Florida Oceanographic Society
Coastal Estuaries Alert
S.T.O.P. - Stop The Ongoing Pollution
The St. Lucie River Estuary and the Indian River Lagoon are now in critical condition due to large discharges of polluted freshwater from Lake Okeechobee and the agricultural canals, currently at a rate of 1.6 billion gallons per day! The water has high levels of nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen and is depositing an estimated 200 cubic yards of silt and sediment into the estuaries each day! Direct impacts of the discharges include fish with lesions, dying oyster populations and loss of seagrass habitat. Declines in tourism and in boating, fishing, and all water-related activities are causing a major economic impact on our community.

Several "protected" areas are now being impacted including two State Aquatic Preserves, the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary, NOAA Essential Fish Habitat, EPA Critical Habitat for Seagrass, the St. Lucie Inlet State Preserve Reefs, and the St. Lucie Nearshore Reefs nominated for National Marine Sanctuary designation. These estuaries and coastal ecosystems are habitat for over 4,000 species of plants and animals, including 33 endangered and threatened species.

Thank you to the more than 790 people who came out to the "Rally for the Rivers" July 16, 2005.
and
Thank you to the more than 850 people who came out to the "Rally for the Rivers" September 27, 2003.

How You Can Help!
Use the information and links below to keep informed and make you opinion heard.

Write Your Representatives - Letter on Issues with addresses Adobe Acrobat pdf file
Write Your Representatives - Letter on Issues with addresses MS Word file
Goverment representatiove contact list Adobe Acrobat pdf file
Stop The Pollution Of The St. Lucie River & Indian River Lagoon in South Florida - Online Petition 
Petition for the Rivers Adobe Acrobat pdf file
South Florida Ecosystem Challenge - information sheet Adobe Acrobat pdf file
S.T.O.P. - Stop The Ongoing Pollution Fund donation form  Adobe Acrobat pdf file
"The Rivers are Black!" article on the discharge issue Adobe Acrobat pdf file
Pictures of Discharges Adobe Acrobat pdf file
Florida Oceanographic Society Position on the CERP Plan Adobe Acrobat pdf file
The Rivers Coalition
Everglades Coalition
Indian River Lagoon Plan - SFWMD
St. Lucie River Plan - SFWMD
Caulerpa brachypus Alert
FMRI - Fish Kill Hotline
St. Lucie Lock and Dam (S-80) Discharge
Lake Okechobee Water Levels & Canal Discharge Information
Weekly St. Lucie River Data
Federal & State Contacts
FMRI - Red Tides and Harmful Algae Blooms (HAB)
SFWMD - St. Lucie River Estuary



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URL: http://www.floridaoceanographic.org/riveralert.htm
Revised July 29, 2005