Martin County businesses don t want Lake Okeechobee discharges
Congressman Brian Mast sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Monday asking him to get the Army Corps of Engineers to see firsthand the algae situation brewing in the area around Lake Okeechobee.
and last updated 2021-05-18 17:09:29-04
STUART, Fla. â Congressman Brian Mast sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Monday asking him to get the Army Corps of Engineers to see firsthand the algae situation brewing in the area around Lake Okeechobee.
The St. Lucie Lock remains closed.
The Army Corps said last week they hope they don t have to open the Lock until September keeping any potentially toxic algae from the St. Lucie Estuary.
Congressman vows to fight water discharges
No plans to release water east into St. Lucie river at this time Share Updated: 6:06 PM EDT May 14, 2021
No plans to release water east into St. Lucie river at this time Share Updated: 6:06 PM EDT May 14, 2021
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Show Transcript THE ISSUE ADMIT, THIS IS A BALANCING ACT, BUT THE HOPE RIGHT N IOWS TO FINALLY NOT TO SEE ANY MORE TOXIC ALGAE BLOOMS. TOXIC ALGAE BLOOMS LIKE THE ONE. HERE NEAR THE POKAHEEAR MINA CONTINUES TO CONCERN RESIDENTS AND LAWMAKERS THE WORD ABOUT WHAT COULD HPEAPN IF THERE ARE DISCHARGES FROM LAKE OKEECHOBEE OFFICIALS WITH TH UES ARMYORPS C OF ENGINEERS UNDERSTAND THOSE CONCERNS AND ADMIT THE MONTH OF MAY ISRO PBABLY THE MOST CHALLEINNGIF YOU LOOK RIGHT NOW THE LAKE OKEECHOBEE LEVEL IS 13.61 AND WATER MANAGERS WANT TO GET IT DOWN TO AT LEAST 13. THE PLAN RIGHT NOW IS TO SLIGHTLY REDUCE WATER RELEASES WEST OF THE CLOSURE HATCHI RIVER THROUGH PULSE RELEASES AND NOT TO RELEAS
Mast, who represents Martin, St. Lucie and parts of Palm Beach counties, urged Pahokee Mayor Keith Babb to provide alternative housing options for residents living around the marina until the water is determined to be safe.
Algae in the marina contained 860 parts per billion of the toxin microsystin, state data updated Wednesday shows. At 8 parts per billion, microsystin makes water too hazardous to touch, ingest or inhale for people, pets and wildlife, the EPA says.
Babb had not responded to Mast s letter as of Thursday afternoon, spokesperson Brad Stewart said. Nor had he answered TCPalm s questions about how many residents would have to be relocated and where they could possibly go.
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Terry Butler was beginning his eight-hour shift at the Pahokee Campground & Marina early Wednesday as government officials began gathering to address toxic algae that could be unleashed on the Treasure Coast if Lake Okeechobee discharges resume.
Butler spends his weekdays working at the marina, where he cleans boats, trims hedges and, for the past few weeks, has carefully weaved his way around the docks trying to avoid the putrid scent algae releases at his workplace. It s really hard for me to smell it every day. But I ve got to come to work, the 55-year-old Pahokee city employee said. I don t know about the risks. I m not aware of what it is . but every year, it comes in from somewhere else.