TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Rick Scott and Sen. Marco Rubio are pushing President Obama to declare a federal state of emergency over water discharges from Lake Okeechobee.
The lake releases have led to blue-green algae in east coast waterways and murky brown water near the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River in Lee County. Lee is one of four counties for which Scott declared a state-level state of emergency last week, along with Martin, St. Lucie and Palm Beach counties.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reduced lake flows Friday but said in a press release Thursday afternoon that they would not further decrease the flows.
Scott is also seeking legislative assistance in the creation of a grant program to help homeowners who want to switch from septic tanks to central sewer systems.