Pictured above: Cyanobacteria blooms on Lake Okeechobee were verified as producing microcystin toxins by FDEP. April 7, 2021
The current bill language has lost or is missing several key recommendations of the Blue-Green Algae Task Force. It’s imperative that the legislature act now, as yet another major blue-green algae bloom has formed on Lake Okeechobee and other areas of the state. These blooms threaten public health, property values and local economies.
Please call or write your legislators and ask them to include important recommendations of the Blue-Green Algae Task Force that are not included in the bill language:
- Include a provision supporting verification of agricultural best management practices (BMP). Without this provision, pollutant loads entering state waters from agricultural operations cannot be quantified or accounted for. Presumption of compliance is not working.
- Recommend that FDEP adopt EPA guidelines for blue-green algae toxins as new water quality standards in Florida. Without adopting the toxins as new state standards, environmental restoration and public health notifications of blue-green algae blooms cannot be enforced.
Please call or write your legislators and ask them to include important recommendations of the Blue-Green Algae Task Force that are not included in the bill language!
It is typically more effective to call, if you can please find the time.
SB 1522 Sponsor:
Sen. Linda Stewart [email protected] (850) 487-5013
Sen. Ben Albritton [email protected] (850) 487-5026
Sen. Aaron Bean – President Pro Tempore [email protected] (850) 487-5004
Sen. Gary Farmer – Minority Leader [email protected] (850) 487-5034
Sen. Debbie Mayfield – Majority Leader [email protected] (850) 487-5017
Sen. Kathleen Passidomo (Senate Pres. after Nov. 2022) [email protected] (850) 487-5028
Sen. Wilton Simpson – Senate President [email protected] (850) 487-5010
Sen. Ray Rodriques [email protected] (850) 487-5027
HB 1225 Sponsor:
Rep. Joy Goff-Marcil [email protected] (850) 717-5030
Rep. Adam Botana [email protected] (850) 717-5076
Rep. Mike Giallombardo [email protected] (850) 717-5077
Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulika [email protected] (850) 717-5078
Rep. Spencer Roach [email protected] (850) 717-5079
Rep. Chris Sprowls, House Speaker [email protected] (850) 717-5065
Rep. Bryan Avila, Speaker Pro Tempore [email protected] (850) 717-5111
Rep. Michael Grant, Majority Leader [email protected] (850) 717-5075
Rep. Bobby DuBose, Minority Leader [email protected] (850) 717-5094
From FDEP’s Algal Bloom Dashboard: https://floridadep.gov/AlgalBloom