2-week pause in Lake Okeechobee discharges is 'woefully inefficient,' US Rep. Brian Mast says
For the second time this month, U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., has sent a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers regarding the ongoing discharges from Lake Okeechobee.
Water releases from Lake Okeechobee to continue through March 29
Water releases from the lake will continue through March 29 followed by a two-week break. However, environmentalists said it is not enough time for the fragile St. Lucie Estuary and its marine fisheries to recover.
Marine biologist calls state's fine against Sandpiper Bay and Resort for mangrove cutting 'slap on the wrist'
May the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) was investigating more than 17,000 square feet of mangroves cut down along the shoreline of the Sandpiper Bay and Resort on the South Fork of the St. Lucie River in Port St. Lucie.
Resort pays high fine for destroying mangrove forest that will take 25 years to regrow
A Treasure Coast resort has paid one of the steepest mangrove-cutting fines in state history for illegally cutting about 944 mangrove trees to nubs along the St. Lucie River shoreline. The state also has issued a second fine in the case to an unpermitted West Palm Beach landscaping company.
Army Corps will continue Lake O releases despite algae found in St. Lucie River
Lake Okeechobee discharges have not sparked toxic algae blooms in the St. Lucie River yet, but Treasure Coast scientists, residents and business owners are worried about the impending possibility.
Treasure Coast residents rail against Lake Okeechobee discharges at Rivers Coalition
Treasure Coast residents railed against Lake Okeechobee discharges to the St. Lucie River in Stuart Thursday during the River Coalition’s monthly meeting.
'It impacts our health': Treasure Coast residents voice worries as discharges from Lake Okeechobee continue
Concern over water releases from Lake Okeechobee was front and center Thursday at a Rivers Coalition meeting.
Army Corps attends public meeting in Stuart, discusses Lake O discharges with residents
Lake Okeechobee discharges have started, and people who live in communities near the impacted waterways are not so happy.
Environmental experts respond to Lake Okeechobee discharge into Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie River
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun releasing water from Lake Okeechobee after citing higher-than-average water levels from El Niño conditions. Many local environmental experts say they are worried.
Massive Lake Okeechobee discharges to come this weekend, officials announce
This weekend, the Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is going to begin a massive release of water from Lake Okeechobee for the first time in months.
El Niño rains to blame for Lake Okeechobee water sent to the St. Lucie River, Stuart
Lake Okeechobee water will start pouring into the St. Lucie River on Saturday.
Environmentalists warn of impacts ahead of Lake Okeechobee discharges
Residents along Florida's east coast are bracing for the floodgates, which hold back water from Lake Okeechobee, to open Saturday.
Lake Okeechobee discharges coming Saturday; Army Corps says lake too high
The Army Corps of Engineers will begin discharging water from a swollen Lake Okeechobee on Saturday.
What would discharges mean for Martin County?
People in and around Martin County are anxiously awaiting whether the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will announce discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie Estuary.
Army Corps of Engineers considering discharges from Lake Okeechobee to St. Lucie Estuary
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is considering "different release scenarios" of discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie Estuary ahead of the wet and hurricane seasons.
DEP issues final order to punish Port St. Lucie resort for destroying mangrove forest
Sandpiper Bay Resort has five months to restore a mangrove forest it destroyed to create a beach and unobstructed view of the St. Lucie River, according to a Jan. 23 state order.
Dune remains strong following December storm, though expert warns of erosion potential going forward
The recent string of winter storms has had an impact on our coastal beaches, especially along the Treasure Coast.
Expert warns of potential for Lake Okeechobee discharges this winter
This summer, experts braced for a flurry of discharges from Lake Okeechobee that would threaten local waterways on the Treasure Coast, including the St. Lucie River and the Indian River Lagoon.
Decrease in weekend temperatures expected to attract manatees to West Palm Beach waters
Every year, the manatees bring people from near and far, all of them hoping to catch a glimpse.
This weekend, temperatures are expected to be in the low 50s and 60s, which means our waters will also be a little cooler.
Dr. Zack Jud, with the Florida Oceanographic Society, says for hundreds of years when the waters start getting colder, the manatees go searching for a place to warm up.
How DEP plans to punish a Port St. Lucie resort for destroying a half-acre mangrove canopy
DEP proposes punishment for Sandpiper Bay Resort in Port St. Lucie.
Environmental leaders meet in Martin County to discuss 'imminent' Lake O discharges
Mark Perry, Florida Oceanographic Society Executive Director & CEO, discusses Lake Okeechobee water management with Steve Davis, Everglades Foundation chief science officer, at the St. Lucie Lock and Dam on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, in Martin County.
Reaffirming the Need to Restore the Everglades in Memory of the 'Lost Summer'
Environmental Groups gathered in Stuart Tuesday, July 25th, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of what has come to be known as the ‘Lost Summer’, a series of devastating algae blooms that left south Florida residents stunned and spurred renewed efforts to restore the Everglades.
Fertilizer Fight: 55 groups pen letter to governor to veto fertilizer study, protect water
Nitrogen and Phosphorous can make your lawn beautiful, but they also feed blue-green algae and kill seagrass, critical to marine life in our waterways. Environmental groups want the governor to veto a plan they say will hurt local ecosystems.
Toxic algae blooms reported in Port Mayaca
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported a 'moderate' level of toxic algae blooms in Martin County over the weekend.
Port Mayaca Lock and Dam shutting down in response to toxic algae photos
The U.S Army Corps of Engineers is adjusting its water release schedule at the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam (S-308) in Martin County after receiving aerial images showing a thin ribbon of algal mass moving towards the gate Monday.
'Surprised to see it this early': Toxic blue-green algae found in Lake Okeechobee during winter
Environmentalists are keeping an eye on local waterways now that harmful blue green algal toxins have been spotted in Lake Okeechobee, especially in parts of Martin County.
Army Corps releases latest Lake O management plan's predicted effect on St. Lucie River
The Army Corps last week released an Environmental Impact Statement that details the potential consequences of how the agency plans to manage lake levels for the next decade. A final draft of the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) is expected to be adopted in 2023.
Mast’s bill takes aim at Lake O discharges
The Treasure Coast’s congressman introduced a bill Wednesday requiring a multiyear roadmap to end Lake Okeechobee discharges to coastal estuaries, which are often a vehicle for toxic algae and ecological destruction.
Starving manatees will face another rough winter next season
When manatees on Florida's east coast gather next winter, they're likely to face another season of starvation.
Revised SB 2508’s impact on river, lagoon weighed
The most contentious environment bill of this year’s legislative session is heading to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk.
