Our Congressperson Brian Mast will introduce two bills when Congress reconvenes in September that, if passed, will help to make Florida waterways better. (You can find outlines of the bills at: http://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-lagoon/health/2017/08/23/u-s-rep-brian-mast-calls-federal-study-action-stop-south-florida-algae-blooms/592994001/.)
Florida Senate President, Joe Negron, sponsored legislation to build a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee which was approved by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. Whether you are an Independent, Republican or Democrat, we should all applaud and support these efforts.
The Indian River Lagoon and all Florida waters need Floridians pulling together to accomplish the task of improving our environment. There is no right answer or easy solution. It took more than a century for Florida to make this mess. It will probably take that long for our waterways to be restored. Federal, State and local governments must work in partnership. Co-operation with all interest groups will be the only way we shall succeed.
As a member of the Indian River Lagoon Council Management Board, I have become more knowledgeable about the larger picture we face, and it is daunting. The I.R.L. is a National Estuary Program that receives most of its funding from the Federal Government. The lagoon spans 156 miles from Ponce de Leon Inlet near New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County to Jupiter Inlet, on the southern border of Martin County. Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie River are only a piece of this larger puzzle. Martin County and Stuart’s water quality are dependent on much more than just any local situation or solution.
At some point in the future, whether it is tomorrow or next year, another algae bloom will happen. When it does, let’s not look for scapegoats to blame. As I have written, everyone must work in tandem. In some capacity, every Florida resident, business person, farmer and visitor has contributed to the far from pristine condition of our waterways. It will take each and every one of us to aid in our recovery.