St Lucie Locks are open again
Martin County, Fl- The locks have been closed over the weekend. They are now open.
https://www.facebook.com/rebecca.fatzinger.1/videos/1886000578125193/
As of today the S80 (St. Lucie lock and Dam) is open. The Corps is sending approx 800 million gallons of the blue-green algal infested C44 water into our community. This according to Michael Connor.
According the ACOE the 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.
Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch wrote this blog before she took off for D.C. for the meeting with the River Kidz at Congress.
Masses of Algae Pressing the Gates; Will ACOE Discharge Tomorrow? SLR/IRL
Watch the videos of massive blue-green algae coming our way. This is coming from Lake Okeechobee.
https://www.facebook.com/jacqui.thurlowlippisch/videos/10217226864043186/
So for all the people with their magic fairy tale like theory of septic tanks- how does this happen. Does the stuff from Martin County Septic tanks magically fly in the sky to the EAA? Then down the west coast?
From Martin County:
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Florida’s water management districts collect samples when algal blooms are observed. View DEP’s sampling results here.
Citizens are advised, if they have any suspected algae-related illness or health effects due to exposure, to see their physician and report illness to the Florida Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222.
Report an Algae Bloom
Martin County reminds residents they should avoid any contact with algae blooms and stay out of waters where it is present. Please report algae blooms or sightings to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) at (855) 305-3903 or online here.
Report Impacts on Fish and Wildlife
Fish kills or other wildlife impacted by poor water quality should be reported to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) at (800) 636-0511 or online here.
We are still very confused as to why there are no announcements on the Martin County Health Department website at this time and why there are no signs to warn unsuspecting people.
Here is a link to our petition to please put up warning signs.
Install life saving warning signs along our rivers and beaches before it’s too late
Please take a moment to sign it!
One more report we think everyone needs to read. This is from the last time. We are already seeing some these things happening especially with the DEP and no warning signs. Everyone is keeping a close eye on things because unfortunately the county and state have not been forthcoming with us in the past.
TAINTED WATERS: THREATS TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO KNOW
In the wake of the 2016 outbreak of toxic algae in the St. Lucie River and Estuary and along Florida’s Treasure Coast, the ACLU of Florida was asked by members in the region and several environmental organizations to investigate the state’s record of transparency with regard to the dissemination of information about the potential grave danger to the public health posed by the algae flow. Specific concern was expressed about the state’s performance in delivering needed information evenly to all citizens in affected areas, and whether the state understate scientific evidence of dangers to public health.
The following report was researched with the help of local residents, scientists, media sources, and those state employees who cooperated with an ACLU of Florida investigator.
Some areas of concern;
“Scientists have cited various concerns with algae outbreaks. In cases of acute exposure, toxins released by the algae are known to cause liver damage. A 2015 study by Ohio State scientists identified Martin and neighboring counties –St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee — as one of the hotspots in the U.S. for the coincidence of algae infestations and non-alcoholic liver damage. Those findings need further research, but critics say the state has so far failed to act.”
“Department of Environmental Protection scientists measuring the toxicity in the water. She found that those scientists did not take their readings where the algae were the thickest and closest to shore. They went toward the center of the river and estuary where water was clear. They reported the water there was not dangerous
“Based on their data, you would have thought we didn’t have a problem here,” Drum says She asked them why they sampled in that fashion. “They said since they warn people not to go near the algae, they don’t have to do samples there. They sample where the water is clear because people may think that water is safe there and it might not be.”
In Martin County, Deborah Drum eventually took her own samples. She found a density of microcystin at 33,000 milligrams per liter, hundreds of times higher than any reading state scientists reported. It is also a rate that Cox and his international consortium of scientists say makes water dangerous even to boat on or fish from.
You can read the rest for yourself -it is pretty shocking.
