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The South Florida Water Management District board of governors hearing from concerned citizens Thursday about the drought and the state's shrinking water supply. Newton Cook of United Waterfowlers warning the board that what little water we have -- is filthy.
"Lake Okeechobee, the heart of the Everglades, is the declared the dirtiest lake in North America by yet another publication. How long are we going to let this go. How long are we going to go without even a management committee for Lake O?" Cook asked SFWMD board members.
Lake O is suffering from water loss in Florida's extreme drought which is the worst in 25 years. According to World Atlas, Lake Okeechobee is the biggest and most polluted lake in Florida. And as of March 2026, Lake O, the eighth largest in U.S. is the most polluted in North America...even more filthy than Lake Erie.
According to the World Atlas study, "The lake measures two feet below its historic average due to the state's extreme drought. In 2026, the Florida Department of Health issued blue-green algae alerts for the lake, toxic blooms which can cause skin irritation, vomiting, or breathing issues. Also, high levels of phosphorus from fertilizer and sewage runoff cause reduced biodiversity, and oxygen levels."
South Florida is under a water shortage warning which is expected to persist until June when the hurricane season begins.