Our Surf Breaks in Jeopardy due to Pollution : Protest Aug 11th, Stuart Beach

Our Surf Breaks and Beaches Are Being Poisoned.

We are having cyanobacteria blooms (blue-green algae) and the water is so dangerous in the estuary people are becoming sick from enteric bacteria infections. Our Health Dept, Martin County, has issued warnings to avoid contact with the water for months now (and every year during the rainy season). Residents are reporting ear infections and pink eye from the beaches adjacent to the Inlet too. FYI I am an Environmental Tech, it is my job to know the facts.

My dive video : What this poison looks like underwater (view in HD)
[video=youtube;SQlabMNP8N4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQlabMNP8N4[/video]
Join the Event on facebook:https://www.facebook.com/events/635279196497094/

 

Check with your local health dept, if your lucky they are more on point then ours. We have a reactive HD rather than a proactive one.

 

Been in this fight for 5+ years. Thanks for writing down the basics, I didn't want the lead post to be about a page long. Most don't like the technical jargon. I work with 2 scientists locally and also am a team member of the Southeat Florida Coral Reef Initiative. I survey corals and fish species and abundance on our local nearshore reefs as well as restoration projects and monitoring in the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon. I do not work for an agencey I am freelance which means i'm poor but I have a big mouth that I excerise frequently.
I feel we are at a tipping point in regards to apathetic citizenry. On saturday we had 3,000 + people at the St. Lucie Locks protesting. If you would like please msg me for more info. Upcoming events:

AUG 8TH THURSDAY
Thursday, Aug. 8. 2013, at 9 a.m. WATER RESOURCES ADVISORY COMMISSION
http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1110675265641-450/FINAL_WRAC_Agenda_08082013.pdf
Indian RiverSide Park – Frances Langford Dockside Pavilion
1707 N.E. Indian River Drive
Jensen Beach, FL 34957

AUG 11TH SUNDAY
PEACEFUL PROTEST AT EVERY BEACH FROM JENSEN BEACH TO STUART BEACH.
11AM EVERYONE WILL PROTEST AT THE WATERS EDGE.

AUG 22ND THURSDAY Senate committee on the Indian River Lagoon headed by Sen Negron
FROM 10AM-9PM
AT THE KANE CENTER IN STUART.

 

Our health dept says the beaches are ok. They are tested bi-weekly whereas the river sites are weekly. They have had dozens of calls from citizens with pictures like this, yet they refuse to do more testing or at least put up a sign at the beach.
From Kayla Joy Ankiel "Spent Over 3 Hrs With My 4Yr Old Daughter in the ER tonight! She Was covered in this horrible rash, due to the fact we Spent all day yesterday at bath tub beach in stuart....Unaware of the toxins in the water! She is now on antibiotics & steroids for 7days!!!! Something needs to be done ASAP!"

 

On our first dive before the "wall" hit. We had 30 feet of vis
Carijoa riisei (aka. white telesto)

 

It's bad enough as it is with the beach "de" nourishment projects creating turbidity (cloudy water) and the increase potential for shark bites, but now we have both cloudy water and polluted dark water to surf in! Needless to say I have not been surfing lately.