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What's really 'fueling' harmful algae in Florida's lake Okeechobee?

ScienceDaily
Summary
Nutrition label

79% Informative

Historically, Lake Okeechobee was thought to be impaired only by phosphorus, focusing efforts on reducing agricultural runoff.

New study shows that toxic algal blooms also are driven by rising nitrogen levels from human waste and urban runoff.

Increased nitrogen, worsened by extreme rainfall, significantly fuels bloom severity.

Findings underscore the need for integrated nutrient management and improved wastewater treatment to protect the lake.

Higher nutrients in Caloosahatchee River Estuary and St. Lucie Estuary enhanced bloom formations in those locations.

The biggest blooms were observed in the Pahokee Marina and Cape Coral , which were strongly affected by human waste.

"When water and Microcystis is released from Lake Okeechobee into the estuaries, the growth response is like 'Miracle Grow'.

VR Score

90

Informative language

98

Neutral language

38

Article tone

formal

Language

English

Language complexity

67

Offensive language

not offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

long-living

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no external sources

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