I have read that “Big Sugar” is to blame for a lot of this mess.
That is incorrect. See post #65 for a map of the agricultural region.
The sugarcane fields are south and east of the lake. Drainage is from north to south and since the lake is surrounded by a dike, nutrient laden runoff from the cane fields doesn’t get into the lake.
For certain, agricultural interests south of the lake do not want their fields annexed for use as water retention basins.
Remember, the entire purpose of the flood control system was to make otherwise useless land productive.
The present problem concerns pumping of water from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatche and St. Lucie rivers where it ultimately empties into the intracoastal waterway and ocean.
Freshwater bodies in Florida commonly have an icedtea color. This is safe, entirely natural and is caused by tannins from organic matter in the soil. When that icetea colored water meets the clear waters of the ocean, it creates photo-opportunities for the media who sensationalize it as polluted water contaminating otherwise pristine ocean water.
Big Sugar has nothing to do with the present pumping, or the initial discharge from a few years ago.
There are large tracts of land south of the lake where water used to be pumped but no longer can be pumped to due to various legislation, primarily environmental legislation. So, when lake water levels get too high, the South Florida Water Management District is left with no other option than to pump into the two rivers.
It is more than ironic how the early and mid20th century flood control system transformed vast fetid fever swamps into productive land and flourishing wildlife habitat yet the flood control system is now prohibited from discharging water into designated discharge areas it created... areas which without the flood control system would have already been flooded and wildlife disrupted.
Very informative post.
Live in the Stuart Fla area so we see the results of the discharges from the lake as it enters the St. Lucie river, and out the inlet area. When its in full release you have to go 2 miles offshore before the water turns blue. Otherwise its a mottled brown color.
On our local canal C-23 we get runoffs from the agricultural fields and community related overflows during heavy rains. Its normally brackish water, but during discharges the fish leave. The first signs or “ re living” as I call it are when the jellyfish and stingrays start to come back.
Talking to the old-timers ( 20-30 years ago) they tell the tale of how there were seagrasses everywhere, blue water, conch , oysters.... All thats gone to the folly of discharges...
Highly toxic algae reported in C-44 Canal as return of Lake Okeechobee discharges looms
When Lake Okeechobee discharges to the St. Lucie River resume, the water is likely to contain highly toxic algae.
A water sample taken July 5 at the St. Lucie Lock and Dam, the conduit for Lake O water to the St. Lucie, was 15 times as toxic as what the World Health Organization considers hazardous in recreational contact.
The sample contained the toxin microcystin at a level of 154.38 parts per billion, according to information posted Tuesday on the state Department of Environmental Protection algae website.
Anything over 10 parts per billion is considered hazardous.
Consider the St. Johns River. It pours that same color water into the ocean at Jacksonville 24/7. Here's an article giving some background on why the water is the color it is.
http://www.jacksonville.com/article/20130128/NEWS/801258584
Talking to the old-timers ( 20-30 years ago) they tell the tale of how there were seagrasses everywhere, blue water, conch , oysters.... All thats gone to the folly of discharges...
That's the point I've been trying to get across to people. These present type discharges used to not happen and it isn't because of the farmers. The farmers have been there for generations. Rather than reflexively blaming the farmers, people need to be asking why the present discharges are necessary when they weren't 30 years ago.