Florida, a state that depends on water – fresh, estuarine and marine – for its economy and cultural identity more than most other states is in a dire situation of its own making. Decades of water and natural-resource mismanagement, recently accelerated, are coming home to roost. The current focus is on the red tide, classified as a harmful algal bloom, occurring along the Gulf Coast. But this crisis is not an outlier; it is part of the new normal. Either ongoing or in recent years, there have been harmful algal blooms in the Caloosahatchee River, St. Lucie River, St. Johns River, Florida Bay and the Indian River Lagoon. Indeed, at some point in the last few years much of Florida’s estuarine waters have been impacted by harmful algal blooms.
The organism that causes red tide, Karenia brevis, is natural to Florida’s Gulf coast. The red tide blooms in this region originate offshore, and depending on environmental conditions like winds and currents, can move inshore. Despite being a naturally occurring phenomenon, recent research suggests that human-introduced nutrients are worsening the situation. A scientific study published in 2007, for example, found that red tide was 20-fold more abundant in coastal waters (where it encounters nutrient-laden runoff) than in offshore waters where red tide originates. The study also found that red tide was 13-18-fold more abundant in recent years (1994-2002) than historically (1954-1963), and that the seasons in which red tide occurred had expanded from mostly in fall to now include fall, winter, and spring.
Similar crises are occurring throughout Florida. Because Everglades restoration has stalled, not enough freshwater flows from Lake Okeechobee into the Everglades and then into Florida Bay. In 2016, this lack of freshwater caused algae blooms, fish kills, and an extensive seagrass die-off in Florida Bay. The water not flowing into the Everglades is instead being discharged into the St. Lucie River and Caloosahatchee River, where it has caused an harmful algal bloom so toxic that human contact is dangerous. The nutrient-laden water flowing out of the Calooshatchee River is also a likely source for enhancing red-tide blooms.
A recurring harmful algal bloom in the Indian River Lagoon, this caused by a “brown tide,” has resulted in extensive seagrass die-offs and fish kills. In recent years the St. Johns River has experienced harmful algal blooms of its own. Even some of Florida’s famous freshwater springs are experiencing algae blooms.
The common theme for these crises is mismanagement of Florida’s water resources. The first problem is the alteration of freshwater flows into coastal waters. The watershed of the Caloosahatchee River once was limited to southwest Florida. It now drains Lake Okeechobee’s watershed, which stretches to Orlando. And the Everglades and Florida Bay are nearly entirely cut off from the freshwater flows they used to receive. A similar scenario plays out at smaller scales for Florida’s other coastal waterways.
The second problem is that far too many nutrients are entering freshwater lakes, streams and rivers, which then empty into coastal waters. These nutrients come from Florida’s phosphate-mining industry, outdated sewage infrastructure, extensive use of residential septic systems, and agricultural and stormwater runoff. These nutrient sources not only contaminate the surface waters, but also the aquifers – the amount of nutrients in Florida’s groundwater are far too high. These groundwaters then seep into coastal waters through Florida’s limestone base.
And we haven’t even addressed the dramatic and ongoing loss and degradation of coastal habitats.
All of this has a negative impact on Florida’s economy. The annual economic impact of Florida’s saltwater recreational fishery exceeds $7 billion, more than any other state, supports thousands of jobs, and is an important part of Florida’s economy. The commercial fishery exceeds $1.6 billion. These fisheries depend upon good water quality and healthy habitats. As the health of Florida’s water and habitats has declined, so have the fisheries – incomes have declined, jobs have been lost and businesses have closed.
The rate of Florida’s environmental decline has increased in recent years, but it has been long in the making. It will be similarly long in recovery. But unless Florida takes seriously the poor state of affairs and embarks on an intense and long-term recovery plan, the future is dim.
Aaron Adams is the director of science and conservation for the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust in Miami.
