Florida Algae/Red Tides; Scott's Admin Gutted Environmental Protection Agencies, Fired 100s

[hatrack]

EDIT

During Scott’s tenure, budgets for environmental agencies have been sharply reduced. The budget of the South Florida Water Management District, which oversees water issues from Orlando to Key West, was cut. Many of the more than 400 workers who lost their jobs in the $700 million cut were scientists and engineers whose jobs were to monitor pollution levels and algal blooms. Scott also abolished the Department of Community Affairs, which oversaw development in the state.

Lauren Engel, communications director for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, noted that the blue-green algae is caused by pollution coming from Lake Okeechobee. Like Scott, she pointed to the fact that the Army Corps — a federal agency — is in charge of water released from the lake. “Pollution buildup in Lake Okeechobee has been going on for decades,” Engel said Thursday, calling criticism that Scott’s environmental policies have allowed more pollution into the lake and made a bad situation worse “an unfair characterization.”

Blair Wickstrom, publisher of the Florida Sportsman, agreed that the problem stretches back at least a decade. “It’s been going on since before Scott, but since he took office, there’s been a distinct rise in nutrients from Lake Okeechobee and an increase in algae blooms,” Wickstrom said. “This is not an act of God or not because we can’t handle the rain. It’s the lack of regulation at the state level.”

Researchers say they are hampered by a lack of information; Scott’s budget cuts have reduced the number of water-quality monitoring stations around the state as well as the frequency of water sampling. Scientists say the lack of data prevents them from figuring out what has caused these latest toxic algal blooms and providing the sort of early warning that could prompt officials to act sooner.

EDIT

https://www.washingtonpost.com/energy-environment/2018/08/09/florida-an-environmental-crisis-takes-center-stage-tight-senate-race/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.3c7b734adf15

[dewsgirl]

1. This GOP POS toured the river near me Friday, the cover of my local

Paper said he was completely silent during the entire tour.

[procon]

2. But... but this is Republican's vision of their grand utopia.

No regs, no oversight, no impediments to the whims of unchecked capitalism. No worries, they said, the free market is self correcting... it will be great. This is the reality of the GOP's trickle down policies, and Florida may never recover, but a few Republicans got richer in the process.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Gov. Scott declares state of emergency because of red tide outbreak in Southwest Florida

Chad Gillis, Fort Myers News-Press Published 1:53 p.m. ET Aug. 13, 2018 | Updated 6:24 p.m. ET Aug. 13, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott on Monday declared a state of emergency for seven Florida counties, including Lee, Collier and Charlotte, due to the impact of red tide.

The declaration will provide funding and resources for Sarasota, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee, as well.

A strong red tide has lingered along the Southwest Florida coast since October, at times stretching from Tampa Bay to the Florida Keys. It has killed manatees, hundreds of sea turtles and an untold amount of fish measured in the millions of pounds.

Lee County will receive $900,000 in grants for cleanup, bringing total red tide grant funding for Lee County to more than $1.3 million.

More:
https://www.news-press.com/story/news/2018/08/13/red-tide-sanibel-fort-myers-caloosahatchee-lake-okeechobee-algae/976477002/

[Judi Lynn]

4. This article should be seen everywhere. Scott should be shot out of a cannon out into the Gulf.

The world can't afford destructive Republicans any long, if it ever could.

What a miserable shame, so glad the Washington Post took the time to cover this.

Red tides are horrific. There's no mistake about the deep, deep, deep sadness you feel on the beach with this man-made death everywhere your eyes look.

Thank you, hatrack.