A thick, foul-smelling algae created by mismanaged flow releases from Florida’s Lake Okeechobee is creating an environmental catastrophe and spurred the Governor to declare a state of emergency, though the residents of many nearby communities are saying the move does too little, too late.
The heart of the issue stems from irregular water releases intended to protect the lake’s dilapidated dike. Unfortunately, this causes fertilizer nutrients and other contaminants to build up and produce a foul-smell some describe like the odor of cow manure. By the time the poisoned water reaches Florida’s coast, it has a damaging effect on water quality and marine life.
For more information on the causes of, and potential solutions to, Florida’s algae bloom, read this story from the Miami Herald.
