Plus: Learn more about the proposed Right to Clean Water amendment, and a look back at our "summers of slime"     Is the discharge crisis over? We may need to retire our "discharges ticker." For the moment, anyway. Last week the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that once the two-week "pause" in discharges to the St. Lucie, Caloosahatchee and Lake Worth Lagoon ended April 13, the corps would NOT resume discharges to the St. Lucie River or Lake Worth Lagoon. "Beneficial" releases averaging 650 cubic feet per second would go west to the Caloosahatchee to alleviate stagnant conditions that have facilitated the growth of blue-green algae. So first off: If you're one of the thousands of Floridians who reached out to the Corps or South Florida Water Management District officials and told them to knock it off, kudos. They listened. Sometimes the squeaky wheel really does get the grease. But. Up to 30 named storms are in the hurricane forecast this year. Meanwhile the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has confirmed toxic blue-green algae at five Martin County locations since March 29; with no more discharges to "feed" them those blooms may peter out. But things are more complicated in the Caloosahatchee, where continued releases may flush away current blooms — but as blooms on Lake Okeechobee itself grow, more algae could be flushed INTO the Caloosahatchee. So bottom line: Our problems haven't been solved. And it remains more important than ever to keep pushing for more water storage, and operational changes that would allow water managers to send more water south — i.e. using capacity in the stormwater treatment areas south of Lake O for lake water, not just Big Sugar's runoff. And if you haven't reached out to public officials asking them to consider these operational changes, click the link below to do so. ASK THE SFWMD TO ADDRESS STA CAPACITY Getting a right to clean water on the ballot Florida's Right to Clean Water movement is ramping up efforts to amend the Florida Constitution to create "an enforceable, fundamental right to clean and healthy waters, authorizing a person to sue for equitable relief when a State executive agency, by action or inaction, allows harm or threat of harm to Florida waters." VoteWater Executive Director Gil Smart will be part of a live discussion on the petition drive at noon on Thursday, April 18, hosted by our friends at Friends of the Everglades. Also joining the discussion: Eve Samples, Friends' Executive Director; Joe Bonasia of Florida Right to Clean Water, Matt DePaolis of Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation and Calusa Waterkeeper Codty Pierce. Register for the event at the link below.   REGISTER FOR THE LIVESTREAM DISCUSSION Here's what a 'summer of slime' looks like The photo above, taken by Mary Radabaugh in 2013, is one of several we dug out of the archive to illustrate what a "summer of slime" looks like. Unfortunately we can't reproduce the smell of the toxic algae, but if you were around in 2013, 2016 and 2018, you remember it. If you missed those crises... count yourself lucky, and hope we don't get another one anytime soon. For a look back, click the link below. VIEW THE GALLERY ICYMI: How low could Lake Okeechobee go (if we could send lake water to the STAs)? Our "Deep Dive" last week posed the question: If the stormwater treatment areas south of Lake Okeechobee were used to store and clean water from the lake, rather than being earmarked first and foremost for Big Sugar's agricultural runoff — how much lower would the lake be? Answer: If all the capacity were reserved for lake water, Lake O would now be below 13 feet (instead of the 14.99 feet it was at press time). But even if just half the capacity were dedicated to lake water, it would still take the lake down to about 13 feet, 5 inches — a foot and a half lower than where it is today. Which makes a good argument for rethinking the way those STAs are managed. Click the link for more. READ THE DEEP DIVE REPORT With your support, we can hold politicians accountable Taking on Big Sugar, following the "dirty money" from special interests, tracking our slippery legislators as they try to pass more polluter-friendly laws and keeping you ahead of the curve on clean-water news and views is a juggling act. But we do it because at VoteWater our goal is to empower you to demand political accountability and cleaner water. We can't do it without your support. Click the "Donate" button below, or become a member — and receive a cool member gift! — by clicking that button. And thanks. We continue to believe that Florida's water crisis is, at its root, a political problem. And now more than ever, it requires a political solution.  -Gil Smart, Executive Director DONATE BECOME A MEMBER VoteWater 3727 SE Ocean Blvd Suite 200-A Stuart, FL 34996 | (772) 212-2939 VoteWater | 3727 SE Ocean Blvd, Suite 200-A, Stuart, FL 34996 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!