These aerials were taken by my husband, Ed Lippisch, on August 27, 2023 around 12:15pm. Other than an operational burp from Lake Okeechobee through C-44, it’s canals C-23 and C-24 which drain Port St. Lucie, Allapattah Flats, as well as our Tidal Basin – that are causing the present discoloration and decline in water quality. On a good note, though impaired, seagrass beds are visible near the Sandbar and algae is no longer seen from 1000 feet at Port Mayaca.
As we enter the primary hurricane season it’s unfortunate the alternative canal through the Everglades Agricultural Area once considered by the ACOE in the 1950s to alleviate the discharges is not in place. If history does indeed repeat itself, we must be prepared for more rain and Lake Okeechobee destruction added to the St. Lucie River/Indian River Lagoon.
We must keep our eye on lake O!
Rain and runoff plume exiting St. Lucie Inlet 
Visibile seagrasses and macroalge Sailfish Flats
Sewall’s Point between the St. Luice and Indian River
Peck’s Lake
SL Inlet w/ plume 
Sailfish Point on Hutchinson Island is next to St. Lucie Inlet 
S-308 at Port Mayaca C44 Canal aka St. Lucie Canal – no algae visible from 1000 feet 
