| 25 August 2009
Algae blooms linked to pollutant runoff affect all levels of marine life.
Since Governor Charlie Crist’s announcement of the purchase of U.S. Sugar Corp. lands for Everglades restoration, there has been a healthy debate about the benefits of such a purchase. Despite the amended agreement, which reduced the number of acres to be purchased, opponents still have concerns about this land acquisition.
With each passing day, the Everglades and Florida Bay continue to decline. Restoration will neither be immediate nor cheap, but it’s the cost we have to pay for decades of neglect and abuse.
As Regional Conservation Organizer for the Ft. Myers office of the Sierra Club, Marti works on two campaigns; Red Tide and Everglades.
If you live by the St. Lucie River or the Caloosahatchee River, you know the devastation caused by discharges from Lake Okeechobee. Pollutants from the Lake have contributed to algal blooms, which negatively impact the ecosystem, its marine life, tourism economy and the health of the people who live and work in this area. The U.S. Sugar purchase would provide much-needed water treatment and storage south of the Lake, resulting in clean water for both the Everglades and our rivers.
Sport fishing ranks among Florida’s leading recreational pursuits with more than 2 million anglers fishing Florida waters in 2006. Snook fishing alone contributes a billion dollars to our economy! However, if our rivers continue to be impaired with pollutant-laden discharges from Lake Okeechobee, our fishing trips will be history. Boaters and anglers will travel elsewhere and our local economy will suffer.
I urge you to go to this link and learn why this purchase is so important. Time is running out; we cannot afford to wait while a national treasure is so gravely ill. Ignore the problem, delay action or just procrastinate and the result will be irreparable damage that will impact Floridians for decades to come.
River of Grass Coalition(http://www.riverofgrasscoalition.org/)
About the Author
Marti Daltry is a Pennsylvania native. She moved to Bradenton, Florida in 1968 and became a Lee County resident in 1976.
Marti completed her college education at Florida Gulf Coast University as a Communications major and graduated Summa Cum Laude in December 2006 with a B.A. in Communications.
For several years, she has been active in the river advocacy group, the Caloosahatchee River Citizens Association/Riverwatch where she serves on the board of directors and was former president of this organization.
As Regional Conservation Organizer for the Ft. Myers office of the Sierra Club, Marti works on two campaigns; Red Tide and Everglades. On the Red Tide Campaign, she has worked to promote the adoption of fertilizer ordinances in Lee County and its municipalities. On the Everglades Campaign, Marti is working to get supporters for the U S Sugar Purchase, which will provide much-needed water treatment and storage south of Lake Okeechobee, benefiting both the Everglades and our estuaries
