Big Sugar - Culprit
Billion Dollar Sugar Industry
Big sugar isn't the only problem; it's the biggest one. The industry pollutes, hoards fresh drinking water, takes taxpayer subsidies, corrupts regulators, and warps public opinion through deceptive advertising practices.
Pollution - Agricultural fertilizer is the single most significant contributor to toxic algae blooms, bacteria, and pesticides in the waters of Lake Okeechobee, causing disease and destruction downstream.
Hoards Fresh Water - In the guise of stormwater management, the sugar farmers have taken $50 million of taxpayer money to construct freshwater reservoirs - freshwater that should be used to replenish Miami's drinking water. Further, the Army Corps of Engineers has taken $2 Billion of federal money to reinforce the Hoover Dike, the wall that prevents Lake O water from going south as nature planned.
Corrupts Regulators - Sugar firms lobby current regulators with promises of big-dollar employment upon departure from agencies like the South West Florida Water Management District, Environmental Protection, and Fish and Wildlife. Don't bite the hand that feeds.
Warping public opinion - through multi-million dollar advertising programs which use paid "expert opinions" to foist the blame for water-based public health issues onto others