BY JANA ESCHBACH
CBS12
August 1, 2016
STUART (CBS12) — It’s been only
a few days since a full moon high tide washed away a foot-deep sludge of toxic algae to sea out of local canals and marinas in Palm City and Stuart.
Now, scientists say a second massive bloom is just beginning in Martin County with green globs showing at Downtown Stuart parks and the boat ramps in Palm City.
The water at Leighton Park Boat Ramp is getting a fluffy foamy look to it, and the green particles are starting to congeal. This is phase 1, according to scientists, who say by the time the algae bloom expands and releases toxins into the air again, will be just a matter of days.
Residents say it’s like being dead center of a hurricane cone 5 days out. You know it’s coming.
“About a week or so ago it started to look like this there wasn’t any signs of green,” North River Shores resident Chuck Romano said.
Romano says they just got the blue green toxic algae to flush out their canal basin. The thought of it returning less than 8 days later made him simply shake his head.
“I mean, you couldn’t get this close to it. It just wreaked. Stunk like crazy,” Romano said.
Hot weather, fresh water and an estimated 37 million pounds of fertilizers and dirt fed a massive toxic algae bloom that streamed into the St. Lucie Estuary from Lake Okeechobee since May, pounding the river ecosystem and local businesses for the last 8 weeks. It began to die off and float away last week.
Then again, just days later, Sunday, green globs begin to wash ashore.
A toxic algae bloom from here expands to fluorescent green then turns a blue green, releasing toxins, and about 2 weeks later dies off turning the water an opaque black.
Now new algae pouring in, brings a new bloom to life.
Chuck says he and his neighbors will stay indoors this time, and they’ve had it with the promises from politicians to give the region any relief.
“You know what are you going to kick the dog or something- who are you going to yell at? It’s like talking to a stone wall,” Romano said.
Martin County Taxpayers footed the bill for independent air and water tests last month. Those test results show the toxins go airborne and just breathing around it can make you sick.
Martin County Commissioners plan to coordinate a plan of attack with Palm Beach and Broward leaders Tuesday at Robert Morgade Library at 10 am in Stuart. The hope is to join together to get action from the State and federal government on the Herbert Hoover Dike repairs and water quality issues.
http://cbs12.com/news/algae/another-massive-algae-bloom-begins-in-martin-county