Good for the Bear Warriors United. The State of Florida knows very well why the manatees are dying, and it is because our state refuses to keep its waters clean enough for these animals to survive.
Our state allows too much water to be withdrawn from our aquifer, too many people to populate the land, unacceptable amounts of fertilizer to be put on agricultural lands, lawns and golf courses, and inadequate infrastructure to handle the sewage from too many people.
The result of all of this is that our rivers, springs and aquifer are dying along with the aquatic animals who did not evolve to live in cesspools.
Our state can fix this if they so elect, but instead they choose more people, more septics, more wells and dead manatees.
Read the original article here at WMFE.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
Another lawsuit over Florida’s ailing manatees targets wastewater pollution
16 hours ago by Amy Green (WMFE)
The vast majority of manatee deaths have been in the Indian River Lagoon, a biologically diverse east coast estuary that has been plagued with water quality problems and widespread seagrass losses. Photo courtesy the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
A new lawsuit is pressing Florida’s top environmental leader to address wastewater problems contributing to an unprecedented manatee die-off in the Indian River Lagoon.
The lawsuit is over leaky septic tanks and sewage spills that have helped lead to widespread water quality problems and seagrass losses in the Indian River Lagoon.
The lost seagrass has left manatees starving. A record 1,100 manatees died last year in Florida, and mortalities this year are on track for another near-record.
A central Florida-based non-profit called Bear Warriors United filed the lawsuit under the Endangered Species Act. Manatees are listed federally as threatened.
The lawsuit is against Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton. The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The litigation is the latest over Florida’s ailing manatees. Other lawsuits have targeted water pollution and lost habitat.
Posted in Central Florida News, Environment
About Amy Green
Reporter and Producer
JOIN US! OSFR Monthly Board Meeting – PUBLIC WELCOME!
Rum 138
2070 SW County Rd 138, Fort White, FL 32038, USA
JOIN US! OSFR Monthly Board Meeting – PUBLIC WELCOME!
Rum 138
2070 SW County Rd 138, Fort White, FL 32038, USA
JOIN US! OSFR Monthly Board Meeting – PUBLIC WELCOME!
Rum 138
2070 SW County Rd 138, Fort White, FL 32038, USA
