In 2016 a toxic algae bloom that could be seen from space had expanded from Lake
Okeechobee all through the St. Lucie River estuary to the Atlantic Ocean. This all began
when the Army Corps of Engineers released the excess water in Lake Okeechobee that
contained an excess of nutrients due to runoff of fertilization and human waste. Lake
Okeechobee is only 9 to 12 feet deep, so the Army Corps of Engineers try to keep the level
of water anywhere from 12.5 to 15.5 feet deep to prevent flooding, stress on dikes, and
overflowing. When they released the water from the Lake, that already contained these blue–
green algae blooms, it allowed it to spread and impact other places like: Stuart Beach, St.
Lucie Estuary and the treasure coast area. Ecosystems that were affected by this outbreak
were the beaches, connected rivers, bays, mangroves, and the estuary as mentioned
previously. This caused a movement of animals and their habitats as they tried to find a
place with better water quality. This poor water quality contained dangerous toxins that
killed and/or distressed animals and put humans at risk as toxins may affect the
gastrointestinal system, the liver, the nervous system, and the epidermis. Fish and plants are
not typically able to survive in this algae because it suffocates them which results in fish
the economy and our beautiful state and animals.