Frustrated and frightened for our waters
John Coates, director of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Water Resource Management, was quoted in an article in The News-Press authored by Chad Gillis on June 4. The quote, regarding the state’s new stormwater retention rule, read, “He told the group that the old rule would call for too many retention ponds for future development. That these water treatment systems, which some scientists say aren’t fully working now, simply cost too much for developers. Landowners no longer need to do water quality measurements as it takes too much time and resources.”
Florida’s lakes, streams, rivers, estuaries and Gulf waters have become even more polluted from direct stormwater runoff created by development. Stormwater ponds are designed to catch, hold and clean the runoff before it enters Florida’s waters. Pollutant removal by the stormwater ponds is achieved by the following processes: uptake of excess fertilizer nutrients by algae and rooted aquatic plants; adsorption of nutrients and heavy metals onto bottom sediments; biological oxidation of organic materials; and sedimentation of suspended solids and attached pollutants. Mr. Coates, we would like to see the evidence that they aren’t working. And if they aren’t working, please improve their function, don’t eliminate them.
There are effective ways for Florida’s residents to contribute to the success of stormwater pond pollution control. They include: fertilizing wisely just two times a year with slow release fertilizer; observing a buffer zone avoiding fertilization within 10 feet of the pond; picking up pet excrement; not blowing grass clippings towards the pond, gutters or storm drains; disposing of yard waste properly; using nontoxic cleaning chemicals; using organic gardening techniques; keeping the shoreline clean of dead plants and litter; disposing of hazardous chemicals properly at the Lee County Chemical Waste Collection facility and not in gutters or storm drains; planting native plants that don’t require irrigation and fertilizer; and washing cars on porous surfaces or at a carwash with water retention features. Exercising these practices are beneficial to all of Florida’s waterways no matter where you live.
We concerned citizens are using best management practices to help keep Florida’s waters clean, but how do we convince our permitting officials to do the same? Florida law contains best management practices for farmers and landowners to help control nutrient runoff. These best management practices were developed over 20 years ago. State officials largely manage these best management practices by “assumed compliance,” which means little testing is being done. The result? 32 of the 40 water basins that surround Lake Okeechobee are polluted with nitrogen beyond standards set by the FDEP.
We are taking action! The citizens of Florida; Republicans, Democrats and Independents are joining together to get the “Florida Right to Clean and Healthy Water” amendment on the 2026 ballot. This amendment will give us the fundamental right to clean and healthy water. It will help hold state officials accountable when they don’t enforce Florida’s robust environmental laws. Fellow citizens, please join us! Go to the floridarighttocleanwater.org website, and print, sign and mail your petition. Get your friends and coworkers to sign petitions. And please consider donating to this 100% grassroots effort.
Kathleen Greenberg of Fort Myers is a Florida Master Naturalist and Florida Right to Clean Water volunteer. Source used: “Stormwater Ponds, A Citizens Guide to their Purpose and Management.”
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Frustrated and frightened for our waters
