Cloudy Waters, Clear Concerns: How Lake Okeechobee Discharges are Impacting Stuart’s Local Businesses

Diver Russell Singson, the owner of Barracuda Dive Service in Stuart, is facing a decline in business due to the murky waters caused by discharges from Lake Okeechobee. The water has become so cloudy that visibility has decreased significantly, making it difficult for his team to clean boats efficiently. This has resulted in smaller paychecks as they are unable to service as many boats in a day.

Singson shared that sometimes they have had to completely take off work because the water is so murky that they can’t see anything underwater. About 50 boats are currently waiting for cleaning services, putting a strain on the business. In response to the unclear water, Singson and his team are taking extra precautions with sanitation after diving to avoid infections.

At At The Helm Training, located down the St. Lucie River, operations manager Nancy Husk expressed concern about the impact of the discharges on their bookings for trainings. Customers are apprehensive about being in the water due to concerns about water cleanliness, especially after recalling the severe algae bloom in 2018.

Husk hopes that the Army Corps of Engineers will adjust their approach to releasing water which may help alleviate some of the impact on local businesses such as Barracuda Dive Service and her own training center At The Helm Training. Both Singson and Husk expressed their concerns about the economic and environmental implications of ongoing discharges from Lake Okeechobee and hope for positive change soon.

In summary, both Russell Singson’s Barracuda Dive Service and Nancy Husk’s At The Helm Training are facing challenges due to murky waters resulting from discharges from Lake Okeechobee. While Singson’s team is taking extra precautions with sanitation after diving, Husk is hoping that customers will feel more comfortable with training once again if there are changes made to how water is released from Lake Okeechobee by Army Corps of Engineers.