We suggest the DEP allocate its money to attack the undisputed cause of harmful algae: excess nutrients. These come principally from excess fertilizer in most of the state, but also from septics, wastewater, sewage and other sources in more urban areas.
Excess pumping also slows down water flow, which allows algae to grow where it should not. The State needs to work on that too, as we are fast running out of potable groundwater.
The State knows this but is doing almost nothing significant to restore our springs and rivers, protecting instead the polluters and water users. The DEP loves projects such as this because by funding them they can claim they are working on the issue but they do not risk offending the polluters, which bring in money.
Read the original article here at WFSU News.
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
FAMU-FSU College of Engineering researchers join fight to clean up Florida’s lakes
Adrian Andrews is a multimedia journalist with WFSU Public Media. He is a Gadsden County native and a first-generation college graduate from Florida A&M University. Adrian is also a military veteran, ending his career as a Florida Army National Guard Non-Comissioned Officer.
Adrian has experience in print writing, digital content creation, documentary, and film production. He has spent the last four years on the staff of several award-winning publications such as The Famuan, Gadsden County News Corp, and Cumulus Media before joining the WFSU news team.
