Lake Okeechobee is an icon in Florida, a lake known for its biodiversity and life. The state prizes such natural features, with the state being home to some of the world’s greatest parks and lands, most notably the Everglades. Yet, over the past century or so, with agriculture booming due to increased/better equipped fertilizer, the lake has been contaminated with heavy pollution, leading to a massive blooming of algae. This algae makes the lake a “toxic wasteland” that kills nearly everything around.
Scientists and engineers who examined the lake at its current state write down just how serious the toxicity can be to animals and humans alike. Experts say that each summer during the traditional algae blooms, the water is deadly enough to kill pets and cause great lung damage to humans who inhale in its fumes. This is a major problem for the local ecosystem and Florida.
City officials and others are attempting to stem the algae growth and hopefully reduce it out of these hazardous conditions. After an approval from the government, within a decade, the lake will have a massive reservoir and a 37-foot wall to prevent excess phosphorus from entering Okeechobee. Along with these measures, the city will add a 6,500-foot artificial wetland as well to absorb growing nutrients from fertilizers.
Regardless, it will be interesting to see how the lake continues to affect nearby communities in the future weeks, months, and years from now.
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/07/09/climate/florida-lake-okeechobee-algae.html
Image Credits: USGS
