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South Florida Water Woes

Soaring Sky (@SoaringSkyMedia)

The El Nino Weather pattern made last month the rainiest January for South Florida since 1932 according to the South Florida Water Management District.  Similar weather conditions are expected to continue for the next several weeks and what to do with all that water is a growing concern.  Environmental advocates, business owners, public officials and residents along the Southwest Florida coast oppose the back pumping of nutrient-laden agricultural runoff back into the lake and the high rate of water discharges into the Caloosahatchee River which has sent murky brown water to the coast around Sanibel Island.

The polluted water discharged from the lake disrupt salinity levels in the Caloosahatchee estuary killing oyster beds and sea grasses, are an eye-sore for beachgoers, and can contribute to the duration and frequency of harmful algal blooms that kill marine life. 

Following a request from Governor Rick Scott, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has now decided to take emergency action to release water from Lake Okeechobee to Everglades National Park to alleviate flooding conditions for those living South of the lake and to reduce the rate of water flowing into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Rivers.  We’ll hear from a scientist closely monitoring Caloosahatchee water quality and flow rates for a closer look at current conditions, what they indicate about the future ecological health of the river and estuary and the potential for harmful algal blooms in the coming months.

Guest:

Richard Bartleson, Ph.D., Research Scientist, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation

Kevin Ruane, Mayor of Sanibel Island