Blue-Green Algae Awareness

EARLIER THIS YEAR. WGCU >> BROUGHT YOU THIS STORY ON A RARE WINTER TIME BLUE GREEN ALGAE BLOOM THAT IMPACTED. >> A 35 MILE STRETCH OF THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER. WELL, BLUE GREEN ALGAE ALONG THIS AREA IS PRETTY COMMON, ESPECIALLY DURING THE WARMER SUMMER MONTHS. THIS PREVIOUS CITING LACKED ANY NOTIFICATIONS DESPITE THE HEALTH RISKS TO PEOPLE AND THEIR PETS POSED BY THE ALGAE. THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DID NOT POST ANY WARNINGS TO THE PUBLIC OR ON THEIR REPORTING SURROUNDING BLUE GREEN ALGAE. WE ARE JOINED BY SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER TOM BAYLISS. AND TOM, WE HAVE ALL BEEN FOLLOWING YOUR REPORTING ON THESE RECENT OUTBREAKS FOR MONTHS. AND I AM SURPRISED TO LEARN THERE HAS STILL BEEN NO RESPONSE FROM STATE OFFICIALS. ABSOLUTELY NONE. IT IS TRULY AMAZING. >> BACK ON VALENTINE'S DAY, RESIDENTS ALONG THE UPPER REACHES OF THE CALOOSAHATCHEE WOKE UP THAT MORNING TO FIND WATER HAD TURNED DARK GREEN FROM THE FRANKLIN LOCKS NEAR ALVA ALL THE WAY NORTHEAST TO MOORE HAVEN WHERE THE RIVERS STARTS AT OKEECHOBEE. HIS HEAD. WYATT AND IT WAS THE EASY PART. DROUGHT LOWERED THE RIVER, SLOWING THE FLOW, SHALLOW WATER WARMS FASTER AND COMBINED WITH THE RIVERS, CHRONIC NUTRIENT POLLUTION. BLUE GREEN ALGAE AT EVERYTHING IT NEEDED TO TURN INTO A HARMFUL BLOOM. FAR HARDER TO FIND WERE ANSWERS AS TO WHY NO STATE AGENCY WARNED RESIDENTS IN OR NEAR THE CALOOSAHATCHEE IN LEVY, ANDREW AND GLADES COUNTIES. THEN A BIG BLOOM OF HARMFUL BLUE-GREEN ALGAE WAS COATING THE RIVER. >> THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT. >> SHARE WATER, QUALITY DUTIES THROUGHOUT THE CALOOSAHATCHEE REGION, INCLUDING TESTING FOR HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS. WHEN DISCOVERED IT'S THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S RESPONSIBILITY TO WARN AREA RESIDENTS. THEN A TOXIC SUBSTANCE IS IN THE WATER. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ALSO HAS STANDING DIRECTIONS WARNING PEOPLE TO STAY OUT OF THE WATER. WHEN BLUE-GREEN ALGAE IS PRESENT. AND THE AGENCY ROUTINELY ISSUES PRESS RELEASES AND POSTS WARNING SIGNS WHEN THE ALGAE CONTAMINATES A CANAL OFF THE CALOOSAHATCHEE. SO WHY DIDN'T THE AGENCY INFORMED THE PUBLIC WHEN THE HARMFUL ALGAE FILLED THE RIVER ITSELF? WHY DIDN'T ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OR THE WATER DISTRICT? WGCU ASKED ALL 3 AGENCIES FOR ANSWERS REPEATEDLY FOR WEEKS CALLS WEREN'T RETURNED. EMAILS WERE ANSWERED. GETTING NOWHERE 4 MONTHS AGO I SENT EACH AGENCY ONE OF THESE PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST ASKING FOR BASIC INFORMATION ON THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO HANDLE COLLECTING WATER, QUALITY READINGS AND WARNING THE PUBLIC WHEN SOMETHING'S WRONG. AND THIS IS A LEGAL DOCUMENT. CHAPTER ONE, 19 AND THE FLORIDA STATUTES SAYS PROVIDING INFORMATION REQUESTED BY THOSE ALSO CALLED A SUNSHINE LAW REQUEST. IT'S NOT VOLUNTARY. BARBARA PETERSEN FROM THE FLORIDA CENTER FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY MAKES IT CLEAR PUBLIC AGENCIES DO NOT HAVE THE OPTION TO IGNORE THE PUBLIC'S QUESTIONS. >> IT'S A FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF LAW, FLAGRANT VIOLATION LAW. THERE'S A PROVISION IN CHAPTER ONE, 19 THAT REQUIRES AGENCIES TO RESPOND TO PUBLIC RECORDS PROMPTLY AND IN GOOD FACE. THEY THEN HAVE A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME TO PRODUCE THE RECORDS. THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED BY LAW TO IGNORE YOU OR TO IGNORE YOUR REQUEST. >> PETERSON HAS BEEN LEADING OPEN RECORDS ORGANIZATIONS FOR DECADES. >> TO IGNORE YOUR REQUEST IS A CRIMINAL ACT. IF YOU'VE MADE THAT REQUEST IN MARCH, YOU'VE GONE BACK TO THEM PRESUMABLY MORE THAN ONCE. THAT IS AN INTENTIONAL VIOLATION OF THE LAW. IN MY OPINION. >> IN THIS CASE, IT COULD BE A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH. SCIENTISTS ARE STILL LEARNING ABOUT THE TOXINS IN BLUE-GREEN ALGAE. BUT WHAT IS KNOWN IS SOBERING AND WORTHY OF WARNINGS. BLOOM CAN AND DOES KILL FAMILY DOGS, LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL TOXINS FOUND THAT SOME BLUE GREEN ALGAE CAN DAMAGE BRAIN CELLS. SCIENTISTS ARE STUDYING WHETHER YEARS OF REPEATED EXPOSURE MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF ALZHEIMER'S, PARKINSON'S AND ALS. >> THE TOM, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF NONE OF THESE AGENCIES RESPOND? >> WITHOUT SOMEONE FORCING THE ISSUE AGENCIES LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH MEAN NUMBER FULLY ADVISE THE PUBLIC WHEN THEY SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM BLUE. GREEN ALGAE OR ANY OTHER ACTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT. SO WE ALL KNOW WHEN IT IS AND WHEN IT IS UNSAFE TO GO SWIMMING, FISHING OR CAMPING. >> ARE THERE ANY OTHER OPTIONS THAT JOURNALIST HAVE AS THEY'RE TRYING TO GET INFORMATION LIKE THIS? >> EITHER THE DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH OR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OR OR THE WATER DISTRICT COME THROUGH WITH THE COMPLETED RECORDS, WGCU'S NEXT OPTION IS TO PURSUE THE INFORMATION LEGALLY. PETERSON SAID HER AGENCIES AND WON SEVERAL PUBLIC RECORD. LEGAL SKIRMISHES. BUT BECAUSE WHEN THE PUBLIC WINDS, THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY HAS TO PAY THE LEGAL FEES FOR THE REQUESTER AND THE PAY THOSE WITH TAX DOLLARS LEAVING SOME VICTORIES A LITTLE HOLLOW. THANK YOU, TOM, FOR STAYING ON TOP OF THIS. I'M SURE YOU'LL. >> KEEP US UPDATED. SALUTE. THANKS, TOM. THANK YOU TO. >> YOU CAN KEEP UP WITH ALL OF