Walking with the Alligators

Walking with the Alligators
A Florida Alligator

May 22, 2011

Okeechobee is Hurting

Lake Okeechobee is at a seriously dangerous level right now.
It is so low, in fact that farmers may have to cut deep if South Florida wants to keep water flowing out of their faucets.
The current drought and years of wasted water have brought this once magnificent body of water, only one of two in the U.S. that can be seen from space, to its knees.
So much depends on this Lake, it is nearly incomprehensible that any one could be allowed to waste a single drop of it, but waste it they do, every single day.
There are many who are guilty of robbing Okeechobee of its lifeblood:
U.S. Sugar, Former Governors, endless companies and so many others who just keep taking, never giving a thought to what their greed is doing to Florida's well being.
Not only Endangered Wildlife, but the Everglades Ecosystem, go on life support when deprived of Okeechobee's constant fresh supply of life giving water.
Another factor in the low water levels is that very few hurricanes have made land fall in South Florida recently.
Although they cause much widespread damage throughout the area, they also replenish the Lake and the Everglades.
It is a double edged sword.
Everything in this area is totally dependant on Okeechobee to survive, two Ecosystems and all manner of man and beast.
But too much or too little water and the whole area becomes dysfunctional, nothing works in harmony anymore and all suffer.
To survive, we must all be in balance with one another.
What is the line from Avatar?
"They killed their Mother."

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