# Stop Poisoning Florida Act

This bill is about stopping the Army Corps of Engineers from releasing water out of Lake Okeechobee when that water contains dangerous levels of toxic algae. Lake Okeechobee is Florida's largest freshwater lake, and when the Corps releases water from it through two specific dam structures (called S-308 and S-80), that water flows into nearby rivers and coastal areas where people fish, swim, and get their drinking water.

The problem the bill addresses is that Lake Okeechobee sometimes gets contaminated with microcystins, which are toxins produced by harmful algal blooms. These blooms happen when excess nutrients get into the water, causing algae to grow out of control. When microcystins get into the water at high enough levels, they can make people sick—causing rashes, stomach problems, and respiratory issues. The Environmental Protection Agency has set safety guidelines for how much of this toxin is safe for people to be around in recreational waters. Right now, the Corps can release water even when it exceeds these safety levels, which means the contamination spreads downstream to areas where Floridians live, work, and recreate.

Under this bill, the Corps would be required to test the water in Lake Okeechobee and stop releasing it through those dam structures whenever the microcystin levels exceed what the EPA considers safe. The testing could be done by the Corps itself, other federal agencies, or the State of Florida. Essentially, it's a safety valve that prevents toxic water from being deliberately sent into areas where people depend on clean water. For everyday Floridians, this means better protection for swimming areas, fishing spots, and drinking water sources, particularly in communities downstream from Lake Okeechobee.

Stop Poisoning Florida Act

Mast, Brian J.

Stop Poisoning Florida Act This bill requires the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to prohibit certain discharges of water from Lake Okeechobee, which is Florida's largest freshwater lake. Specifically, the USACE must prohibit discharges of water from the lake through the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam or the St. Lucie Lock and Dam when the water exceeds the maximum concentration of microcystins (a toxin that is produced by blue-green algae) recommended for recreational waters by the Environmental Protection Agency.