question is where does this leave the communities around the Lake and the Caloosahatchee? Are their representatives trying to draft their own legislation or partner with Rep. Mast? If it does pass, hopefully this will drive exploration of potential non-chemical treatment options at release points such as S-308 and/or the S-80, like sonication. I don’t know how effective this might be, but buoyed systems are being used in reservoirs for drinking water in a handful of countries and some areas of the US. However, if effective, it may limit blooms, but not toxins released from destroyed cells.
Dear Vincent, thank you so much for your comment and so great to see you on my blog. Those are good questions and my guess is that other stakeholders are talking. I think the point for CongressMan Mast is to point out that the ACOE is presently knowingly discharging toxic water into a community. However the state is responsible for water quality. Mast is a soldier. This is war. I look forward to more discussion and will learn about sonication. All the best to you and your family.
This WOULD be great BUT, if the water cannot go east or west does this mean that mast is once again throwing the Miccosukee Tribe under the slime? What about the concerns raised by Dr.Encomio? Has Calusa Waterkeeper chimed in? This re-elect me bill is no different than HR 6700.. where is THAT bill? It fractured the entire community and then it did what I predicted.. nothing except get used as a tool for re-election. LOOK at masts voting record in Washington.. he doesn’t care one wit about our water, he votes for every diminishment of environmental protections that comes across the House floor. I know where you are coming from Jacqui, I feel every bit as strong about doing something about our water, and I applaud your efforts to help this become a reality. Having said that, again, this bill IMO, is NO different that HR6700. Mast promised he would stop the discharges AND stop he algal blooms. These were fraudulent lies and I fear THIS bill is no different.
Marty it is good to hear from you! I miss seeing you. I hope you received my thank you note for your historic work. I also shared, lauded, and discussed with my mother. I don’t know if I can answer your questions. Just know I totally respect and listen to Gene Duncan who speaks for the Miccosukki tribe.
You can introduce all the legislation you want, but if Mitch McConnell doesn’t bring it forward, the bill just sits.
And we try…