Florida Water Woes

Shellfish crisis in Apalachicola, the nation's "breadbasket" for oysters, because of bad water management in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint water basin.  Catastrophic algal blooms and ecosystem damage in Florida's coastal estuaries due to massive freshwater releases from Lake Okeechobee through the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Rivers. Repeated algal blooms, massive loss of seagrass beds, impacted fisheries and historic levels of manatee and dolphin deaths in the Northern Indian River Lagoon. All are symptoms of failed water policies at both the state and federal level.  At risk -  the foundation of Florida's coastal and ocean economy.  I'm glad to see the recent high-level of concern from citizens and industry...and resulting attention from elected officials.  It's time for Florida to lead the nation in innovative and enlightened water policy implementation.