Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan NicolFebruary 6, 2025

'The vast majority of the water flowing into the St. Lucie Estuary is from local communities — not Lake Okeechobee.'

Danny McAuliffeNovember 8, 2017

A recent study by Florida Atlantic University points to aging septic tanks as a leading cause of pollution in the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie Estuary. On Wednesday, the Florida Chamber of Commerce released the fifth installment of a water education series, touting the new study. Dr. Brian Lapointe, a professor with the FAU Harbor Branch […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterSeptember 22, 2016

Moving residents off septic systems should be included in efforts to clean up the Indian River Lagoon, experts said Thursday. Experts said wastewater run-off and septic systems play a role in the algae blooms that have plagued South Florida in recent years. And while it is just part of the problem, one expert said money […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 13, 2016

A new report is encouraging lawmakers to study the impact Lake Okeechobee water releases have on the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries. The call for a study was just one of the priorities outlined in a new report released by the the James Madison Institute on Monday. The paper — written by Dan Peterson, director […]

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 […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 3, 2016

The Army Corps of Engineers is slowing the releases from Lake Okeechobee; not stopping them, despite repeated calls from lawmakers and local communities to do just that. The Corps announced Thursday it would reduce the flows from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries. The reduction is expected to begin this weekend. However, […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 26, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency in three Florida counties and called on President Barack Obama to fully fund repairs needed to operate the Herbert Hoover Dike. Scott, a Naples Republican, declared a state of emergency in Lee, Martin and St. Lucie counties on Friday. The decision came after record rainfall drenched […]

Bruce RitchieMarch 18, 2015

Environmental groups supporting the purchase of 46,000 acres of U.S. Sugar Corp. land launched on Wednesday commercials and released a petition from scientists in support of the proposal. The ads from the Everglades Trust show polluted water from Lake Okeechobee being discharged into the St. Lucie River with signs in Martin County warning against swimming. […]

Tag: St. Lucie estuary

Glades mayors fire back at Florida Oceanographic Society over cause of St. Lucie Estuary algae bloom

Chamber-promoted study links algal blooms to septic tanks

Water quality challenges focus of AIF Florida Water Forum

James Madison Institute tackles ‘Everglades Riddle’ in new report

‘Guacamole-thick’ algae causes crisis on Florida coastline

Army Corps of Engineers to reduce flows from Lake Okeechobee

Rick Scott declares state of emergency in Lee, Martin, St. Lucie counties

Everglades group releases petition supporting U.S. Sugar land buy