Sierra Club Slime Crime Photos:
JohnMoranPhoto.com
Green Slime On the Santa Fe River
Posted May 29, 2012 06:00 am
HIGH SPRINGS, FL - This Memorial Day weekend, red, white and blue weren't the only colors visible on Florida waterways. Visitors also saw green "summer slime" on the water in some parts of the state. The unwanted color is caused by blooms or outbreaks of algae, fed by a toxic combination of industrial pollution, sewage, manure and fertilizer. The latest outbreak is on the Santa Fe River.
Link of interest:
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Earth Justice
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Sierra Club and more slime crime photos
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Florida Water Coalition
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EPA - Proposed Extension of Effective Date for Water
Quality Standards
David Guest, an attorney for Earthjustice in Florida,
says the current river conditions are very different
than they were just a few years ago.
"Even in fairly deep water, you could drop a quarter off
the side of your boat and you could see it on the
bottom. That's how clear it was; it was a beautiful
place to swim."
Florida's water-quality standards have been the source
of debate in recent years. Environmental groups are
asking for President Obama to stand by the EPA in its
enforcement of clean water rules.
After repeated pushes by environmental groups and the
EPA, Florida adopted numeric standards for water quality
levels last year. But critics contend they are still not
strong enough, keeping the state from taking action
against polluters without several years of data.
Guest says the lax standards are having an impact on
rivers like the Santa Fe.
"Now, it's turned to this sickening green slime. It's a
real tragedy that something like that could happen to
such a beautiful place."
New, tougher water quality standards from the EPA will
take effect in Florida in June. It's estimated that they
will cost at least $135 million annually to implement,
which translates to about 60 cents a month per person,
statewide.
Original Headline: Green Slime Outbreak on Florida Waterway