The fresh water coursing to the ocean blows the salt water out of the rivers, threatening the survival of ocean species that live in the brackish inland waters. El Nino's rains throughout Central and South Florida have filled the lake 4 feet above normal. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, trying to lower the lake before hurricane season starts so residents won't face flood danger, is releasing 4 billion gallons of fresh water a day into the rivers. Mullet and several species of ocean fish began turning up with sores, tumors and lesions March 2. Scientists have identified a microscopic algae, Cryptoperidiniopsis, that was found in the St. Johns River during a similar outbreak of fish lesions last year.
Fishermen complain the fresh water has flushed game fish from the rivers.
Pelicans and other birds are dying of starvation and some have been found with lesions. Health officials have warned people not to eat or handle the sick fish or swim in waters where they're found. Anchored less than a mile from the St. Lucie Inlet one day last week, sixth-graders from Stuart Middle School worked with Bailey, Stuart Middle School teacher Lois Lynch and Rick Binder, who captains the center's boat, the Sea Scout. The group used a special net to try to gather plankton samples, carefully disinfecting their hands after contact with the waters. Binder held up the clear vial at the bottom of the net.