Toxic Algae is a problem that has plagued Florida for decades. Today we see the devastation on our environment, evidenced by the large fish kills and the tragic manatee and sea turtle deaths. Now it is affecting Floridians with bronchial disorders.
This 10 point plan is needed to address this critical issue:
Minimize water discharge east and west of Lake Okeechobee.
Shore up and reinforce the Herbert Hoover Dike around Lake Okeechobee so that higher water levels can be maintained safely.Until this is completed, Florida should utilize the 1000’s of acres that FL has purchased over the years from farmers to temporarily store water.
Implement a fast-tracked infrastructure program to replace failing septic systems with city sewer hookups or new septic systems in central and northern Florida.
Reduce fertilization of residential and commercial lawns, gardens, and other green areas north of Lake Okeechobee and in the Orlando area.
Make sure all parties to the Everglades Restoration ACT and Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan are meeting their obligations.
Continue comprehensive monitoring of Big Sugar and other farms to ensure that the water coming off of every farm is cleaner than the water going on to the farms.
Verify landowners, municipalities, and farmers to utilize Best Management Practices (BMP) to reduce phosphorus loads on the Environment. This includes creating and maintaining large land tracts as water treatment areas, preventing cattle from “bathing” in canals, lakes, and rivers through the use of fencing, and controlling water runoff from manure heavy dairy farms north of Lake Okeechobee.
Elevation of Hwy 41 along the northern edge of Everglades National Park to allow water to freely flow south.
Utilize the $1.4 billion grant from the US Government to build a second reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee.
Demand our local Federal Representatives secure our fair share of funding from Washington DC which has held up many shovel ready projects for decades.