Water-Related News

Bill prevents Lake O toxins from heading east, but what about the west coast?

Republican Congressman Brian Mast represents Florida’s 18th Congressional District on the eastern portion of southern Florida. His Bill, introduced Wednesday, would cut down on the volume of water containing toxic algae blooms that would be discharged into the St. Lucie River on the east coast.

Mast said he was considering the implications Lake Okeechobee releases also have on the Caloosahatchee River. He said the Caloosahatchee wasn’t included for good reason.

“The Caloosahatchee, unlike the St. Lucie, needs a certain amount of minimal flows of water from Lake Okeechobee to have the right ecology,” Mast said.

The Army Corps of Engineers control the often toxic Lake Okeechobee releases into St. Lucie and the Caloosahatchee.

Daniel Andrews is the Executive Director of Captains for Clean Water. He said if the bill passes, he hopes to encourage the Army Corps of Engineers to stop the dumping in our waterways.

“It makes the Army Corps think, how can we avoid having discharge? They have options on the table now we would like expedited,” Andrews said.