Episode 902: Toxic Algae: Complex Sources and Solutions

For the past two decades, the residents of Martin county and the surrounding areas have been faced with a silent curse. A guacamole thick mat of blue-green algae periodically grows and clogs the waterways. These toxic algal blooms kill local marine life and even cause short term and long term health effects in humans. Scientists say that the source of these problems is in Lake Okeechobee. “Lake O,” as it is known, once South Florida’s lifeline for fresh water, is now a dumping ground for pollutants from agriculture, farming, and septic tank effluent. When the lake accumulates enough of these fertilizers, blue-green algae grow, and they are released when water levels are too high. The solution to this problem is complex, but those affected by it are urging experts to find it fast.

Experts

Meet the experts featured in this episode.

Episode Photos

Mary Radabaugh

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Cyanobacteria growing around a pier.

Mary Radabaugh

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Cyanobacteria growing around a mangrove.

Mary Radabaugh

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Cyanobacteria growth in a marina in Stuart, Florida.

Mary Radabaugh

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Videographer Sean Hickey filming the sampling preparations.

Changing Seas

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Brian Lapointe, Ph.D. on a sampling trip with the Changing Seas crew.

Changing Seas

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Brian Lapointe, Ph.D. and Rachel Brewton excitedly returning to the boat after a successful algae sampling effort.

Changing Seas

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Preparing the algae ulva for study.

Changing Seas

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Two trays of the algae ulva, one of the species that Brian Lapointe, Ph.D. uses for isotope analyses to find the source of nitrogen in the water.

Changing Seas

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Jars of water from the marina in Stuart, FL, with and without cyanobacteria.

Changing Seas

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The lock and dam in St. Lucie, FL.

Changing Seas

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Agriculture in South Florida.

Changing Seas

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Agriculture in South Florida.

Changing Seas

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Burning sugar cane.

Changing Seas

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Guacamole-thick algae in the marina of Stuart, Florida.

Changing Seas

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A canal filled with algae in Stuart, Florida.

Changing Seas

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Videographers Jeremy Nicholson and Manny Lopez get ready for an interview on the C44 storm water treatment site.

Changing Seas

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Videographers Jeremy Nicholson and Manny Lopez record Producer Mark Baker interviewing Lt. Col. Jennifer Reynolds as John Campell from the Army Corps of Engineers looks on.

Changing Seas

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Producer Veronique Koch in her safety gear while filming interviews at the C44 storm water treatment area.

Changing Seas

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Videographer Manny Lopez filming at Lake Okeechobee.

Changing Seas

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The Indian River Lagoon stretches along 40 percent or 156 miles of the state’s central east coast.

Changing Seas

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Conducting an interview with Executive Director of Florida Oceanographic Society Mark Perry at their coastal center on Hutchinson.

Changing Seas

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The Indian River Lagoon is one of North America’s most biologically diverse estuaries.

Changing Seas

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Scientists are concerned about the impacts toxic algae might have on birds who feed on fish from impacted waters.

Changing Seas

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Scientists with the Florida Oceanographic Society are studying the impacts of toxic algae on marine life.

Changing Seas

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While the Everglades are often starved for enough fresh water, surges of water from Lake Okeechobee to Florida’s coastlines can create toxic algal blooms there.

Changing Seas

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An airboat navigating the Everglades.

Image Credits

Changing Seas would like to thank the following individuals and institutions who kindly allowed their footage, images and other media to be used in this production:

Paul Cox, Ph.D.

Jeff Gammons

Martin County Board of County Commissioners

Mary Radabaugh

James Metcalf, Ph.D.

NASA Earth Observatory

Dick Powell

Benjamin Szentpaly

US Army Corps of Engineers

WPTV

State Archives of Florida