Guest Opinion: Searching for scapegoats or for meaningful water crisis solutions?
The recent declaration by Gov. Scott that the Obama Administration is largely to blame for the destructive flows of water heading east and west from Lake Okeechobee sure makes for a nice sound bite and press release. The Governor cries out that the lack of investment into the federal Herbert Hoover Dike improvements is the prime reason for the polluted waters befouling our precious state waters. But such finger pointing is the ultimate irony from a state administration that has watched over this problem unfold, while choosing to thwart or take a pass on numerous actions within its own control towards solving it.
Even if the dike improvements were expedited, polluted water discharges would still occur. The fact is lake water levels cannot be elevated very much beyond the current maximum depth without creating poorer water quality and an ecological crisis in Lake Okeechobee, which would only contribute to the overall environmental problems in the Caloosahatchee.
Let’s get serious for a moment. The polluted high-level discharges from Lake O and surrounding watershed is not a new problem – as one mayor from the east coast cleanly stated, “It is like groundhog day all over again!” The exact same situation unfolded in the 2006 when the Caloosahatchee was named one of the ten most endangered rivers in the United States and in the summer of 2013. All this time it has been the state that was responsible for controlling and preventing further overdrainage, yet the system is overdrained and pollution levels are continuing to rise in the Caloosahatchee River.
The water problems of South Florida are all about timing, quality and quantity of water flowing or failing to flow into our estuaries. As the Conservancy has advocated for more than a decade, this is a complex problem and there are many pieces to the puzzle needed to solve it at the local, state and federal levels. Pointing the finger at the feds and blaming them for failing to stop this ecological train wreck, is the pot calling the kettle black. Our state leaders should take action to address the pieces within their own control, such as honoring the voters will to use Amendment 1 funds to increase investments for water resource protection, land acquisition and Everglades restoration. Searching for scapegoats or for meaningful solutions to our water crisis?
Additionally, the Governor and his appointed Water Management Governing Board need to buy lands in the Everglades Agricultural Area to get the necessary conveyance, storage and treatment to move the water south back where it historically flows and belongs. The Governor and his Department of Environmental Protection also need to set measurable enforceable water quality standards and pollution limits in all upstream flowing waters to stop pollution at its source, as well as put timely requirements to clean up pollution already at unsafe levels in our waterways.
Let’s stop the finger wagging and see authentic leadership. Every citizen impacted by the dirty water of 2016 should demand accountability for solving the problem systematically and comprehensively. Let’s challenge our Legislature and Governor to begin implementing meaningful solutions available today including:
1. Buy land within the Everglades Agricultural Area to provide the additional conveyance, storage of at least 1 million acre feet of water and treatment needed to divert the harmful hight discharges to Caloosahatchee
2. Place $300 million of Amendment 1 dollars into funding the Florida Forever state land acquisition program
3. Put meaningful regulatory reform in place for stopping pollution loading at its source including measureable and enforceable water quality standards for all upstream flowing waters
4. Dedicate $200 million a year for funding the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan projects at the State Level through the Legacy Florida proposed bill
There are other pieces of the puzzle the state could enact to solving this water crisis, but this would be a good start. Southwest Florida’s economy, natural beauty and quality of life are inextricably linked to how we manage our water resources. Let’s stop the ripple effect from these polluted waters and demand leadership that does not seek to assign blame, but seeks to lead all of the partners towards lasting solutions.
Visit www.conservancy.org to learn more about how you can help stop the ripple effect of polluted water.
– Robert Moher is the president and CEO of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida