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We Had Better Be Paying Attention
April 2000
Pat Miller - Okeechobee County Extension, Dairy & Water Quality Agent
A few months ago, the headline in an east coast paper read: "Lake Okeechobee Pollution Soars." The article went on to say the level of "algae-feeding pollution" was at a 15-year high despite a cleanup plan that has cost millions of taxpayer dollars and driven 22 dairies out of business. A water management district spokesperson was at a loss to explain it.
What you probably didn't read in the paper is the fact there was an explanation. Other district staff feel the loading was due to El Niño rains which were especially heavy in the Upper Chain of Lakes above the Kissimmee. The P load passing through S-65 (the control structure a highway 60) was more than three times the normal amount. Likewise, the P load coming into the Kissimmee River in Highlands County was over 5 times the traditional level. These are uncontrolled, non-regulated sources of P.
However, the regulated load at S-191 (on Lake Okeechobee), was within normal range for that basin. It appears then that the "excess" phosphorus came largely from non-regulated areas while the regulated S-191 performed very well. But, this was not reported.
What's the point? Agriculture is in the news. Readers who know nothing about agriculture, who are concerned about the environment, get much of their information from the media. You, of course, cannot control what is printed nor often, its accuracy. You can have a positive effect on the other hand. You can and should do your utmost to be a part of the solution and not part of the problem. It behooves all of us, whether we be farmers, ranchers or urban residents, to make every effort to reduce and eliminate pollutants entering our waters.
So what do we do? Agriculture producers have long been aware of BMPs of Best Management Practices. BMPs are, by definition, management practices which will effectively reduce the agriculture pollutants reaching water bodies in an efficient and economically sustainable fashion. Nearly every agriculture producer uses BMPs in some form or fashion. Your question is, can I do more? Can I improve current practices?
The answer may be fairly simple, or it may take considerable thought on your part, but give it thought you should! The Florida Cattlemen's Association has taken a huge proactive leap in helping you to make decisions and plans to meet water quality standards. A manual of BMP's for cattlemen has been written by cattlemen and for cattlemen. At present, the manual is in printing but will be available very soon. Every cattle producer needs obtain and use this reference.
Hearings held by the DEP and EPA in Okeechobee over the last few months have made it clear the phosphorus concentration targets for Lake Okeechobee are going to be reset at much lower levels than presently in place. These agencies are working to develop a TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Load) for the lake. The number currently under discussion in 40 ppb. The current target is 180 ppb.
It is also abundantly clear every agriculture producer in the Lake Okeechobee basin will be under heightened scrutiny to determine his level of compliance with water quality standards. The South Florida Water Management District is hiring a considerable number of new staff for compliance monitoring. While agriculture has been ably represented by local producers and community organizations at several public hearings on the issue so far, Okeechobee County is not in this alone. The agriculture base of south central Florida is at stake. Everyone needs to be apart of this process.
The South Florida Beef-Forage Program, along with the Florida Cattlemen's Association has tentatively scheduled an informational meeting to be held in Sebring during July to introduce producers to the Cattlemen's Association BMP manual. Be on the lookout for further details. The program will be held as soon as the books are ready for distribution.
In the meantime, it behooves every agriculture producer in the basin to get involved and informed on this issue. While it may not be seemingly affecting you now... it will! Currently, the Game and Fish Commissions' latest survey indicates a severe decline in the number of juvenile fish in the lake. It is generally agreed this lack of young fish is due to the loss of breeding habitat brought on by the lake levels the past few years. It has nothing to do with phosphorus, but blame has a habit of spreading around. Attend hearings. Speak for agriculture. Do your part.