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Algae bloom

Email insights: Gwen Graham reflects on time in Congress, hints a ‘look to the future’

in Peter/Top Headlines by

Congresswoman Gwen Graham took the last few days of the year to reflect on 2016, looking back on a series of successes during the Tallahassee Democrat’s single term in Congress. Graham, who opted not to run for re-election after redistricting made Florida’s 2nd Congressional District too Republican, is also looking to the future — with the promise to “continue fighting for each and every Floridian.” Likely, this includes a run for Florida Governor in 2018, which she publicly announced that she…

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Perhaps faulty septic tanks cause algae blooms after all

in Peter by

While much has changed in Florida over the years, for environmentalists, one thing has remained somewhat constant — polluted discharges from Lake Okeechobee. And when they point fingers at what is causing the recent toxic blue-green algae blooms plaguing the Treasure Coast, agriculture has reliably been held up as one of the “usual suspects.” For many activists, the real danger is decades of water laden with phosphorus and fertilizer runoff; other factors, like failing septic tanks, rarely get the blame.…

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Army Corps to reduce lake flows fueling Florida algae bloom

in Statewide by

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is calling on President Barack Obama to declare a state of emergency to help businesses harmed by the massive algae bloom fouling some of Florida’s southern rivers and beaches. Rubio on Friday toured a portion of the St. Lucie River where a smelly muck is fouling an area promoted as Florida’s “Treasure Coast.” During a news conference later, he called the impact on tourism, home values and small businesses “catastrophic,” saying he couldn’t think of a…

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Red tide found in samples along Pinellas County beaches

in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by

Officials say a bloom of Florida red tide remained over the weekend along Tampa Bay-area beaches, killing fish and causing respiratory irritation in swimmers. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a news release that high concentrations of red tide were found recently in samples taken from beaches along Pinellas County. Low levels of red tide were also present in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties. Red tide is an algal bloom that can be harmful for fish,…

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