CLEWISTON, FL - September 12, 2007 - Dealing with increased phosphorus loading in irrigation water from Lake Okeechobee, more than triple expected levels as a result of multiple hurricane and drought damage, farmers in the Everglades Agricultural Area announced that they have reduced phosphorus levels by 18% for the water year ending April 30, 2007. 

While increased phosphorus levels in Lake Okeechobee have impacted recent reductions as farmers relied heavily on lake water during the drought, the farmers’ Best Management Practices (BMPs) have averaged 50% phosphorus reductions since the clean-up program began.

“It should come as no surprise that the same terrible quality water that has devastated Lake Okeechobee, devastated the coastal estuaries and damaged several Stormwater Treatment Areas now has undermined farmers’ success in cleaning water moving south,” said Judy Sanchez, director of corporate communications.

“Lake water that measured 80 ppb when the phosphorus reduction program began averaged nearly 200 ppb last year, making it extremely difficult for the on-farm practices to overcome the high Lake Okeechobee levels of phosphorus,” Sanchez said. 

The farmers’ Best Management Program (BMP) is based on a formula that compares “pre-BMP” baseline phosphorus levels with levels in the current water year.  According to South Florida Water Management District data, irrigation water supplied to the farms from Lake Okeechobee contained only 30 tons of phosphorus during the base period of 1980-1988.  This past year, it contained 98 tons.  However, compared to a pre-BMP average of 233 metric tons of phosphorus per year leaving the basin, only 150 tons were discharged from the farming area including the nearly 100 metric tons taken in from Lake Okeechobee.