This post is meant to be aerial documentation SLR/IRL July 2022Yesterday I published a blog post about this past Saturday, 7-9-22, that is getting a lot of attention, At Low Tide.
Today, I wanted to follow up with Ed’s aerials the following day, between high and low tides, 7-10-22, 10:30am. The aerials are taken over this same area of the St Lucie River/Indian River Lagoon -between Sewall’s Point and Hutchinson Island. One can see the seagrass/macro-algae flats recovering, visible nearshore reefs off the St Lucie Inlet, and the rain’s runoff plume, but no Lake Okeechobee discharges. You can keep up to date on the lake and the science at my brother Todd’s website EyeOnLakeO.
Thank you for being part of the continued fight for the health of the St Lucie River/Indian River Lagoon and all our waters!
Ed took a pre-Easter flight in his new RV plane on April, 16, 2022 at 10am. He flew from Witham Field in Stuart west to Lake Okeechobee, back over parts of the C-44 Canal, and then over the St Lucie Inlet.
We are at the hight of the dry season. Once the wet season begins in the next couple of months, conditions will drastically change. We can use these photos as an “end of dry season base line.”
The St Lucie River/Indian River Lagoon looks very good as we have had little rain and no major Lake O discharges in three years. See page 14 below of “SFWMD Environmental Report,” – meeting date 4-14-22.As far as Lake O, although on April 8, 2022, the Martin County Health Department issued a cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) warning for area near Port Mayaca and Lake Okeechobee, blue-green algae was not visible from the sky. Please read press release.
We must stay vigilant.
I.
-Lake Okeechobee at S-308, Port Mayaca
II.
-C44 Reservoir/STA at Indiantown-at 10 feet being filled and check for safety by ACOE
-C44 STA and intake canal from C-44 canal
-More of Reservoir and STA -Caulkins Water Farm next to C-44 R/STA
On January 12, 2022, Ed sold the Baron and I entitled my post “Last Flight Old Friend.” Today I am hoping to make a new friend with Ed’s RV. To begin this friendship, on April 3, 2022, I sent Ed up to take photographs in RV flight.
His aerials came out well; I wanted to share them today. They provide a striking look at some of the beautiful and changing areas of Martin County.
-Ed and his new RV
I.
-C-44 Reservoir located in Indiantown & being filled up by the ACOE.
-I am not sure what development this is being created, however, one can see the St Lucie Inlet and Jupiter Narrows as a reference. If anyone knows, please share. It looks to me to be located around Hobe Sound.
IV. April 3, 2022, 11:30am
-The St Lucie River/Indian River Lagoon looks good. There have been no major discharges from Lake Okeechobee since 2018. Mind you, April is the near end of the dry season. The wet season begins around June 1. According to NOAA, the 2022 storm names are: Alex, Bonnie, Colin, Danielle, Earl, Fiona, Gaston, Hermine, Ian, Julia, Karl, Lisa, Martin, Nicole, Owen, Paula, Richard, Shary, Tobias, Virginie and Walter. I hope it is not foreshadowing that of of them is named “Martin.”
Ed’s aerials below show the effects of discharge on the St Lucie River/Indian River Lagoon near the St Lucie Inlet not from C-44 or Lake O, but from Canals C-23 , C-24 and local runoff. Seagrasses, or lack thereof, is a concern. Please see link for recent Army Corp updates: ACOE Periodic_Scientists_Call_Power Point 2022-03-29 2
Slide Periodic Scientist Call ACOE 3-29-22
Thank you Ed for taking photos! Maybe next time, if I get my nerve up, I’ll be up there with you! I have to say, my favorite plane so far was not the Baron, but the original “River Warrior”, the Cub. 🙂 No matter what you’re flying we will continue to document the St Lucie fighting for her health!
Yesterday I published a blog post about this past Saturday, 7-9-22, that is getting a lot of attention, At Low Tide.
