What is the biggest problem that Lake Okeechobee causes in Florida?
What is the biggest problem that Lake Okeechobee causes in Florida? About 2,500 acres of estuaries are polluted, accounting for 99% of the total assessed. A big driverof that is Lake Okeechobee, which covers about 450,000 square acres and has been polluted by decades of agricultural and stormwater runoff.
What are three negative consequences that water releases from Lake Okeechobee can have on Florida waterways?
That “back-pumping” can carry with it fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants that can lead to fish kills, toxic algae blooms and threaten drinking water supplies.
Why is Lake Okeechobee so famous?
Lake Okeechobee is known for its superior fishing for Large Mouth Bass and Speckled Perch. Each year the lake is visited by thousands of anglers and water fowl hunters to enjoy one of our natural resources. Visitors also visit Lake Okeechobee to photograph the flora and fauna and breathtaking views of the area.
What is the biggest problem in the Everglades?
Nutrient pollution causes algae blooms that take oxygen out of the water, suffocating much of the natural flora and fauna. More than 25 percent of the Everglades has been damaged by excessive nutrient pollution.
What are the dangers of the high lake level in Okeechobee?
Many years of high water levels in the Lake made the Dike prone to “piping,” a leak that can lead to collapse. Erosion and Dike failure can also occur from water overtopping the Dike during major storm events. On a scale of Dam Safety Action Classification, the Dike is identified at Level 1 on a scale of 1-5.
Should you eat fish out of Lake Okeechobee?
The Florida Department of Health advises against it, according to its website. Fish tested from water with blue-green algae show that cyanotoxins don't accumulate much in the edible parts — muscle or fillet — of fish, but can in other organs, its website says. The safest choice is to not harvest or eat these fish.
Does Lake Okeechobee lead to the ocean?
As it was designed in 1947 to avoid flooding south of the lake, the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers are the two “safety valves” of the system during high water events. Water from Lake Okeechobee is now routinely discharged to these rivers and sent to tide in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean.
Can you eat the fish out of Lake Okeechobee?
The Florida Department of Health advises against it, according to its website. Fish tested from water with blue-green algae show that cyanotoxins don't accumulate much in the edible parts — muscle or fillet — of fish, but can in other organs, its website says. The safest choice is to not harvest or eat these fish.
What is the most serious problem of Lake Okeechobee?
Toxic algae fed by agricultural fertilizers spread across the wide, shallow lake, which is the largest in the Southeast United States. The algae poisons the air, and seasonal rains threaten to swell the lake and disperse the contaminated water toward popular beaches.
Is it safe to swim in Lake Okeechobee?
Visiting Lake Okeechobee is worth it for many folks interested in fishing, nature, hiking, and other outdoor activities. It is not, however, an experience for those who wish to go swimming, wading, or otherwise come into contact with the water. The alligators alone make the lake a dangerous spot.