Money, research, water storage needed to fight algae blooms

In a Jan. 3 op-ed column, Gov. Ron DeSantis pledged to keep his campaign promises on a number of issues, not the least of which is the environment. He specifically cited water quality and pollution that fuels algae blooms. We commend him for committing to finding ways to solve this vexing issue.

Algae blooms – both blue-green algae and red tide – occur naturally and are found around the world. Human activities and nutrients from stormwater, agricultural and urban land use, and sewer and septic systems have significantly increased the amount of pollution that fuels algae blooms.

Florida is no exception, and two different algae blooms in South Florida dominated state headlines in 2018. What’s more, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission’s latest report shows that after disappearing from Florida’s west coast in early winter, red tide has returned near Sarasota.

The algae blooms that lingered for so long in 2018 dramatically affected wildlife and caused considerable suffering for coastal businesses.

While fingers have been pointed at a number of sources, the fact is that everyone who lives in Florida contributes in some way to the problem of nutrients that pollute our water. We care for our lawns. We flush toilets. We use municipal water systems. We grow food for people to eat. In the same way, we all can and should be part of the solution.

Lawmakers have the opportunity to take action during the upcoming legislative session to invest in badly needed solutions. We urge them to support funding for emergency estuary-protection wells to reduce water discharges from Lake Okeechobee and for storage and treatment of water on public lands north of the lake. Similarly, funding is critical to help residents on septic systems convert to municipal sewage service or replace aging, leaking septic tanks.

On the research front, we need investments to allow scientists to collaborate on finding workable solutions to mitigate blue-green algae, including research on fertilizer rates and advanced technology for fertilizer application.

The causes of algae blooms aren’t simple, and neither are the solutions. Given Florida’s explosive growth – more than 900 people move to the Sunshine State every day – the problem will continue to worsen without solutions that involve all stakeholders in Florida: residents, businesses, utilities, agricultural operations and others.

Research plays a key role in finding solutions that are grounded in science. Together, Florida can find ways to mitigate these harmful algae blooms.