Algal Bloom Creating Problems In Florida

Massive algal bloom has been detected in Florida's Lake Okeechobee since early May. Videos and photographs from different sites and organizations have shown bright green algae flowing out of the lake along C-44 Canal and into the river.

'Unprecedented' toxic algal bloom prompts state of emergency in Floridahttps://t.co/WxYDqKgyol pic.twitter.com/aA63XdHt3m

— The Weather Network (@weathernetwork) July 5, 2016

The algae that has been affecting the lake traced its origins back to the cattle ranches, farms, and neighborhoods as far away as Orlando, noted Phys.org. All the pollution from these areas drained into the lake, where water has been laden with phosphorus and fertilized the horrific algae bloom into the ocean. Safe levels of Phosphorus are at 105 metric tons a year - and last year, the lake already received 450 - showing that the problem has been building up for a long time.

Brian Lapointe, a research professor from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Insititute said, "There's no challenging the fact that the algae is coming from Lake Okeechobee. The lake is the biggest single source of the blue-green algae bloom in the St. Lucie River estuary."

Lapointe explained it in simpler terms: lake discharges caused the algae bloom, but the septic system runoff made it worse.

Ed Phlips, an algae expert from the University of Florida agreed, but said that the septic systems may have contributed "a little."

Florida Politics noted that the debate over what to do with the algae bloom will continue on into the 2017 legislation. Treasure Coast Newspapers have led organizations to get the state to purchase land to move the water discharge south. The letter read, "We need more land to store, treat and move excess water south from Lake Okeechobee - instead of dumping it east to the St. Lucie River and west to the Caloosahatchee River."