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5/26/2023

SCOTUS sinks Clean Water Act protection for 51% of U.S. waters

'Wetlands that are separate from traditional navigable waters cannot be considered part of those waters.'

A Supreme Court ruling that on its face just allows an Idaho couple to build a home near a lake goes in fact much further than that, eliminating Clean Water Act (CWA) coverage to 51% of previously protected U.S. wetlands.

“Wetlands that are separate from traditional navigable waters cannot be considered part of those waters, even if they are located nearby,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the majority opinion.

“In addition, it would be odd indeed if Congress had tucked an important expansion to the reach of the CWA into convoluted language in a relatively obscure provision concerning state permitting programs.”

In this case, a road bisects the wetlands in question, and the house was going in on the part of the wetlands cut off from the rest. The Court ruled that the Clean Water Act’s jurisdiction ended at the road. The water has to be visible and contiguous to be covered by the law.

5/26/2023

Water management districts want visitors to enjoy Florida’s springs and rivers responsibly

Here are some reminders to take special care if you're planning to enjoy Florida's nature this weekend.

Before Memorial Day Weekend and the unofficial start of summer, Florida’s water management districts want to remind visitors to springs and rivers to leave no litter and protect nature.

Troy Roberts with the Suwannee River Water Management District said trash takes away from an area’s natural beauty. It is also harmful to plants, animals, and water quality.

“Make sure you’re taking your trash back with you,” Roberts said. “Take care of these natural wonders that we have like you would your own house.”

Roberts added it is also important to protect submerged aquatic vegetation or seagrass, which provides food and habitat, and can serve as an indicator of the health of a system.

“When people are out swimming or floating, they need to stay close to the surface of the water and they’re not trampling the vegetation,” he said. “Walking on it can uproot it, can damage it. Even walking in the sandy areas can prevent new growth in those areas.”

Vivianna Bendixson with the Southwest Florida Water Management District echoed that advice.

“We want boaters and kayakers to enjoy their time on the river, but we want them to do it while reducing their impact to the river,” she said.

Bendixson added that boaters should not moor along the river’s shore, because that contributes to shoreline erosion and the degradation of the system’s overall health.

Water management districts will promote being good stewards of the environment on social media and at their sites throughout the summer when springs see more visitors.

5/22/2023

Polk County Dept. of Health issues Health Alert for Lake Smart-at Hibiscus Drive

FDOH logo

WINTER HAVEN – The Florida Department of Health in Polk County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Lake Smart – At Hibiscus Dr. This is in response to a water sample taken on 5/16/2023. The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Smart – At Hibiscus Dr.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

  • Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
  • Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
  • Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present.
  • Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
  • Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well.
  • Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.

Check for water quality updates on the FDEP Algal Bloom Dashboard.

5/22/2023

Polk County Dept. of Health issues Health Alert for Lake Rochelle, at Dock

FDOH logo

LAKE ALFRED – The Florida Department of Health in Polk County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Lake Rochelle – At Dock. This is in response to a water sample taken on 5/16/2023. The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Rochelle – At Dock.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

  • Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
  • Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
  • Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present.
  • Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
  • Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well.
  • Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.

Check for water quality updates on the FDEP Algal Bloom Dashboard.

5/22/2023

City of Lakeland announces Lake Hollingsworth Stormwater Treatment Retrofit Project

Lakeland logo

LAKELAND – The City of Lakeland will begin construction to retrofit an existing stormwater pollution control device (PCD) located at the intersection of Lake Hollingsworth Drive and Palmola Street using innovative technology to enhance nutrient removal in stormwater discharges to Lake Hollingsworth. The City has obtained all required permits and will utilize funds appropriated for stormwater management and treatment within the Lake Hollingsworth drainage basin.

The project involves installing a 40’ x 12’ underground biosorption activated media (BAM) treatment unit that will be connected to the existing baffle box PCD. The baffle box PCD is designed to remove gross pollutants such as sediment, litter, and debris from stormwater flows, while the addition of the BAM unit will remove soluble nutrient pollutants from stormwater prior to discharging into Lake Hollingsworth. Implementation of this project will enhance the City’s ongoing efforts to reduce pollutant loads in stormwater entering Lake Hollingsworth. Lake Hollingsworth has a current State Total Maximum Daily Load mandate to reduce nutrient loads entering the lake.

The project is scheduled to begin June 6, 2023, and will be completed by Public Works Construction & Maintenance crews within a week from the construction start date. Construction equipment can be expected in the area Lake Hollingsworth Drive and Palmola Street, with equipment and vehicles periodically entering and leaving the site while also crossing the Lake Hollingworth recreation path. The City will provide traffic control at the recreational pathway for the safety of residents throughout the construction activities as needed. The estimated cost to complete this project is $57,000, which is provided through the FY23 Stormwater Utility Capital Improvement Projects Fund.

5/19/2023

Polk County drills two new super wells to prevent water supply shortage as population booms

LAKE WALES – Enough good, clean drinking water is a huge concern in Polk County because of the county’s booming population.

The new Polk Regional Water Cooperative wants to make sure that never happens as Polk is one of the fastest-growing counties in the entire country.

So, the agency is drilling two new super wells, one east of Lake Wales, the other in Lakeland off Kathleen Road.

They will penetrate two or three times deeper than the wells residents currently rely on, which tap into the upper Florida Aquifer.

Unlike water from the upper aquifer, which is immediately drinkable, water from the lower portion is salty. The sodium chloride and calcium sulfate have to be removed.

"We’ll use reverse osmosis, which is a very common process around the world," said Eric DeHaven, Executive Director of the Polk Regional Water Cooperative. "In fact, many municipalities along coastal Florida have reverse osmosis treatment plants.

5/17/2023

Florida environment groups, businesses urge DeSantis to veto ‘attack’ on fertilizer bans

A DeSantis veto would save important measures to curb urban pollution, the groups urged.

Dozens of Florida businesses and environmental organizations are calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto a budget item that could curtail local fertilizer ordinances and stymie future water quality efforts.

A coalition of 55 groups from across the Sunshine State, including Alachua County commissioners, wrote a letter to DeSantis late last week urging he use a line-item veto to slash a proposed $250,000 appropriation for University of Florida researchers to study the impact of preempting local fertilizer regulations for the next year.

A local fertilizer ordinance — like the one Pinellas County initiates from June through September — aims to prevent polluted, nutrient-heavy water from flowing off lawns and parks during Florida’s rainy season. That runoff can fuel toxic blue-green algae and red tide blooms that plague Florida’s cherished coastlines and cost the state millions in missed tourism dollars.

More than 100 municipalities across Florida, including more than 20 local governments in Pinellas, have used rainy season fertilizer bans as a tool to prevent souring the state’s waters.

5/15/2023

Polk County Dept. of Health issues Health Alert for Lake Hollingsworth at Water Ski Club

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LAKELAND – The Florida Department of Health in Polk County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Lake Hollingsworth - at Lakeland Water Ski club. This is in response to a water sample taken on 5/2/2023. The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Hollingsworth - at Lakeland Water Ski club.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

  • Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
  • Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
  • Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present.
  • Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
  • Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well.
  • Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.

Check for water quality updates on the FDEP Algal Bloom Dashboard.

5/11/2023

Polk County Health Dept. issues Blue-Green Algae Bloom Alert for for Tiger Lake - Center

FDOH logo

LAKE WALES – The Florida Department of Health in Polk County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Tiger Lake – Center. This is in response to a water sample taken on 5/2/2023. The public should exercise caution in and around Tiger Lake – Center

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

  • Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
  • Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
  • Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present.
  • Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
  • Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well.
  • Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.
Updates on water quality status can be found on the statewide Algal Bloom Dashboard.

5/11/2023

Polk County Health Dept. issues Blue-Green Algae Bloom Alert for Peace River - Bartow @ SR60

FDOH logo

BARTOW – The Florida Department of Health in Polk County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Peace River - at Bartow SR60. This is in response to a water sample taken on 5/2/2023. The public should exercise caution in and around Peace River - at Bartow SR60.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

  • Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
  • Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
  • Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present.
  • Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
  • Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well.
  • Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.
Updates on water quality status can be found on the statewide Algal Bloom Dashboard.

5/11/2023

Polk County Health Dept. issues Blue-Green Algae Bloom Alert for Lake Hancock-South Central

FDOH logo

LAKELAND – The Florida Department of Health in Polk County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Lake Hancock - South Central. This is in response to a water sample taken on 5/2/2023. The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Hancock - South Central.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

  • Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
  • Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
  • Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present.
  • Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
  • Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well.
  • Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.
Updates on water quality status can be found on the statewide Algal Bloom Dashboard.

5/11/2023

Polk County Health Dept. issues Blue-Green Algae Bloom Alert for Lake Haines-Boat Ramp

FDOH logo

LAKE ALFRED – The Florida Department of Health in Polk County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Lake Haines - Boat Ramp. This is in response to a water sample taken on 5/2/2023. The public should exercise caution in and around Lake Haines - Boat Ramp.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

  • Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
  • Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
  • Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present.
  • Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
  • Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well.
  • Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.
Updates on water quality status can be found on the statewide Algal Bloom Dashboard.

5/11/2023

Polk County Health Dept. issues Blue-Green Algae Bloom Alert for Scott Lake-Fitzgerald Rd. Boat Ramp

FDOH logo

LAKELAND – The Florida Department of Health in Polk County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Scott lake – at Fitzgerald Road boat ramp. This is in response to a water sample taken on 5/2/2023. The public should exercise caution in and around Scott lake – at Fitzgerald Road boat ramp.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

  • Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
  • Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
  • Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present.
  • Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
  • Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well.
  • Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.
Updates on water quality status can be found on the statewide Algal Bloom Dashboard.

5/11/2023

Polk County Health Dept. issues Blue-Green Algae Bloom Alert for for Peace River-Ft. Meade Rec Area

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FORT MEADE – The Florida Department of Health in Polk County has issued a Health Alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in Peace River - Ft Meade Outdoor Recreation Area. This is in response to a water sample taken on 5/2/2023. The public should exercise caution in and around Peace River - Ft Meade Outdoor Recreation Area.

Residents and visitors are advised to take the following precautions:

  • Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.
  • Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
  • Keep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present.
  • Do not cook or clean dishes with water contaminated by algae blooms. Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins.
  • Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well.
  • Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.
Updates on water quality status can be found on the statewide Algal Bloom Dashboard.

5/3/2023

State mandates cleanup of 9 Lakeland lakes with major water quality issues

LAKELAND – Lakeland is known for its beautiful lakes, but the water quality has degraded in some of the most popular lakes and now the state is mandating these lakes get cleaned up.

“I think it is really peaceful out here. I definitely get in my little Zen when I come around,” said Madison Masters. “That's usually why I don’t wear headphones because I love the sound of the water.”

However, the water quality has significantly declined.

Lake Hollingsworth is one of nine Lakeland lakes that have reached the maximum level of pollutants allowed by state and federal law. This includes high levels of nutrients and stormwater, which lead to a reduction in water quality.

“A lot of people don’t realize that every time it rains, whatever is in the street, or on your lawn, or in a parking lot, gets picked up by the stormwater and enters our stormwater system, and that typically discharges into a lake with no treatment whatsoever,” said Laurie Smith, City of Lakeland Lakes and Stormwater Manager.

Smith said the Lakes and Stormwater Division is now working to reduce harmful pollutants from entering lakes by developing stormwater treatment facilities and other projects.

5/2/2023

Florida lawmakers propose statewide preemption of local fertilizer use restrictions

The measure would prohibit at least 117 local governments from “adopting or amending a fertilizer management ordinance” during the 2023-24 budget year.

TALLAHASSEE — Florida legislators are poised to block one of the most effective tools local governments say they have to protect water quality in their communities in the face of red tide and blue-green algae outbreaks by banning rainy season restrictions on fertilizer use.

A measure quietly tucked into a budget proposal over the weekend would prohibit at least 117 local governments from “adopting or amending a fertilizer management ordinance” during the 2023-24 budget year, requiring them to rely on less restrictive regulations developed by the University of Florida, which are supported by the state’s phosphate industry, the producers of fertilizer.

Legislative leaders tentatively agreed to a $116 billion budget on Monday and, with no public debate or discussion, included the fertilizer language that emerged late Sunday.

It is the latest proposal to emerge in a legislative session that has fast-tracked industry-friendly bills aimed at removing local control and public input over emotionally-charged environmental and development issues.

Lawmakers took no testimony from local government officials or environmental advocates who are now warning that the measure could dramatically impede efforts to curb toxic algae outbreaks that feed on nitrogen and phosphorus-rich runoff.

“Supporting this change would allow more fertilizer runoff into Florida’s waters, period.,’’ said Eve Samples of Friends of the Everglades. “That doesn’t benefit anyone except big fertilizer companies.”

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