"The level of ignorance among officials about lake and river issues is high. Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel Vinyard, for example, chided Martin County residents for fertilizing their lawns, unaware that Martin has an ordinance controlling fertilizers. He doesn’t know how much of Lake Okeechobee’s polluted water is sent south. He failed to address the DEP’s role in controlling water quality in the lake, the river and the lagoon. Tom MacVicar, a sugar industry panelist, presented an outdated map showing septic tanks along Martin County rivers in areas that have had sewers for a decade. Rep. MaryLynn Magar, R-Tequesta, whined about her ignorance and complains she is undergoing “trial by fire” in learning about water issues. Some politically unlikely suggestions were popular with the crowd, estimated at about 500 people. Sewall’s Point Commissioner Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch wants the state to condemn land the sugar industry owns south of the lake to allow sending more water south. Longtime river advocate Mark Perry earned laughter and applause by presenting the panel a zip-lock baggie filled with toxic algae water from the river, guaranteed to “damage your liver. You don’t have to open the bag.” Some plans that were not discussed, such as a political action committee to support candidates who promise to fight for the rivers and reject sugar industry contributions, are in the works."
Posted on: Sun, 25 Aug 2013 11:54:01 +0000
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