Residents rally to save waterways

STUART, Fla. (CBS12) — Toxic algae and red tide have caused an uproar in South Florida from people concerned about the impact the toxicity is having on people’s health and the ocean habitat.

“It’s totally devastating because I moved here to relax and swim,” Treasure Coast resident Gayle Ryan said.

“It is devastating to be retired – I am 68 years old – and have to do all of this where I live now.

Gayle Ryan has been fighting for the health of the estuaries and ocean on the Treasure Coast for years.

In hopes spreading awareness will build momentum to save our waterways, the Florida Oceanographic Society held its annual ‘Rally for the River’ event.

“We think learning is one of the best tools we have when it comes to fighting our environmental problems,” Zack Jud, director of education at Florida Oceanographic Society, said.

Advocates spoke about the dangers of water pollution, and ways we can reduce it.

“We have had a century of environmental abuse, and it’s catching up with us,” Jud said.

“Our estuaries are really on life support right now.”

The Treasure Coast has been dealing with toxic algae all summer, and the red tide crisis has closed beaches in South Florida over the last couple weeks.

And on the west coast of Florida, red tide blooms ravaged sea life.

Jud says it will take decades for marine life to recover on both coasts of Florida from the number of algae issues.

“The estuaries are resilient, and when we give them a chance to recover they do,” Jud said.

“We haven’t lost all hope yet.”

Efforts to improve the environment are ongoing, including replanting mangroves and sea grass where they’ve died off, and recreating living shorelines, and oyster reefs.