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How toxic green slime caused a state of emergency in Florida

Luke Skywalker

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Following a severe algae bloom in south Florida waters, Governor Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency. <span style="color: Red;">*</span>Dirty outflow water from Lake Okeechobee has been blamed for the regularly<span style="color: Red;">*</span>occurring<span style="color: Red;">*</span>blooms for years. <span style="color: Red;">*</span>(July 1) AP



Water full of algae laps along the Sewell's Point shore on the St. Lucie River on Monday, June 27, 2016.(Photo: Richard Graulich, AP)


Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in counties on the state's Atlantic coast<span style="color: Red;">*</span>last week over expansive algae blooms in the St. Lucie River.
Scott's executive order in Martin and St. Lucie counties<span style="color: Red;">*</span>called on state agencies to take actions to address the thick<span style="color: Red;">*</span>toxic blooms that are ruining the river's ecology, devastating water-related businesses and that<span style="color: Red;">*</span>could potentially cause health problems for those<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in contact with the water.
The smelly, disgusting blue-green algae blooms plaguing the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon are the result of<span style="color: Red;">*</span>discharges flowing out of Lake Okeechobee<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in southeast Florida.
Since the discharges started Jan. 30,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>about 150 billion gallons of the lake's<span style="color: Red;">*</span>water<span style="color: Red;">*</span>has been sent to the river, dumping nutrients and lowering the salinity of the naturally brackish water. Both spur the growth of blue-green algae.
Massive algae blooms have been growing in the lake<span style="color: Red;">*</span>since May 12, and<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the green slime<span style="color: Red;">*</span>can be seen moving from the lake<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and into the river.
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[h=2]Is The Algae Harmful?[/h]Algae in the lake<span style="color: Red;">*</span>is highly toxic, according to samples taken by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>It can affect animals, plants and humans.
Samples taken in the river around Palm City and Stuart have tested positive for lower, but still hazardous levels of toxins.
Toxic algae can cause nausea and vomiting if ingested, and rash or hay fever symptoms if touched or inhaled. Drinking water with the toxins can cause long-term liver disease. Recent research suggests another toxin in blue-green algae<span style="color: Red;">*</span>can trigger neurological diseases<span style="color: Red;">*</span>such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and Lou Gehrig's disease.
For the first time, algae blooms have been spotted at<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Martin County beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. County officials have been monitoring the waters and<span style="color: Red;">*</span>closing beaches<span style="color: Red;">*</span>when the algae blooms pose a threat to residents.
[h=2]What Can Be Done?[/h]Stopping discharges, even for a week or two, could raise the water's salinity level and lower its nutrient levels which could break down the algae blooms. But experts have said<span style="color: Red;">*</span>there is no quick fix.
TCPalm, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>has<span style="color: Red;">*</span>an online letter<span style="color: Red;">*</span>readers can fill out and send to lawmakers voicing their frustration over the algae.
Residents, environmentalists and the TCPalm Editorial Board have pleaded<span style="color: Red;">*</span>with lawmakers and state officials<span style="color: Red;">*</span>to take action.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time algae blooms have hit the Treasure Coast, so some wonder<span style="color: Red;">*</span>if anything has changed<span style="color: Red;">*</span>from the last algae outbreak or if it will ever change.
[h=2]What's The Government Doing To Help?[/h]Gov. Rick Scott<span style="color: Red;">*</span>declared a state of emergency<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in February to help businesses that were losing money because of the discharges.
In May,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>state Senate President-designate Joe Negron<span style="color: Red;">*</span>secured funds to keep<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Kilroy water sensors in the river and lagoon to monitor water quality. Negron also said<span style="color: Red;">*</span>he is working on a plan<span style="color: Red;">*</span>to present to the Legislature next year to cut Lake O discharges.
Environmental groups have been calling for the state to buy land south of Lake O to hold some of the water,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>but water managers and Scott haven't jumped on board.
Scott declared<span style="color: Red;">*</span>a second state of emergency<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in Martin and St. Lucie counties<span style="color: Red;">*</span>on June 29,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>calling on state agencies<span style="color: Red;">*</span>to hold back water from Lake O and start the process of cleaning up the algae.
On June 30,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Sen. Bill Nelson visited Stuart<span style="color: Red;">*</span>to see<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the pollution firsthand.
[h=2]Residents Take To Social Media[/h]Angry residents<span style="color: Red;">*</span>have been posting photos and videos<span style="color: Red;">*</span>of the algae blooms affecting their neighborhoods.
Some have taken it a step farther,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>emailing their photos to lawmakers, demanding action.
USA TODAY
Man posts video of manatee struggling in algae-filled water








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