We’ve made huge progress in our fight to clean up Florida’s waterways, but we can’t take our eye off the ball. Currently, 90% of Lake Okeechobee is plagued by a severe toxic algal bloom.
Our community narrowly avoided disaster when the Army Corps of Engineers heeded my call and halted discharges into the St. Lucie River back in March. Without this intervention, we would be facing the grim reality of toxic water pouring from Lake Okeechobee directly into our backyards.
Recent tests at Port Mayaca revealed alarming levels of toxicity – over eight times the safe limit for human contact. This toxic bloom poses a significant threat to public health, as well as to our local environment and economy.
For decades, our community has suffered the consequences of these harmful discharges, which have led to serious health issues, widespread ecological damage, and a decline in tourism.
Nothing more than zero discharges can be tolerated when public health is at risk.
My goal 365 days a year is to ensure that Lake Okeechobee is managed in a way that permanently eliminates the discharge of toxic water into the estuaries along the Treasure Coast.
Nothing less will be sufficient for safeguarding our community and our environment for future generations. I’ll keep up the fight!
