Algae makes news

This is Paul Janensch with a Treasure Coast Essay about the attention given by the national news media to the emergency facing the Indian River Lagoon.  Both the PBS NewsHour and The New York Times recently did in-depth reports on the toxic algae blooms that starve the lagoon’s plant life and threaten the entire marine ecosystem.  The PBS story was done with the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting.   It noted two problems – polluted fresh-water discharges from Lake Okeechobee and drainage from septic tanks.  The Times story said fertilizer run-off from agriculture and global warming are also to blame for algae here and elsewhere.  It’s nice to have big-league news outlets recognize our lagoon for its bio-diversity.  I wish what they report could be positive and not scary.  I’m Paul Janensch.