One of the odd things about the current debate over what are called “numeric nutrient standards” is that to hear the political bluster, you’d think this move to curb water pollution came out of nowhere.

That’s simply not true.

The warning predates even the most primitive pollution regulations in this state.

I’m referring to a 1953 paper titled “Dissolved Phosphorous in Florida Waters,” which was written by the late Howard Odum, a longtime biology professor at the University of Florida as a report to the Florida Geologic Survey.

When you hear the term “numeric nutrient levels,” the nutrients involved are phosphorous and nitrogen.

Odum’s study involved cataloguing water quality around the state to provide us with a snapshot of water quality in various Florida lakes and streams more than half a century ago.

But just as important were his observations on what the numbers meant.

This part of Florida is rich in naturally occurring phosphorous, which is why phosphate mining occurs here.

Odum discussed the pitfalls of allowing significant amounts of phosphorous pollution to flow into lakes and rivers that were already receiving naturally occurring phosphorous.

“If the phosphate going down the rivers into the coastal areas in large amounts is increasing due to the expansion of industry and population, further examination must be made to determine whether the general fertility of some coastal waters is being increased and whether or not this is following desirable lines or is producing undesirable products.’’

What he was talking about here is red tide, an algae bloom that causes fish kills and drives away tourists, hurting coastal economies.

He’s careful to point out that red tide outbreaks are the result of a number of factors (recent research adds iron from Saharan dust clouds as one of those), but adds “certainly adequate phosphorous is a prerequisite.”

One interesting part of Odum’s paper is that it’s clear that scientists were pointing the finger at nutrient pollution as a contributing cause of red tide outbreaks as long ago as the 1940s.

In those days, pollution was unregulated as long as sit didn’t cause a public health problem such as a cholera outbreak or something.

Bartow and Fort Meade sewer plants emptied into the Peace River directly. Winter Haven, Auburndale, Lakeland and Lake Wales’ plants emptied into the river indirectly.

Citrus plants and fertilizer plants used public water bodies for dumping grounds, too, and over the years the nutrients accumulated.

In the meantime, even though the pollution regulations improved, the number of sources of pollution increased as natural areas were paved over for more and more new homes, shopping centers, parking lots, roads and other pollution sources to accommodate a Florida population that has increased sixfold since Odum’s research.

What it all comes down to is a basic proposition.

The more pollution that’s allowed to be dumped into lakes and rivers, the worse things get.

Yes, I hear that some water bodies are cleaner today than they once were, but that doesn’t mean they’re that clean. Meanwhile, many formerly clear water bodies have turned into algae soup.

State environmental officials and polluters have criticized the federal approach as “one size fits all.”

Environmentalists and federal regulators are uncomfortable with Florida’s approach, which looks at times like an episode of “Let’s Make A Deal,” minus the costumes.

The reality, of course, is much more complicated.

There are calculations of what is technically possible and even, I suppose, whether an estuary or a river or a lake are worth cleaning up and, if so, how clean is clean enough.

This won’t be cheap, though the price tag is still a subject or great debate (more on that in a future column).

The reality, though, as we were told more than half a century ago, if you keep dumping crap into the system, there are consequences.

We should conduct ourselves accordingly.


Volunteers will be planting native trees and removing exotic plants at Circle B Bar Reserve from 9 to 11 a.m. April 21 in observance of Earth Day.

This is part of an ongoing habitat restoration project to reintroduce native plants that were removed to accommodate the cattle ranch that formerly occupied the property.

If you’d like to help, contact Keeli Carlton-Carmichael at keelicarlton@polk-county.net.

But it’s not all work. There will be a tram ride, a night hike and other activities on April 21 and 22, but you have to sign up as soon as possible to participate.

For details, go to http://www.polknature.com/calendar.aspx and check it regularly for upcoming events.