The Problem

NEW!

Numeric Nutrient Pollution Fact Sheet (March 2013)

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White Paper: Valuing Florida’s Clean Waters

In the first comprehensive review of its kind, the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), based at Tufts University, has released a white paper entitled Valuing Florida’s Clean Waters. The paper finds that algae and red tide outbreaks caused by water pollution cost Floridians between $1.3 billion and $10.5 billion each year.

Download report

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Download the new Florida Water Coalition brochure here.

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The Water Didn’t Always Look Like This

Throughout history, Florida has been known for its clear, sandy-bottomed rivers, streams, lakes, springs, bays and beaches—places of beauty and revitalization that draw visitors from around the globe.

Today, many of the postcard-perfect blue waters that make Florida a tourist mecca are coming up green and choked with nasty, toxic algae. It has happened in front of pricey waterfront mansions. It has happened in rural streams, where neighbors fish for food. And it has happened along famous beaches, where horrified tourists and residents watch as the waves toss up hundreds of dead fish.

The culprit behind this environmental and economic crisis? Pollution caused by inadequately treated sewage, manure and fertilizer. This pollution is preventable. Now that we know more about how the nitrogen and phosphorus in sewage, manure and fertilizer tip Florida’s delicate ecological balance, we have a responsibility to do something about it. We know that excess nitrogen and phosphorus spur these toxic algae outbreaks. And we know the way to make Florida’s waters clean again is to limit this pollution at its source.

The fact is, industrial polluters have been using public waters as their cheap, private sewers for years. Now, they are bringing considerable political and monetary forces to fight against clean water standards that the public overwhelmingly supports. It is time for Florida to establish limits on the water pollution that threatens families’ health and drinking water.

This pollution is poisoning the rivers, lakes and streams that supply the water to kitchen taps. Floridians deserve clean drinking water, not water polluted with sewage, fertilizer and manure runoff.

Protecting Your Family from Toxic Algae
Protecting Our Economy From Algae Outbreaks
The Source of Toxic Algae Outbreaks
Setting Clear Pollution Limits
Preventing Toxic Algae Outbreaks
Updated Sewage Treatment Plants
Better Manure Management

News/Editorial

Recent News and Editorial:

Water bills stream through House, flow towards governor – Florida Current (5/1/2013)

House approves water pollution bill – AP (5/1/2013)

House Says No To Tracking Sickness Caused By Toxic Algae – WFSU (4/30/13)

Judge indicates he may rule against delay of federal water quality rules – Florida Current (4/11/2013)

Florida Algae Bloom Leads to Record Manatee Deaths – New York Times (4/6/2013)

Ron Littlepage: Shall we be complicit in the demise of Florida’s waters?- Jacksonville.com (4/3/2013)

Springs revival languishes in Legislature – Tampa Bay Times (4/2/2013)

Brevard’s manatee, pelican deaths still a mystery – FloridaToday (3/26/2013)

Column: Lousy water, lousy press for Florida – Tampa Bay Times (3/26/2013)

Environmentalists: EPA and Florida DEP Struck “Back Room Deal”- PNS (3/18/2013)

EPA cuts deal with Florida on pollution rules, delighting business and angering environmentalists - Tampa Bay Tribune (3/15/2013)

Florida, feds announce pollution deal – Miami Herald (3/15/2013)

State, feds strike deal on water pollution limits – AP (3/15/2013)

Paralyzing algae is killing manatees at record pace in Florida – Today Show, NBC National (3/11/2013)

Schultz commentary: Big Sugar mounts new attack on the Everglades – Palm Beach Post (3/10/2013)

Record-breaking number of manatees killed by Red Tide - Tampa Bay Times (3/8/2013)

Lingering red tide creating confusion, cancellations - ABC-7 Fort Myers, Cape Coral & Naples (2/28/2013)

Water quality crucial to Floridians, UF survey finds – Gainsville.com (2/20/2013)

EPA proposes strict water standards for Florida – Sun Sentinel (2/18/2013)

Lease of FL Lands to Farming Plantations Called a “Sweetheart Deal” – Public News Service FL (2/8/2013)

Everglades agriculture leases being challenged – AP/Naples News (2/8/2013)

Wildlife Federation sues Rick Scott and Cabinet over Everglades leases – Miami Herald (2/7/2013)

Editorial: The leadership drought on water - Ocala Star Banner (2/7/2013)

Editorial: Florida’s twisted waterways policy – Tampa Bay Times (2/4/2013)

DEP’s part-time $83-an-hour employee helped oversee layoffs and agency shakeup – Tampa Bay times (2/3/2013)

Florida’s aquifer models full of holes, allowing more water permits and pollution – Tampa Bay Times (1/28/2013)

Red tide, fish kill reported at Sarasota beaches – Sarasota Herald-Tribune (1/18/2013)

Tampa is latest stop in water regulation fight – Tampa Bay Online (1/17/2013)

Locals protesting to keep Florida water clean – NBC2 (1/17/2013)

Public speaks out on pollution at Tampa meeting – AP/Miami Herald (1/17/2013)

Floridians Stand Up for Clean Water at EPA Meetings in Tampa – Florida Water Coalition (1/17/2013)

Nutrient pollution standards and the Everglades – Gulf Coast Live WGCU (1/9/2013)

Natural Florida needs stewards, not profiteers – Tampa Bay Times (1/6/2013)

Protecting Florida’s polluters – Tampa Bay Times (1/5/2013)

Red tide has tourism industry on edge – Sarasota Herald-Tribune (1/3/2013)

Saving Florida’s rivers: Urgent task can no longer be postponed – Miami Herald (1/2/2013)

2012

Foxes guard the henhouse Governor gives industry insiders too much sway over regulation – Miami Herald (12/31/2012)

Cleaning up Florida’s water, finally – Tampa Bay Times (12/28/2012)

Florida environmental agency lays off longtime employees and hires from regulated industries – Tampa Bay Times (12/25/2012)

Drive to keep Kings Bay from being smothered by toxic algae treats symptom, not cause – Tampa Bay Times (12/17/2012)

EPA’s Decision a Good One for Estero Bay – The Island Sand Paper (12/13/2012)

EPA limits mean cleaner water – Orlando Sentinel (12/12/2012)

Editorial: EPA must protect Florida waterways – Palm Beach Post (12/12/2012)

Finally, precise rules on pollution to protect Florida waters – Bradenton Herald (12/11/2012)

Taking on red tide scourge – Gasparilla Gazette (12/10/2012)

EPA steps in: Decision does a favor for Floridians – Tallahassee.com (12/7/2012)

Editorial: Water’s value  – Gainesville Sun (12/4/2012)

EPA tells judge it will impose stricter water pollution standards on Florida – Tampa Bay Tribune (12/1/2012)

Florida’s Vanishing Springs – A Tampa Bay Times Investigation (11/25/2012)

Red tide toxins making beach birds sick – WINK-TV (11/17/2012)

Potential algae bloom blamed for itchy eyes, sore throats – WKMG-TV6 (11/16/2012)

Red tide moving into Lee County – News-Press (10/19/2012)

Despite protection, Wekiva River’s health, flow continue to decline – Orlando Sentinel (10/13/2012)

Worst red tide outbreak since 2007- Sarasota Herald Tribune (10/9/2012)

Slime torrent polluting state’s coast – Miami Herald (10/6/2012)

Poor quality of water hurts state economy – Sun Sentinel (10/2/2012)

Brown tide hammering Indian River Lagoon and its fish – Orlando Sentinel (9/28/2012)

Scientists link nutrient pollution to coral bleaching – Phys.org (9/27/2012)

Brown tide ebbs, but it may return to Mosquito Lagoon – FloridaToday.com (9/26/2012)

Andrew McElwaine: No room for ‘dirty water rules’ – The Gainesville Sun (9/24/2012)

In summer, toxic blue-green algae blooms plague freshwater – Center for Investigative Reporting (9/17/2012)

Algae bloom believed cause of dead fish in Indian River – Daytona Beach News Journal (9/12/2012)

Back-to-back algae outbreaks threaten all life in Indian River Lagoon – Orlando Sentinel (8/20/2012)

Algae bloom turns Mosquito Lagoon brown – Daytona Beach News-Journal (8/13/2012)

Brown algae blooming at Mosquito Lagoon could cause serious problems – WFTV Orlando (8/13/2012)

Scott, Vinyard Pushing Weaker Protections For Bodies of Water – The Lakeland Ledger (8/7/12)

Boat captain/nurse concerned about health of Silver River – Ocala Star-Banner (8/2/2012)

Algae bloom threatens Indian River Lagoon seagrass, with implications for Treasure Coast – TCPalm (8/1/2012)

A fight to save the Caloosahatchee River – Fort Myers News Press (7/30/2012)

Groups file suit against Corps over river – Jacksonville Daily Record (7/24/2012)

Florida environmental groups sue over algae blooms – AP/Miami Herald – The Miami Herald (7/23/2012)

Lawsuit to clean up Caloosahatchee River – Fox 4 Ft. Myers (7/23/2012)

Environmental group files lawsuit over South Florida river contamination – WFSU FM (7/23/2012)

Editorial: Is anybody listening?- Ocala Star Banner (7/22/2012)

Possibly toxic algae spotted in Caloosahatchee -  ABC7 Ft. Myers (7/14/2012)

We expect more of our leaders – Gatorsports.com (7/2/2012)

Water quality war rages on – Gainesville Sun (7/3/2012)

Why we need the EPA’s strong rules to Protect Florida’s Waters – Sierra Club Florida News 6/29/2012)

Slime is a statewide problem; we need to act – Naples News-Press (6/25/2012)

Toxic algae in pond blamed for deaths of 4 cows  – AP (6/25/2012)

The DEP is blind to state’s ‘green slime‘ – Gainesville Sun 6/11/2012)

Get on with it – Gainesville Sun  (6/3/2012)

Santa Fe River: Pumping, Pollution, Privation – Lakeland Ledger (6/2/2012)

The river is slimed – Ocala Star Banner (5/30/2012)

Editorial: This isn’t right – The Gainesville Sun (5/26/12)

Algae develops on drought-depleted Santa Fe River – Gainesville Sun (5/23/2012)

Florida’s ‘perfect storm’ water crisis – Gainesville Sun (5/8/2012)

Algae ‘mat’ choking lake – Punta Gorda Herald (5/3/2012)

Summer Slime: A Slippery Slope – The Bradenton Times (4/28/2012)

Florida environmentalists warn of ‘slime’ season – AP/ABC7 Sarasota (4/25/2012)

It’s “Summer Slime Season” in Florida – Public News Service (4/25/2012)

Health advisory issued for Lee waters – Ft. Myers News-Press (4/11/2012)

Court ruling positive step toward reducing pollution in Florida waters – TCPalm (3/1/2012)

The mauling of Florida’s environment – Tampa Bay Times (2/29/2012)

Hearing begins on challenge to proposed state water quality rules – Florida Current (2/27/2012)

Environmentalists applaud clean-water ruling against EPA, take on state next – Naples News (2/26/2012)

Message is clear: Clean up Florida waters – Tampa Bay Times (2/24/2012)

New limits on water pollutants on the way for Florida – NBC2 – Ft. Myers (2/19/2012)

Judge orders Florida water pollution limits – News-Press (2/19/2012)

Toxic fish can sicken seafood eaters – Sarasota Herald Tribune (2/9/2012)

Environmentalists call Florida congressman’s bill ‘a gift to polluter-lobbyists’- Florida Independent (2/1/2012)

Indian River Lagoon algae ‘super bloom’ studied – Florida Today.com (1/30/2012)

Algae bloom washing up along Caloosahatchee – ABC7-TV Ft. Myers (1/26/2012)

Wildlife Officials Rescue Manatee With Red Tide – NBC6-TV  Miami (1/25/2012)

2011

Red Tide now blamed for some manatee deaths – WINK-TV (12/31/2012)

For clean water in Florida, depend on judge, not state – Palm Beach Post (12/6/2011)

New Lawsuit Attacks State Failure To Curtail Pollution – Florida Sportsman (12/2/2011)

Slime Tour highlights Florida’s polluted waterways – ABC News Tampa (12/1/2011)

Florida’s Water Standards Challenged By Environmentalists -  Florida Times-Union (12/2/2011)

Red Tide Cause of Estero Bay Fish kill, Scientists Say – Naples Daily News (11/28/2011)

Marine biologists from the Sanibel Sea School as well as scientists from FGCU are saying red tide is back in full force. – ABC-7  (11/28/11)

EPA tells Florida: Enforce rules on fertilizer in canals – Palm Beach Post (11/19/2011)

St. Johns River put at risk by unwise decision – Florida Times-Union (11/9/2011)

EPA backs off tough clean-water rules in hopes of helping Obama carry Florida in 2012 – Palm Beach Post (11/7/2011)

Florida’s big water polluters win again - St. Petersburg Times – (11/4/2011)

Upper bay’s health iffy – Tampa Tribune (10/25/2011)

Red tide bloom threatens Sarasota beaches with fish kill – Herald Tribune (10/12/2011)

Red tide to blame for fish kill? – ABC-7  (10/11/2011)

Red tide bloom off coast of Lee County – WINK News (10/4/2011)

Tampa Bay algae bloom threatens the estuary’s fish – St. Petersburg Times  (8/27/2011)

Indian River Lagoon seagrass in drastic decline – Florida Today (09/25/2011)

Protect Florida’s waters, not polluters – St. Petersburg Times (9/14/2011)

Cliff Stearns holds a hearing for polluters – Florida Times-Union (8/16/2011)

Victory for clean water – St. Petersburg Times (8/6/2011)

Foes of EPA water rules for Fla. lose appeal – AP National (8/4/2011)

Guest column: Don’t dilute the Clean Water Act- Florida Times-Union (8/4/2011)

Water Pollution: Appeals court rejects challenge to clean water standards – St. Petersburg Times (8/3/2011)

State Water Rules Discussed – The News Service of Florida (8/3/2011)

Appeals court upholds pollution rules - Miami Herald (8/3/2011)

Proposal in U.S. Senate would weaken efforts in Florida, nationwide to clean up waterways - TCPalm (8/1/2011)

Algae Blooms Plaguing Gulf Coast – WUSF  (7/29/2011)

New federal regulations aren’t the enemy; the state’s intransigence is – Orlando Sentinel (7/26/2011)

Ponte Vedra site of major fish kill – The Recorder (7/25/2011)

Mississippi plume could threaten life in Gulf – Herald Tribune (7/25/2011)

House bill restricting EPA water rules wrong – Bradenton Herald (7/22/2011)

Florida Water Quality: Drowning in Pollution – Lakeland Ledger (7/22/2011)

Clean water doesn’t kill jobs – St. Petersburg Times (7/17/2011)

Florida needs EPA’s new standards – Ocala Star-Banner (7/17/2011)

State agency cites industry numbers when questioned by lawmakers about water rule costs – Florida Independent (4/5/2011)

Press Conference Materials

Read the Petition

The Truth about DEP’s Faux Numeric Nutrient Standards (pdf)

Florida Slime Crime Tracker (Google Map)

http://www.news-press.com/article/20121019/GREEN/121019025/Red-tide-moving-into-Lee-County?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CHome