Dear Friend,

It’s happening again. 

After an almost two-year reprieve, the Army Corps of Engineers opened the floodgates from Lake Okeechobee on Oct. 14, sending polluted water to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries. 

The Corps higher-ups announced Friday they would continue this government-sanctioned pollution for at least another week.

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We know from decades of experience that Lake O discharges can trigger toxic algae blooms in our communities. 

We know toxins in those algae blooms threaten our health, posing the risk of serious ailments including liver disease and ALS. 

We know that, even when toxic algae isn’t present, the polluted discharges harm our economy.

Yet the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries continue to serve as a dumping ground, while sugarcane farms in the Everglades Agricultural Area enjoy flood protection and optimal dry-season irrigation from Lake O. 

So long as this poisoning of the estuaries continues, Friends of the Everglades and our partners at Bullsugar.org will stand with you to fight it. 

What can you do to help? For starters:

1. Sign up for our updates and action alerts so you’re in the know about public-comment opportunities and petitions. 
2. Watch our recent Clean Water Conversation about impacts the latest Lake O discharges are having on the St. Lucie, Caloosahatchee and Lake Worth Lagoon.
3. Bookmark our Fighting Toxic Lake O Discharges page, where you can keep tabs on algae blooms and lake conditions.
4. VOTE!  

Election Day is one week away. 

Your participation fuels the political will needed to fix the Everglades and estuaries.

Sincerely,

Friends of the Everglades 

P.S. Our work to protect Florida’s estuaries and Everglades is only possible with your support. If you’re able, please make a donation today!