The powers that be in Tallahassee are looking at this enviro problem with the same short sighted idiocy they viewed the red tide disaster of 2017-2019. Let's clean up the dead fish so the tourists will come back and we can look at the REAL problem some other time. Of course the "REAL" problem (aka: the REAL CAUSE of the red tide is the continuous overload of nutrients all year round in the form of wastewater and excessive fertilizer runoff that occurs virtually every time it rains in FL. This year that continuous every day overload to the water system was only extremely aggravated by the releases of the contaminated waters at Piney Point. EVERYONE that had anything to do with water quality control knew the moment those flood gates were opened at Piney Point to alleviate that day's disaster would have this week's disaster staring them in the face when the temps really started climbing and here we are. And what are they saying? Let's clean up the fish because it's the easy and politically expedient thing to do!
NOAA FWC all the non profits collecting grant money to so called clean the water up should all be fired and give the grant money back no one is doing anything to help this environment here and people just keep throwing money at it like it's gonna help? Please do not encourage people to donate squat . Billions have been given and we have toxic dead fish everywhere so with confidence I can say all that money is a waste!! Untill big corporations are held accountable and the city for dumping the sewage we will always have this problem no matter how much you throw money at it
Everyone in the Florida DEP should be fired for letting the release of Piney Point. Let’s hire new candidates that actually show action and preventative measures instead of reaction which the FL DEP seems to only know. Since everything runs on money let’s evaluate DEP personnel salaries on meeting action items or no lip service and hold this division accountable for their actions and lack of actions.
I am a small resort manager on Clearwater Beach. I need to tell you, after asking many business owners, locals, and visitors alike, what they know about why this red tide bloom is so bad, NONE of them know anything about it. The most common response is "the water is warmer this year" and "peple putting fertilizer on their lawns". They dont know what a phosphate is, or that there are even mines. Some mention Piney point dumped dirty water a few years back. But when asked what piney point is, they think it is a water treatment plant. TAMPA NEWS DOES NOT REPORT PHOSPHATE MINING! And even THIS report fails to mention the name MOSAIC. Erin, come on...there is sooooo much more. WE HAVE OVER 700 DEAD MANATEES THIS YEAR! It is not just Piney Point...that one is closed. MOSAIC has local commercials on TV saying that they are "good for the environment". MOSAIC is currently creating 27 Piney Points all around Tampa Bay right now!! There should be demonstrations! Picketing! And people hancuffing themselves to fences with the same force as they did the Dakota Pipeline!! Why is this not happening? Because noone knows enough about it!! I feel like a tiny tiny voice screaming from the bottom of a pit!! Why are we not freaking out?? Why can a pipeline get national attention and 700 dead manatees gets crickets?? Why is no one saying anything about MOSAIC???
The powers that be in Tallahassee are looking at this enviro problem with the same short sighted idiocy they viewed the red tide disaster of 2017-2019. Let's clean up the dead fish so the tourists will come back and we can look at the REAL problem some other time. Of course the "REAL" problem (aka: the REAL CAUSE of the red tide is the continuous overload of nutrients all year round in the form of wastewater and excessive fertilizer runoff that occurs virtually every time it rains in FL. This year that continuous every day overload to the water system was only extremely aggravated by the releases of the contaminated waters at Piney Point. EVERYONE that had anything to do with water quality control knew the moment those flood gates were opened at Piney Point to alleviate that day's disaster would have this week's disaster staring them in the face when the temps really started climbing and here we are. And what are they saying? Let's clean up the fish because it's the easy and politically expedient thing to do!
NOAA FWC all the non profits collecting grant money to so called clean the water up should all be fired and give the grant money back no one is doing anything to help this environment here and people just keep throwing money at it like it's gonna help? Please do not encourage people to donate squat . Billions have been given and we have toxic dead fish everywhere so with confidence I can say all that money is a waste!! Untill big corporations are held accountable and the city for dumping the sewage we will always have this problem no matter how much you throw money at it
Everyone in the Florida DEP should be fired for letting the release of Piney Point. Let’s hire new candidates that actually show action and preventative measures instead of reaction which the FL DEP seems to only know. Since everything runs on money let’s evaluate DEP personnel salaries on meeting action items or no lip service and hold this division accountable for their actions and lack of actions.
Amazing reporting, Erin and Suzanne. Very grateful for your authoritative voice. Keep it up!
I am a consultant hired to assess the major risks facing the state of Florida— water quality is my primary concern! Eager to connect.
I am a small resort manager on Clearwater Beach. I need to tell you, after asking many business owners, locals, and visitors alike, what they know about why this red tide bloom is so bad, NONE of them know anything about it. The most common response is "the water is warmer this year" and "peple putting fertilizer on their lawns". They dont know what a phosphate is, or that there are even mines. Some mention Piney point dumped dirty water a few years back. But when asked what piney point is, they think it is a water treatment plant. TAMPA NEWS DOES NOT REPORT PHOSPHATE MINING! And even THIS report fails to mention the name MOSAIC. Erin, come on...there is sooooo much more. WE HAVE OVER 700 DEAD MANATEES THIS YEAR! It is not just Piney Point...that one is closed. MOSAIC has local commercials on TV saying that they are "good for the environment". MOSAIC is currently creating 27 Piney Points all around Tampa Bay right now!! There should be demonstrations! Picketing! And people hancuffing themselves to fences with the same force as they did the Dakota Pipeline!! Why is this not happening? Because noone knows enough about it!! I feel like a tiny tiny voice screaming from the bottom of a pit!! Why are we not freaking out?? Why can a pipeline get national attention and 700 dead manatees gets crickets?? Why is no one saying anything about MOSAIC???