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Associated PressJuly 12, 2016

Officials are responding to fears in southwest Florida about a massive algae bloom fouling waters on the state’s Atlantic coast. The News-Press reports that the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau updated its website with water-monitoring information and live video of beaches overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The newspaper says tourism officials also frequently post videos from […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 11, 2016

The question seems simple: What is causing the blue-green algae plaguing the Treasure Coast? Some put the blame primarily on Lake Okeechobee. Others say the discharges are just one of the many factors contributing to the algae bloom. The Treasure Coast Newspapers on Friday published a story called “Scientists agree: Lake Okeechobee discharges, not septic […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 6, 2016

One week after declaring a state of emergency in four Florida counties, Gov. Rick Scott is calling on President Barack Obama to do the same. In a letter Wednesday, Scott requested Obama declare a federal emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act because of the “public health and safety threats […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 6, 2016

Sen. Bill Nelson has called on Senate leaders to immediately pass a bill authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move forward with projects to send water south. In a letter Wednesday, Nelson urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 up for a vote “as soon […]

Phil AmmannJuly 6, 2016

In response to the toxic algae blooms emergency on Florida’s coastline and waterways, billions of gallons of Lake Okeechobee water are now being diverted to the Florida Power and Light Clean Energy Center in Martin County. The plant serves hundreds of thousands of homes, using primarily natural gas and solar, reports LobbyTools. Located in Indiantown, […]

Diane RobertsJuly 6, 2016

Rick Scott, our Trumpster-diving governor, has declared a state of emergency. He’s suddenly discovered Florida’s waters are choking in toxic algae, green as arsenic, and malodorous as a pile of rotting mullet. Images of slime-covered sand, and fish gasping their last on closed beaches are appearing in print and on screens around the world. It’s […]

Associated PressJuly 2, 2016

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is calling on President Barack Obama to declare a state of emergency to help businesses harmed by the massive algae bloom fouling some of Florida’s southern rivers and beaches. Rubio on Friday toured a portion of the St. Lucie River where a smelly muck is fouling an area promoted as Florida’s […]

Associated PressJune 30, 2016

A smelly, “guacamole-thick” muck is fouling a stretch of beaches promoted as Florida’s “Treasure Coast,” where lawmakers and residents blame the federal government, saying the algae crisis is fueled by freshwater flows controlled by Army officials to protect an erosion-prone dike. The blue-green algae is the latest contaminant featured in yearslong arguments over water flowing […]

Associated PressJune 30, 2016

Officials want federal action along a stretch of Florida’s Atlantic coast where the governor has declared a state of emergency over algae blooms. The blue-green algae is the latest contaminant in yearslong arguments over water flowing from Lake Okeechobee, which is critical to South Florida’s water supply and flood control systems. The Martin County Commission […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 30, 2016

Three Southwest Florida lawmakers are asking Gov. Rick Scott to include Lee County in an emergency declaration to address blue-green algae blooms. In a joint statement Thursday, Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto, and Reps. Matt Caldwell and Ray Rodrigues said Scott’s emergency declaration for Martin and St. Lucie counties is “drawing much-needed attention to the algal blooms and […]

Tag: Lake Okeechobee
Image via AP.

Tourism officials address algae fears in southwest Florida

Lake O discharges or septic systems: Newspapers disagree over what’s to blame for the blue-green algae

Rick Scott requests federal state of emergency declaration in response to algae blooms

Bill Nelson, Marco Rubio urge action on bill that could help move water south

Water managers divert billions of gallons from Lake O to Martin County FPL facility

Diane Roberts: Rick Scott’s breathtaking hypocrisy on water pollution

Army Corps to reduce lake flows fueling Florida algae bloom

‘Guacamole-thick’ algae causes crisis on Florida coastline

Federal action sought for Florida coastline tainted by algae

Lizbeth Benacquisto, Matt Caldwell and Ray Rodrigues request Lee County be added to emergency declaration