While many eyes are focused on the continuation of the “battle of the bridge” in central Florida, the next big step in battling blue-green algae blooms in Lake Erie is about to be revealed.

With much media fanfare last week, the high-speed Brightline trains began running from Miami to Orlando. Marine interests have been embroiled in a battle against the Florida East Coast Railroad and Brightline, which initially demanded heavy restrictions on boating traffic that must pass under a low railroad bridge (about 6 feet of clearance in down position) on the Okeechobee Waterway near Stuart. The Okeechobee cuts across central Florida and connect the state’s east and west coasts.

After meetings and input, the Coast Guard ruled that the bridge must kept in the up position for 30 minutes each hour to allow for navigation. Brightline had originally demanded the bridge be in the down position for 45 minutes an hour, essentially wiping out any reasonable navigation. I should note that the compromise order is temporary.

“The ultimate solution is a new replacement railroad bridge,” says John Good, executive director of the Marine Industries Association of Southwest Florida and Tampa Bay. “We’re joining with many other concerned businesses and community leaders along the Okeechobee now pushing for the new bridge. But it can’t happen as fast as we’d like.”

Estimates are that replacement would take 51 months — 48 to design, permit and construct the new bridge, and three to dismantle the old one. Experts say design could begin as soon as early next year, with construction starting no sooner than summer of 2025. The project likely would be completed by early 2028, a timeline characterized as “very aggressive.”

Of course, there’s another catch — around $218 million to pay for the project The city of Stuart, the Florida East Coast Railway, Brightline and Florida Inland Navigation District are seeking a $130 million “Mega” grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation.

At the moment, the parties appear to be cooperating in the push for a new bridge. Early plans call for a bridge with 15 feet of vertical and 90 feet of horizontal clearance, though some are calling for more vertical clearance.

“Any way you look at it, the current negative economic impact on marine businesses, communities and boat owners from both Florida coasts is unquestionable,” Good says. “While we surely applaud the Coast Guard’s decision to demand equal navigation, we’re striving for a best solution ahead.”

Ohio’s Algae Reduction Plan

Just under a court-set Sept. 30 deadline, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last week approved Ohio’s plan to reduce the amount of phosphorus flowing from the Maumee River into Lake Erie’s western basin, the primary trigger for the annual green slime invasion endured by boaters and residents for more than two decades.

A consent decree was issued late last year by U.S. District Judge James Carr following a lawsuit filed by the Environmental Law & Policy Center and the Lucas County Commissioners against the U.S. EPA. The decree required the Ohio EPA to submit a total maximum daily limit for phosphorus runoff into the lake to the U.S. EPA, which had to approve or disapprove the limit by June 30. A TMDL sets limits for pollutants the lake can tolerate and still meet requirements in the Clean Water Act.

The Ohio plan is supposed to reduce harmful algal blooms that impact drinking water, aquatic life and recreational access for Ohioans by establishing the total amount of phosphorus that the western basin of Lake Erie can receive and remain healthy. The lake supplies drinking water for millions of people, has the nation’s top walleye fishery, and has the highest number of boaters in the Great Lakes.

Given the substantial phosphorus reductions required, assuming the judge accepts the U.S. EPA decision, meeting the targets in the TMDL will require the immediate, concerted and sustained efforts of all of Ohio’s western Lake Erie stakeholders, most notably farmers that spread massive amounts of liquefied waste from confined animal feeding operations (hogs, cattle, etc.).

Many experts believe the Ohio EPA plan falls far short and should be rejected by Carr. Regional EPA administrator Debra Shore says the EPA will employ the following additional tools:

• Deploying Great Lakes Restoration Initiative resources to support research and projects to decrease nutrient loading to the Maumee River Watershed.

• Working with the Western Lake Erie Partnership in a new role as one of three agency chairs to engage all sectors in collaborative problem-solving.

• Supporting a broader interagency approach with Ohio EPA, Ohio Agriculture, Ohio DNR and the states of Indiana and Michigan to expand and coordinate efforts to address algae blooms in the western basin of Lake Erie.

It might sound like more dilly, dally and delay. Moreover, Carr can still reject the EPA plan entirely. If that happens, the court can eventually dictate a plan. For Lake Erie dealers, marina operators and their customers, anything short of a genuine solution is unacceptable.

The Clean Water Act requires states, territories and authorized tribes to list impaired waters and develop total maximum daily loads. Lake Erie is impaired.

As Yogi Berra said: “It ain’t over till it’s over!”