Here are six suggested starting points for the new Algae Task Force

Gov. Ron DeSantis fulfilled one of his campaign promises by naming a five-person Blue-Green Algae Task Force. The Task Force will work under the direction of Thomas Frazer, the state's first chief science officer, who begins in his new role Monday. 

"It's one thing to go and get the resources," DeSantis said during the announcement at Nathaniel P. Reed National Wildlife Refuge in Hobe Sound, "but I want to make sure when we are applying those resources, we are prioritizing the projects which are most urgent, and doing what we can to effectively deal with the nutrients, to deal with the algae, and to deal with the red tide."

DeSantis said the task force will:

• Identify opportunities to fund priority projects with state, local and federal funding;
• Build on DEP's updated Basin Management Action Plans;
• View and provide the largest and most meaningful nutrient reductions in key waterways.

More:Ron DeSantis announces newly-formed Blue-Green Algae Task Force

What will that look like? It may be a few weeks before we start getting word from the first meetings convened by this Task Force.

I'm a veteran observer of how badly toxic algae can foul Florida's waterways. Along with millions of Floridians, I suffered through the scuzzy harmful algae outbreaks of 2005, 2013, 2016 and 2018. I never want to see it again, but I know I will. Probably way too soon.

I took it upon myself to offer up six steps I think the Task Force should take. Perhaps these could lead to future recommendations the Task Force hands over to the Department of Environmental Protection, state Legislature and Gov. DeSantis. Then it will be up to them to act. 

Here are my suggestions:

Step 1: Determine where there is problematic algae now. Short-term solutions should take precedence over long-term solutions. Believe it or not, there is already a bloom of cyanobacteria, Microcystis aeruginosa, according to a DEP sample, west of Lake Okeechobee in the waters near the W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam at Alva. It's bright green and getting thicker each warm sunny day. The Task Force, in my opinion, should quickly identify which algae is in which location. Determine how bad the outbreaks are. Evaluate which ones are the most harmful to humans. Calculate which ones are the most widespread. And then project which ones will become the biggest problems in the coming weeks and months.  

Step 2: Stop its spread. Don’t let it move from one place to another. Contain it. This should be treated like we treat any human contagion. After all, it has been linked to diseases of the liver and brain. In February, at the Army Corps of Engineers’ Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual scoping meeting in Stuart, Capt. Rufus Wakeman of Jensen Beach addressed this in his comments: "Last year, the Army Corps knowingly dumped toxic algae into our communities — That’s messed up.” It is. These toxic algae blooms need to be managed as a human health crisis similar to how the health department manages an outbreak of Hepatitis A, measles or MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

Step 3: Mobilize resources to kill it or remove it. What seriously lacked in the past "lost summers" of algae outbreaks was action. There was a little monitoring. Some measuring. There was a ton of complaining and protesting to elected officials, but very little actual action. Many homes in Florida have the technology in their backyard pools to remove algae. Filters, scrubbers, chlorination or other chemicals will do the trick. The problem, of course, is scaling up the processes to be effective near a canal, lake or river. It sounds daunting. But if we can use a voice-activated assistant to bring us tacos with a drone, we can totally handle this.

Step 4: Identify nutrient sources. This is a step toward longer-term solutions, but find the nutrient sources. When it comes to Lake Okeechobee, Florida's largest lake, we know it has been pounded with phosphorous and nitrogen for decades. We know almost all the water comes from the north. So figure out where, when and how this happened.

Step 5: Stop the nutrient loading into Florida's waterways. The Basin Management Action Plan system put in place during former Gov. Rick Scott's administration is a farce. How does a community receive credits for cleaning water by publishing a brochure? Fix this. Actually stop the nutrients from running off lands and into waterways. Get serious about fixing and removing septic tanks, spreading biosolids from municipal wastewater systems, applying fertilizer and applying other destructive pesticides.  

Step 6: Address legacy nutrient loads. Yes, it's a challenging problem. So let's roll up our sleeves and do something about it. Scoop out the muck. Put it somewhere, at least temporarily until we can destroy it properly.

If I was to add one more step, it would be to get cracking. Florida's next historic toxic algae outbreak could be only a couple of rainstorms and a few hot days away. June 21, the first day of summer and the longest day of the year, is rapidly approaching. What we learned in past years is that the toxic algae really celebrates this day by blooming with added fervor.

The last thing we need is to ruin the state's once-pristine waters by smothering them annually with blue-green gook.

Ed Killer is the outdoors columnist for Treasure Coast Newspapers and TCPalm.com, and this column reflects his opinion. Friend him on Facebook at Ed Killer, follow him on Twitter @tcpalmekiller or email him at ed.killer@tcpalm.com or call him at 772-221-4201.