Rick Scott, Joe Negron to Tour Scene of 'Lethal' Okeechobee Discharges in Stuart

Gov. Rick Scott's office announced Thursday afternoon that on Tuesday the governor and Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, will tour the St. Lucie lock and dam on the St. Lucie River in Stuart -- scene of massive discharges of polluted fresh water, sent east from Lake Okeechobee. The discharges,called "lethal" by local residents, are widely blamed for what ails the now-lifeless St. Lucie Estuary.

Scott and Negron will tour the S-80 Control Structure at 2170 Canal St. in Stuart to assess the environmental effect of water being released from Lake Okeechobee, according to the governor's office.

In a written statement, the governor said he also will discuss his concerns with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintenance of the Okeechobee Lake dike system, as well as possible solutions to mitigating the future impact of releases.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., meanwhile, visited the area Thursday, first by helicopter, then in sessions with Treasure Coast residents. He reported specifically on the deathly stillness of the Indian River Lagoon.

What I saw was a river that had no life, Nelson told residents. There were no mullet jumping. There were no seagulls. There were no pelicans diving. There was no osprey. All of it was not a functioning river.

"We have a lot to do," he said, and though he wasn't specific, he vowed not to let the lagoon die.