By Brian Mudd
What’s Causing Record Manatee Deaths In Florida
Bottom Line: The year was 2014. Three years removed from what was coined the toxic algae “superbloom” of 2011, seagrass levels had begun to meaningfully recover in the Indian River Lagoon. During the “superbloom” an estimated 60% of the Lagoon’s seagrass died out as the toxic algae did its dirty work. After three years, free from toxic algae, 12% of the seagrass had returned and there was hope the trend of recovery would continue. And generally, it did until the 2016 toxic algae crisis which was followed up by the 2018 crisis and all along the way discharges have sporadically continued from Lake Okeechobee which consistently contain unhealthy nutrients along with additional fresh water poured into estuaries which further erode the natural environment.