WEATHER ALERT
Florida takes an alligator census every year. These waterways have the most
Read full article: Florida takes an alligator census every year. These waterways have the mostThe conventional wisdom in Florida is that if you see a body of water, assume there is a gator in it. But some bodies of water have more than others — quite a few more.
WATCH LIVE: Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida DEP secretary make announcement
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida DEP secretary make announcementThe Florida governor will be joined by the state Department of Environmental Protection secretary Monday afternoon at a state park to make an announcement.
Lake Okeechobee recedes, but not enough; Discharges continue
Read full article: Lake Okeechobee recedes, but not enough; Discharges continueA rainbow graces the sky over a pier built over what should be lake Okeechobee July 9, 2007 in Okeechobee, Florida. WEST PALM BEACH – Lake Okeechobee discharges will be reduced to the Caloosahatchee River but will continue at the same rate to the St. Lucie River — indefinitely. The St. Lucie will continue to get a weekly average rate of 323 million gallons per day, the same amount since discharges started March 6, Kelly said. The bill, called the Toxic Health Threat Warning Act, would require tests to determine whether the lake water is contaminated. “We’re trying to be as communicative as possible about releases on Lake Okeechobee every day of the year, all the time,” Kelly said.
Lake Okeechobee water release could curb toxic algae bloom
Read full article: Lake Okeechobee water release could curb toxic algae bloomRick Scott has declared a state of emergency in seven Florida counties to combat the potentially toxic green algae bloom. While the South Florida Water Management District supported the decision to release water to the St. Lucie Estuary, spokesman Randy Smith said they will closely monitor salinity levels. With rainy season approaching in May, South Florida is still soggy from Tropical Storm Eta last year. If they go wrong, everything goes wrong,” said South Florida Water Management District board member Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch in a February meeting. The Army Corps makes weekly decisions on lake levels, and Perry hopes the water releases end before the April oyster spawning.
Severe weather threat for South Florida ahead of the Super Bowl
Read full article: Severe weather threat for South Florida ahead of the Super BowlORLANDO, Fla. – The unsettled weather pattern that has kept most of Florida locked in the clouds will continue through the first part of the weekend. A few severe thunderstorms will be possible around Lake Okeechobee and points south Friday evening. The severe threat will continue to focus on South Florida Saturday, but shifts further north closer to Fort Pierce and Fort Meyers. Damaging wind will be the main threat with the highest likelihood for severe thunderstorms in the yellow shaded areas. The strongest storms will develop along a warm front that will park itself over South Florida Friday night through Saturday afternoon.
These Florida maps show where red tide, blue-green algae are the worst
Read full article: These Florida maps show where red tide, blue-green algae are the worstMany Floridians don't realize exactly how widespread the problems with blue-green algae and red tide are. Red tideThe Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has been monitoring the Karenia brevis bloom, also known as red tide, on the Gulf Coast for months. Each week, FWC posts the latest counts and conditions on a special section of its website dedicated to red tide monitoring. Bright red dots indicate where the bloom is the worst, while orange dots show where levels are in the medium range and yellow dots illustrate areas where red tide is present but in low levels. Florida's red tide, blue-green algae make dining complicated]Weekly change is also noted on the page, meaning Floridians can see where red tide conditions are improving and where they're getting worse.
Toxic algae covers half of Lake Okeechobee
Read full article: Toxic algae covers half of Lake OkeechobeeJACKSONVILLE, Fla – The algae bloom in Lake Okeechobee now covers half the lake after expanding from 40% in July. The major bloom of blue-green algae has plagued the state's largest lake all summer. Florida Sea Grant says blue-green algae blooms prefer warm water, and they outcompete other kinds of algae in those conditions. The nutrients and fresh water fueling naturally occurring blue-green algae growth also comes from local stormwater runoff and septic tanks. Unfortunately, no effective large scale treatment method exists to remove blue-green algae blooms.