Lagoon on Path to Death and Destruction
Dennis Hanisek, a local marine biologist says that the Indian River Lagoon and its estuaries are on a path for death and destruction, thanks to the ongoing water releases from Lake Okeechobee by the US Army Corp of Engineers.
Confluence of SLR/IRL at/near Sewall’s Point on its way through St Lucie Inlet.
Photo: Ed Lippish
Scientists are seeing drastically low levels of salinity. Hanisek placed a LOBO (Land/Ocean Biogeochemical Observatory.)
in the lagoon last year. LOBOS gather real time data when there are acute or chronic episodes in the water.
He is concerned that the low salinity will kill of oysters and eventually lead to algae blooms. He said he would NOT go fishing and ingest anything when the water is so highly impacted.
There is much at stake. The lagoon estimated economic value is almost 4 billion annually supporting 15,000 jobs.
Dennis Hanisek will present his data findings at a conference at Harbor Branch Oceanographic in Ft. Pierce.
We hope someone will be listening.
