Lawsuit Filed To Stop Future Lake Okeechobee Discharges

Florida Declares State Of Emergency Over Toxic Algae Bloom From Lake Okeechobee

A lawsuit was filed on Tuesday against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stop any future discharges from Lake Okeechobee.

Those water releases into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers are blamed for churning up toxic blue-green algae in waterways around the state.

The suit was filed in Fort Pierce federal court by the Center for Biological Diversity, Calusa Waterkeeper and Waterkeeper Alliance.

It asks a judge to halt further discharges until the Corps complies with the Endangered Species Act and other environmental laws.

There are no releases out of the lake currently with the latest check on levels showing them at 11.05 feet, which is up slightly from where it was before rains in recent days.

Treasure Coast Congressman Brian Mast and Gov. DeSantis had preferred the Corps bring levels down to 10.5 feet before the rainy season.

Just this week, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection confirmed that toxic blue-green algae was found at the center of Lake Okeechobee.

Photo: Getty Images


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