Apr 01 2009
Florida’s Lake Okeechobee
Aerial view of Lake Okeechobee
Three quarters of the earth’s surface is covered by rivers, oceans and lakes. Water is the life giver to the earth and the creatures that live upon it. Lake Okeechobee is not only the 2nd largest lake in the United States but it is THE largest surface water drinking source in Florida. It is the headwaters into the threatened Everglades and due to the continuous animal waste and fertilizer run off, it is now the home to toxic algae blooms!
In 2006, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set a phosphorous pollution limit that would indeed protect Lake Okeechobee; however, an aggressive lobbying campaign held by the agriculture corporations in the area forced the EPA to up the limit in 2008. The limit that is set at this time will not protect the lake from a pollution collapse!
Earthjustice has filed a lawsuit that asks the EPA to set more effective pollution limits for Lake Okeechobee. The Florida Everglades needs the lake to survive and so do the residents!
~Wind
cough…gasp…choke…yea, it’s pretty bad here, Linda! (I’m glad we get to stay with EC too!)