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Eutrophication: a process where water bodies receive excess nutrients that stimulate excessive
plant growth
Quick facts
http://www.a-guide-to-florida-bass-fishing.com/lake-okeechobee.html
eutrophication due to population growth and agricultural and urban development (Havens).
Due to the shallow waters and warm year round temperatures, the lake is greatly affected by
wind (Havens)
Economic significance of Okeechobee
The lake supports recreational and commercial fishing that is valued at over $100 million
(Havens)
South Florida is rapidly growing in population as the population is more than 4 million (Havens)
In the 1920s, the lake had problems with flooding This led to the Army Corps of Engineers to
construct a system of dikes, gates, pumps, and canals (Havens).
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional/lake-o-flushing-draws-anger-over-estuary-destructi/nZJCC/
In the 1970s the lake saw a levels of phosphorus and nitrogen double (Havens)
In 1979, routine pumping of nitrogen-rich into the lake from the Everglades Agricultural
Area for flood control purposes was drastically reduced (Havens).
In the 1980s, massive algal blooms and a declined water quality spurred intense public
pressure to improve the lakes condition (Havens)
Also in the 1980s, through the Rural Clean Waters Program, a series of phosphorus
controls were implemented (Havens).
As a result of these practices, phosphorus runoffs from agricultural sites around the
lake has drastically decreased
North of the lake, and hydrologically upstream, cattle and dairy farms import over 5900 tons
into the watershed as feed and fertilizer (Havens).
46 dolphins, 111 manatees, and 300 pelicans died due to this (McCorquodale)
47,000 acres of sea grass beds were also killed (McCorquodale)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/02/lake-okeechobee-pollution_n_4031154.html
Works Cited
"Facts about Okeechobee." Facts about Okeechobee. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.
<http://lakeokeechobee.tripod.com/okeechobee/id1.html>.
Havens, Karl E. "Rapid Ecological Changes in a Large Subtropical Lake Undergoing Cultural
Eutrophication." Ambio 25.3 (1996): 150-55. JSTOR. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/4314445?ref=no-xroute:67e8ff0648d2a7b62a77261fe46822ea>.
McCorquodale, Amanda. "Devastating Photos Of Florida Pollution Will Fill You With
Rage. "The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 2 Oct. 2013. Web. 4 Nov. 2014.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/02/lake-okeechobeepollution_n_4031154.html>.