Mystery fish kill in lower keys, spinning fish, massive die off of endangered sawfish:

http://www.local10.com/news/lo...ath-toll-rises-to-32/

I learned this year that the keys are littered with shallow wastewater injection wells. That's how they dispose of wastewater after very basic treatment that doesn't remove nutrients, so no surprise that algae is taking over and killing everything.

Do your part, plant natives, stop fertilizing, support initiatives to phase out septic, improve wastewater treatment systems, and reduce stormwater runoff.

^Yes^. And to keep it simple in order of cost: 1) Don't fertilize. Costs nothing (saves) and sitting here on the surf forum you're already doing it. Keep it up. 2) Support upgrades to wastewater treatment especially for reuse water. Lower nitrogen and phosphorus standards and requirements. 3) Where practical, connect septic to (upgraded) sewer. It ain't rocket math folks.

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add a signature since I'm here in profile anyway

The Keys were supposed to have gotten an elaborate, wildliy expensive sewage system.

They've been building that system down there in the upper Keys for over 2 decades that I was privy to ~~

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ola ~

Edited: 04/04/2024 at 02:33 PM by equipeola

"privy". Well played.

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add a signature since I'm here in profile anyway

They made everyone in the lower keys hook up to the central sewer system and abandon their septic and injection wells. Nobody knows for sure yet what is causing the fish kills. I am heading down end of the month and hope it doesn't get worse. Seems to be just affecting inshore waters and have not heard of any fish on the reefs or offshore dying or spinning.

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I don't think we spend very much on environmental things in Florida. In the last budget it was less than one percent. Here is to hoping the new one tries a little harder.

Well, so much for that.

http://www.floridamuseum.ufl.e...e-legislative-session/

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I was right.

Requiring abandonment of septic tanks and connection to a central wastewater treatment system is the right thing to do, except when the wastewater treatment plant disposes effluent via shallow injection wells.
10 of the 13 wastewater treatment plants in the keys dispose excess effluent using shallow injection wells.
I am not a geologist but that key largo limestone and Miami oolite the keys are floating on is likely nearly as transmissive as the biscayne aquifer, with tidal channels... flush, straight to the bays and reefs