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South Florida could be heading toward another summer of slime
A massive buildup of blue-green algae in Lake Okeechobee threatens the state’s East and West coasts. University of Miami phytoplankton and water quality experts address the challenges that another massive red tide outbreak would pose.
Right now, it is just a waiting game. But if the unsightly blue and green gunk that now covers 500 square miles of Lake Okeechobee is any indication, this summer South Florida could be ground zero for a massive algae outbreak on par with, or even worse than, the bloom that contaminated waterways on the state’s East and West coasts three years ago.
From Piney Point to Serena s Law, the story of Session was about the region.
Southwest Florida is home to a substantial portion of the GOP caucus in both chambers of the Legislature. So it makes sense that the region was a big winner emerging from the just-concluded Legislative Session.
But what does that get exactly? Plenty, based on budget wins.
The Heartland and wetland-rich region of Florida pulled in a large share of water quality spending, as well as support for various community needs in education and public safety. Lawmakers also stressed that some matters of policy passed this year that specifically serve Southwest Florida.