Toxic blue-green algae. Lake O discharges. Pollution. Run-off. The list of challenges facing the North Fork of the St. Lucie River – which passes through Port St. Lucie – seems endless.
Nevertheless, despite the river’s constant struggle to provide a safe haven for fish, birds and plants, environmentalists appear optimistic.
“It’s such a lovely, lovely place,” said Dr. Gary Goforth, who was asked to speak on the State of the North Fork by the Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County and Oxbow Eco-Center last week.
He used his invitation to give the lecture as an excuse to launch his kayak and paddle the river for inspiration. It’s an activity he said he hopes all “fellow river warriors” will take advantage of, despite the river’s deteriorating water quality.
It’s that water quality that Goforth and the Florida Oceanographic Society have been tracking. Each week they release the latest quality report; at the time of his lecture, the overall quality of the St. Lucie River was a strong B+ — or “good.”
Last week, Feb. 14, the overall water quality improved slightly to an A-. The North Fork, though, remained a solid B from the C-23 canal north. The water temperature is 72 degrees with a pH between 7.4 and 8.1, fair visibility, and good salinity and dissolved oxygen levels.
It’s this kind of detail that gives Goforth a reason to be optimistic. Knowing the minute details helps researchers and scientists dig into what’s causing the issues, and work to identify ways to mitigate them.
The North Fork watershed spans an area of more than 327,000 acres, according to Goforth. And in that area, the bulk of the pollution comes from agricultural land. Natural areas come in next for pollution sources, followed by urban areas.
What pollution precisely is coming from agricultural lands remains to be determined, Goforth said, noting that his research data doesn’t make a distinction between cattle-land, crop fields, citrus groves or fallow property.
The doctor noted that some have been surprised to see that agricultural property – and not developed, urban areas – tops the list of polluters
He explained that much of the urban pollution has been addressed given the passage of fertilizer ordinances and the conversion of septic systems to sewer.
One of the biggest challenges to the North Fork remains the discharges from Lake Okeechobee, according to Goforth. He explained that the tidal action on the river forces dirty Lake O water from the South Fork into the North Fork. Lake O is “horribly polluted and getting worse,” he said. “It is not improving.”
What gives this scientist hope is the proposed bill in the Florida House that would allocate $2 million for North Fork floodplain restoration. The project would help reconnect portions of the watershed that had been separated due to development. “That’s great news,” Goforth said.
The other reason he’s optimistic about the North Fork’s future health is the public. Over the decades, he’s seen what can happen when concerned citizens get involved and get active on the grassroots level. “It does work,” he said, “but it’s frustrating at times.”
That frustration comes in the form of the time needed to get government officials to do what is best for the environment and, at the same time, keep the public engaged.
To that end, he recommends even tentative “river warriors” visit the Florida Oceanographic Society’s website, www.FloridaOcean.org, to learn more about the St. Lucie River and other Florida waterways.
River-goers are also encouraged to call the Florida Department of Environmental Protection or South Florida Water Management District to inquire about current water quality stats for specific areas as well as to report observations of pollution.
The local FDEP office can be reached at 772-871-7662 while the local SFWMD office is at 772-223-2600.