Water-quality gear to test river
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007703040394
Since the very wet rainy seasons of 2004 and 2005,
nutrient-rich freshwater discharges from the lake have been blamed for a number
of environmental problems, including frequent and massive micro- and macroalgal
blooms in the river and southern Pine Island Sound.
Among other tasks, the LOBOs, which were developed at the
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, will measure nutrients, salinity,
tannins, dissolved oxygen, temperature, turbidity and chlorophyll.
"This is an opportunity to give the community and
resource managers a window into the scientific process," Milbrandt said.
"And scientists will be able to use it for any research they have in
mind."
"There are freshwater discharges from multiple sources,
and with continuous data, we'll be better able to predict some of the things
that are surprises now," Milbrandt said. "Also, if you're planning to
go fishing in the Caloosahatchee, and you know where an algal bloom is, you can
go around that area."
If fishermen really want to get technical, they can find
what's called the estuary turbidity maximum, an ever-shifting area in an
estuary with elevated levels of suspended organic matter that supports
plankton, which is the basis of the food web. So, note to fishermen: An estuary turbidity maximum, which
has a salinity of 10 to 15 parts per thousand, can be a very fishy place.
When algae started taking over the Caloosahatchee and lower
Pine Island Sound, Southwest Floridians pointed fingers at water managers and
Lake Okeechobee discharges as the only problem; public workshops were held;
local politicians threatened to sue the federal government and South Florida
Water Management District; The News-Press initiated a Stop the Muck campaign.
One detail was missing: data.
"In the long run, it's absolutely necessary that we address these issues. Water quality will not improve until we do."