So the word discharge or discharges are frequently used when talking about our water problems. Its important to break down this term for all our Kidz to understand.
What are discharges?
- The definition of discharges is the rate of fluid flow passing a given point at a given moment in time, expressed as volume per unit of time, such as cubic foot per second
or
- In its simplest concept discharge means outflow; therefore, the use of this term is not restricted as to course or location, and it can be applied to describe the flow of water from a pipe or from a drainage basin. If the discharge occurs in some course or channel, it is correct to speak of the discharge of a canal or of a river. It is also correct to speak of the discharge of a canal or stream into a lake, a stream, or an ocean.
This is a Hydrological term in conjunction to Hydrology.
Hydrology is the science dealing with the occurrence, circulation, distribution, and properties of the waters of the earth and its atmosphere.
So why do discharges occur?There are many explanations to that question. One main reason is due to public safety and concern. Currently we see the discharges from Lake Okeechobee because of the dangers it poses to the dikes surrounding the lake. If the lakes get too high, the levee could break and millions of lives would be in danger of flooding. We saw a similar scenario play out during the 1928 hurricane. The hurricane caused the lake to overfill and the dike to collapse causing severe flooding south of the lake and also to small portion to the north of the lake.
You can see in the picture to the right, the flooded damaged areas.
Since then lots of money has gone into repairing the dikes and keeping them secure so this kind of disaster does not take place again.
Fast forwarding to today, this is the reason we see the summer discharges here. These discharges are very important to the residents near the lake.
Now to the bad news, Lake Okeechobee or "The Big O" is known to have lots of potentially harmful and dangerous chemicals in it. This is due to watershed from around the lake and high levels of fertilizers, phosphorus and animal waste (from cattle farms). This all eventually flushes down from both "The Big O" and the Kissimmee Basin. When the discharges occur, billions of gallons of this fresh water that is full of pollutants is flushed both into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee River (west coast river). What makes our issues so unique, the Caloosahatchee needs some of this water to keep the salinity level from going too high (of course, without the chemicals). The St. Lucie can NOT afford to take any of the Lake Okeechobee fresh water.
This was said in Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch blog, the Martin Counties River Kidz organizer.
Fast forwarding to today, this is the reason we see the summer discharges here. These discharges are very important to the residents near the lake.
Now to the bad news, Lake Okeechobee or "The Big O" is known to have lots of potentially harmful and dangerous chemicals in it. This is due to watershed from around the lake and high levels of fertilizers, phosphorus and animal waste (from cattle farms). This all eventually flushes down from both "The Big O" and the Kissimmee Basin. When the discharges occur, billions of gallons of this fresh water that is full of pollutants is flushed both into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee River (west coast river). What makes our issues so unique, the Caloosahatchee needs some of this water to keep the salinity level from going too high (of course, without the chemicals). The St. Lucie can NOT afford to take any of the Lake Okeechobee fresh water.
This was said in Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch blog, the Martin Counties River Kidz organizer.
"Salinity is a delicate and important part of a healthy estuary. Generally short lived fresh water releases during heavy rains by our local canals are bad enough, but long term dumping of Lake Okeechobee releases on top of that, is certain death. It must stop."
If you click here you can read additional reasoning why even just CLEAN fresh water is very bad for our lagoon, let alone fresh water full of chemicals.
Many of the adult advocates are advocating many solutions to keep both the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee River free from these discharges while ensuring families south of the lake are too safe.
(photo courtesy of www.florida-backroads-travel.com)
One thing is for sure, the pollution going into these waterways has to stop. The water must go south so our rivers can attempt to rebound from decades of destruction. There is a great plan on the table that allows the water to naturally flow through the Everglades through the river of grass where it is filtrated and cleaned and then flushed naturally out to sea. The sad problem is there is too many gross chemicals in the water to send it south.
We have a lot of work to do, as you can see. With your help though, we can continue to advocate clean waters whether that come in the form of beach cleanups, event demonstration or just talking about ways we all can make a difference.
I hope everyone enjoyed this blog today and our Kidz are aware of just what discharges are.
Dike: a long wall or embankment built to prevent flooding from the sea.
Salinity: is the saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water
Advocate: publicly recommend or support
Filtrated: the action or process of filtering something.("small particles are difficult to remove without filtration")
Dike: a long wall or embankment built to prevent flooding from the sea.
Salinity: is the saltiness or dissolved salt content of a body of water
Advocate: publicly recommend or support
Filtrated: the action or process of filtering something.("small particles are difficult to remove without filtration")
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