Using tech to fight algae helps Florida avoid cracking down on polluters

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Another day, another “technological” fix for Florida’s dirty water.

Today’s news story comes to you from the Indian River Lagoon, where Florida Today reported on attempts to “harvest” harmful algae via a floating barge. It might help; it might not be enough to make a real difference. But you know what WOULD make a real difference? Cracking down on pollution at the source.

But that involves standing up to polluters, foregoing their lucrative campaign checks. Politically, it's much easier to think high-tech solutions to our water quality problems can save the day. But ultimately, they're not enough - and some could cause more problems than they solve.

For a closer look at this latest high-tech "solution" and why it's no substitute for actually going after polluters, check out our latest update at VoteWater.org.

Nearly 50 years ago, scientists saw big trouble ahead for Lake O - and here we are

On her blog, former South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Member Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch detailed a 1975 report by the State of Florida declaring that Lake Okeechobee was headed toward "hypereutrophication" (too many nutrients, fueling algal blooms and other problems) unless action was taken. The scientists noted how "back pumping" nutrient-laden runoff from sugar fields in the Everglades Agricultural Area was a huge problem; that practice has been largely curtailed and other changes have been made, but it wasn't enough. Today even the SFWMD acknowledges that Lake O has become hypereutrophic for phosphorus. And with the lake's "Basin Management Action Plan" missing pollution-reduction targets - we haven't yet stopped the slide, let alone reversed it.

Our friends at Friends of the Everglades are nearing an important milestone in the push to reform the Sugar Program, part of the U.S. Farm Bill to be considered later this year. Citizens fed up with the industry's abuses and the federal government's effective subsidization of them have signed their names by the thousands - have you joined them yet?

Last week we took at look at Florida's new "Live Local Act," which is generating controversy in places like Miami Beach, where developers could build a 30-story tower to replace the iconic Clevelander Hotel and Bar. The law stipulates that if projects with a certain percentage of "affordable" housing meet certain benchmarks, local officials have little say in the approval process - but some are crying foul and saying the problems have just begun.

P.S. Signatures Needed! The "Right to Clean and Healthy Waters" petition needs 900,000 signature by November 30 to get on the 2024 ballot. The petition can be printed out and signed here: http://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org/