Water Quality –It’s Not Just Nutrients: How Climate Change is Necessitating New Restoration Strategies

Updated May 18, 2021

Water quality impairments, rising water temperatures and increasing filamentous algae blooms have recently been documented in the Charlotte Harbor estuaries. As our water quality declines, we face an estuary resource crisis which threatens our economy and lifestyle. The causes of water quality degradation include increasing nutrients from stormwater runoff and wastewater, and increasing sea levels, water temperatures and storm intensities associated with climate change. A combination of federal, state, regional, local and citizen actions are needed to identify and implement innovative, comprehensive strategies for protecting and restoring our local estuaries’ health while it is still physically and fiscally feasible.

Addressing water quality and climate change issues is time sensitive and requires immediate action on all levels of government and society. Charlotte County has initiated steps toward increasing understanding and management of water quality. But we must also begin adapting to and mitigating climate change through local, state and federal programs. Climate change adaptation is our process for adjusting to anticipated changes by protecting existing infrastructure, homes, and people from rising seas, fires, and stronger weather. Mitigation intervenes with climate changes by reducing heat-trapping emissions and removing carbon already in the atmosphere.

Resistance to climate change mitigation is dangerous, especially for Florida. For example, while Florida’s Governor has acknowledged climate change exists, the title for the new climate change director is “Chief Resilience Officer”, reflecting focus on adaptation but not mitigation. Charlotte County’s Comprehensive Plan updates do not consider the causes of sea level rise and warming, thereby ignoring mitigation. And, while Lee, Collier and Charlotte Counties are developing a “Southwest Florida Resiliency Compact”, a comprehensive “climate compact” is more critical. The city of Punta Gorda was named one of the most progressive cities in the world in the 2014 National Climate Assessment. But the city’s comprehensive plan is almost exclusively about adaptation, with little if any explicit mitigation. We must expand our focus beyond adaptation and resiliency. Without mitigation, the climate will continue to change and long-term impacts will become too severe to manage. To avoid rapidly increasing algae blooms, water quality decline and other devastating consequences we must enhance our mitigation strategies immediately.

Mitigating climate change causes and effects is urgent. Scientist estimate that we must implement significant actions and policies within 10 years or rapid natural processes, such as melting of the permafrost and associated methane release, will render us incapable of slowing the runaway heating of our plant. Critical goals include:
1) reducing emissions by 70-100% by 2030 through conservation and transition to non-emitting energy sources; and
2) removing excess carbon from the atmosphere by reforestation and soil management.

Action by businesses and individuals is essential, but the greatest leverage comes from federal, state and local governments utilizing their specific authorities and policies, including:

· Federal: Pass laws which put a rising price on carbon and return revenues to consumers, such as the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, which could reduce emissions by 40% in 10 years, create jobs, and stimulate the economy. Global cooperation is essential to achieve the degree of climate mitigation to achieve the level of carbon removal needed.  We need, at a minimum, support for participation in the Paris agreement. Pandemic Action: Incorporate clean energy initiatives & economic strategies in pandemic recovery plans.

· State: Adopt regulations which: a) require energy providers to create carbon energy portfolios with 100% zero emission electricity by 2030; b) prohibit utilities from earning higher profits from selling more electricity; c) eliminate barriers to using and distributing solar energy; and d) ban fracking.

· Local: Adopt rules and comprehensive plans which include: a) building codes, landscaping and farming rules, and public transportation policies which conserve, sequester and transition to zero emission fuels; and b) climate change adaption and mitigation, especially as it protects and restores water quality and native habitats.

Click HERE to see a presentation at CHNEP’s Watershed Summit June 1, 2020

Click HERE to see a list of additional readings and references about water quality and climate change