Hopefully, those most interested in the preponderance of algae blooms on the Treasure Coast take the time to actually read the results of the algae monitoring put out by the Department of Environmental Protection. The DEP provides a nice map and the sites that the samples were taken from are numbered on the map.
They then list the results of the samplings along with the type of algae found and the level of toxicity -- if any is found.
Now, if you are one of the ones who believe all of the blue green algae currently found on the Treasure Coast ONLY comes from the Lake Okeechobee discharges -- even if some of the locations are not even connected to the lake or are in areas that fresh water from the lake does not enter -- how does one explain the disparity between the species of algae found in the lake compared to the other areas?
While there are some crossovers -- primarily microcystis aeruginosa -- the levels in Lake Okeechobee are not the dominant species, except at two sites. Also, the levels of toxicity greatly increase as you move AWAY from the lake.
We all want the discharges from Lake Okeechobee to stop, and I am in no way attempting to diminish this crisis. But hysteria is not going to get anything done. The press needs to step up to the plate and put the facts out there. People need to educate themselves, not just look at pictures. People who are running for public office who are using this for political gain by deliberately spreading inflammatory misinformation need to stop and be part of the solution, not a hindrance to it.
Last week there was a rollover on I-95. Channel 5's helicopter was covering it. As it hovered over Lake Clarke Shores you could see that Lake Clarke was pea-green with algae. Lake Clarke is not connected to Lake Okeechobee that I am aware of. I guess that was why the press chose not to cover it.
We need to fix this. To fix it, we need to stick to the facts. We need our leaders to be honest about the causes and what it will take to correct them. Anyone with the sense God gave a gnat would know the south end of Lake Okeechobee is not 100 percent the cause of our pollution. So why does the majority of the "environmentalists" in South Florida want us to be 100 percent of the solution? Plus, they need to admit that the polluted water entering the lake is from the NORTH -- not the SOUTH.
Someone made a derogatory remark about us here in the Glades -- surprise! He said, why should we care about the lives of a few thousand when the lives of 19 million people are at stake?
The answer is right in front of his face: Nineteen million people cause a heck of a lot of polluting.
James "J.P." Sasser is a four-term former mayor and lifelong resident of Pahokee.
