Two water revolutions
To the editor:
The impetus for this letter was inspired by the “Guest Opinion Letter” written on July 10 by Jen Lombeck, Matanzas Waterkeeper. Her letter stated, and I paraphrase: “Strong, enforceable, science-based regulations that protect our waters are not contained in USB 712.” (Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed into law SB 712 – the self-proclaimed “Clean Waterways Act.”)
Let’s take a trip in the past to the “Industrial Revolution” in New England, a region abundant with flowing rivers whose power was harnessed by building dams to run textile mills. The dams solved the energy problem for the mills but created other unforseen environmental problems: One was chemical waste-process-byproducts and the other was spawning habitat loss for the anadromous Atlantic Salmon. Chemical waste byproducts were dumped directly into the rivers. What better way to be rid of them? Like a toilet, the waste was gone — out of sight and out of mind. Until it became a problem.
To successfully spawn, the anadromous Atlantic Salmon would swim upriver to the exact location where they were born. Until they hit a concrete wall — a dam. Spawning ceased for Atlantic Salmon, as well as other anadromous fishes.
Between chemical pollution and the dams the Atlantic Salmon disappeared. So did other fish species. People became sick and died. The people revolted and the government was forced to take action. The federal “Clean Water Act” was passed in 1972. Polluters were held accountable and fined. Rivers were cleaned up. The Atlantic Salmon never recovered despite the installation of fish ladders and improved water quality. It was too late.
Now we are amid a second water revolution, taking place in Florida. But there are two differences between the first and the second water revolutions. My supposition is that in the early 1800s there was little “environmental awareness” compared to today’s heightened sense of the importance of the environment. Since the Amoskeag Textile Mill was built in 1810, it took 162 years before the creation of the federal Clean Water Act.
Yet, despite history, and all of the research telling us what needs to be done, we are still polluting the water in Southwest Florida. Now we have Senate Bill 712 — “Clean Waterways Act” that is devoid of “Strong, enforceable, science-based regulations?”
Until the polluters are held accountable for their actions the water quality will never improve.
Thanks to the “Waterkeepers” for promoting water cleanliness awareness and keeping the pressure on the politicians and polluters.
Paul Kiefner
Cape Coral