Lake O discharges resume today

Martin County, Fl– the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District will begin discharges today. They claim this is at reduced flows from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Estuaries.

The new target flow for the St. Lucie Estuary will be reduced to a seven-day average of 1,170 cfs as measured at St. Lucie Lock & Dam (S-80) near Stuart.

The target flow for the Caloosahatchee Estuary will remain at 3,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), but will be measured at W.P. Franklin Lock & Dam (S-79) located near Fort Myers.

This change in measuring location has the effect of reducing flows because basin runoff in the Caloosahatchee will now be incorporated in the discharge calculation.

The blue-green algae currently sitting on Lake Okeechobee right on the other side of the lock will soon be floating right down the St Lucie River.

Remember that even if this water was crystal clear it would still destroy our estuary because it is fresh water.

Yesterday, just driving over the Roosevelt Bridge, my eyes and face started to burn. I have heard the same complaint from friends.

Yesterday some of the admins from the group #toxic18 had a discussion with the ACOE on their Facebook Page. We are very concerned because the corps number one priority is the safety of the people around the lake as it should be. Congressman Brian Mast has been asking questions about the lake level. Here you can see they are also talking about recreation. We think that our health trumps recreation. The people around the lake want it lowered to help bring the lake back. We think this may be a great alternative until the southern reservoir is built.

The group from #toxic18 are initiating a “Sunday Awareness Walk” to educate the public about the discharges and the algae.

“Starting this Sunday, and every Sunday following, we will walk through the downtown area and make sure people are aware of the algae crisis. Bring signs and be civil. Education is key. Many people have no idea what is going on. Talk to the people. Encourage safety. Encourage voting.” If you come to downtown go into your favorite shop and spend some money. It’s a long hot summer down there with construction and we want to make sure our shopkeepers know we appreciate them. Our issue is a community issue and they should not suffer for something out of their control. It really is time to pull us all together.

Please make sure you are registered to vote by July 30.

Ginny Sherlock wrote about this issue:

“Brandon Tucker, Martin County representative to the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board, has attacked Mark Perry of the Florida Oceanographic Society as a liar who doesn’t really understand how water management works in South Florida. In the attached item sent out by a group deceptively named Floridians for Clean Water, Tucker accuses Perry of lying about certain “facts” and spreading “misinformation” that delays true restoration of our environment.

Tucker then touts deep injection wells to divert excess water underground “during emergency situations” to avoid discharges into rivers and estuaries. Tucker appears to speak for the entire Governing Board (“This Board fully recognizes that water is a critical resource, and we are not in the business of wasting it,” he writes. “This Board cannot get the water right’ when inaccurate information makes its rounds to our constituents.”).

We are very concerned that anyone would attack Mark Perry. We are also very concerned about the environmental impact Deep Well injection. It is dangerous and waste of water. Have we not wasted enough water? Seriously, billions of gallons of water wasted from people who are suppose to be managing it.