The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cut the water flow from Lake Okeechobee to other waterways to stop the blue-green algae from flowing out into the coastal waters of Florida.

  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reduce water flow to stop algae blooms
  • 2 more counties added to state of emergency declaration
  • Sen. Nelson: State should use Amendment 1 funds to buy lands south of Lake Okeechobee

On Thursday Governor Scott added Lee and Palm Beach counties to the state emergency declaration. Martin and St. Lucie counties were part of the original declaration, which was made on Wednesday..

Water from Lake Okeechobee is pumped east and west of the lake along the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers to help ease the pressure on the aging Hoover Dike.

The water from the lake has led to blue-green algae blooms, which are noxious, especially when rotting, and can hurt the wild life in those estuaries.

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, said the corps cut the water flow by half, and is urging the corps to divert water south instead, while the state holds more water in the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, to help ease the pressure on the dike. Relieving pressure on the dike is important, especially in the event of a massive storm. A breach after a hurricane in 1928 killed 2,500 people.

Nelson and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, toured the St. Lucie River this week. Rubio said it smelled like an open sewer. He also called on President Obama to declare a state of emergency to help businesses affected by the algae bloom.

Nelson attributed his raspy voice during a Q&A with reporters Friday to his time on the river.

Nelson described the river as dark, blackish brown because of the algae. He said the blue green areas we see in pictures are when the algae builds up on the shore.

The state has launched a hotline and an online reporting form for residents to report algal blooms. The number to call is 1-855-305-3903.

Water quality testing is underway by Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection officials.

What is Blue-green algae?

According to the Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection:

  • Blue-green algae, or “cyanobacteria,” are natural to the environment’s food chain and are found all over the world. They are actually a type of bacteria but, like plants, use sunlight to grow. Many live with other types of algae and microscopic animals, collectively termed “plankton.”
  • Blue-green algae are found in marine waters as well as freshwater and brackish habitats.
  • Some – not all – blue-green algae can produce toxins that can contribute to environmental problems and affect public health. Little is known about exactly what environmental conditions trigger toxin production. Over time, these toxins are diluted and eventually break down and disappear.
  • Blooms can float on the surface and be several inches thick or they can lie below the surface of the water. Blooms can disappear from view or move to different parts of a pond or lake.

Placing blame

State lawmakers continue to blame the federal government for not appropriating the money to fix the Hoover dike.

On Friday, Sen. Bill Nelson, however, laid some of the blame on the state government's failure to follow Amendment 1 and appropriate money to buy up endangered lands.

The amendment to the Florida Constitution was approved in 2014 to buy land for conservation. The money is supposed to come from an existing real estate tax. Proceeds from the amendment, however, have been used to pay for other things.

"Voters approved overwhelmingly Amendment 1 to buy endangered lands and lands for restoration. It’s the highest law, it’s the Constitution, if the state of Florida government, including the legislature, would just appropriate that money that is dedicated under law instead of squirreling it off into other purposes that are their pet projects, and that is another very irresponsible act," Nelson said.

Critics of the way the state has used Amendment 1 funds say the government should be buying land to the south to build a new reservoir for Lake Okeechobee.

Environmentalists filed suit to force lawmakers to use the money toward conservation last year.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.