Advisories are also in place at the following beaches in Walton County: Blue Mountain Beach, Easter Lake Dune Walkover and Inlet Beach.

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune Monday Apr 22, 2019 at 2:01 AM. We welcome readers to submit letters regarding articles and content in. If you notice redness to the site of an open cut or sore, or develop fever and feel ill, seek medical care immediately.

Environment Florida's study, released Thursday, used water sample data companies routinely report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. © 2020 Florida Water Environment Association.

It's the spot in South Tampa where Bayshore Boulevard essentially dead-ends in the west, and it overlooks sparkling water, downtown Tampa and — perhaps ominously — ugly industrial facilities that loom to the southeast. Overuse of water for farm and landscape irrigation and industrial and public supply has depleted aquifers and surface waters and reduced the flow of springs and rivers. Diversion and discharge of wet season stormwater to coastal estuaries contributes contaminants and robs those same estuaries of freshwater during dry seasons and droughts.

The report, titled Troubled Waters, ranks Florida the tenth worst state when it comes to rampant illegal water pollution incidents. "There is some good news," the authors explained, referring to local governments and private agencies' efforts to reduce pollution by replacing failing septic tanks, improving sewage treatment plants, and other measures.

Two other locations – Panama City Beach access and Panama City Pier – had moderate levels of bacteria, but no alerts were issued. “There are early indicators that phosphorus is rising," Chief Scientist for the 2019 State of the River Report Gerry Pinto, said in a prepared statement. Of course, the Trump administration as well as that of Governor Rick Scott have paid little mind to regulations — if they haven't deliberately sought to dismantle protections outright. Eliminate land disposal of septage and sewage biosolids.

"These violators need to be in compliance with these rules because they protect all of us.”.

"At the same time, water quality in some of the streams that flow into the river (tributaries) is polluted, and unsuitable for boating and fishing.". "Continuing pollution of the river by a variety of human activities threatens human health, the economy, and the ecosystems that support animals, plants, and recreation," the report's authors wrote in a summary of its conclusions. Starving chicks, dead fish, and coughing fits are all signs that something is wrong.

The two primary local users of biosolids for fertilizer along the St. Johns upper basin are Deseret Ranch and Deer Park Ranch. Our history says a lot about the leadership, dedication and hard work of the members of this organization. Beyond pointing to increases in phosphorous levels fueling frequent blue-green algae outbreaks, the report also shows sea level rise from climate change and "a legacy of dredging" are causing salt levels to rise and saltwater to move farther upriver. Prioritize reclaimed water for industrial and agricultural uses rather than wasteful landscape irrigation.

“When it comes to water quality, back in the 1970s, many of America's waters, including Tampa Bay right behind us and several others in Florida, were a mess, said Chris Meindl, a professor of geography at USF St. Petersburg. "This report demonstrates there are far fewer enforcement actions coming out of the federal level.".