Red Tide

By W. Dale Justice

What did happen, as reported by major news outlets: On July 6th, 2016 a huge algae bloom was created along Florida shores when the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife purposefully released billions of cubic feet of algae covered water from Lake Okeechobee into waterways that led to the Atlantic Ocean. Once released into the Atlantic, an algae bloom grew at explosive rates, and eventually migrated south around the tip of the peninsula, and up the western shore towards Tampa. The bloom was green in color, and formed a 4 to 6-inch thick blanket clogging beaches, inlets and harbors. Dead fish wash up on tourist beaches daily, and hospitals report a dramatic spike in respiratory illnesses, and skin rashes in near shore communities. Four Florida counties have closed all beaches, and have declared public health emergencies. Experts agree, the algae bloom was fueled by nitrate and phosphate agricultural fertilizer run off into Lake Okeechobee. It has begun. What could happen... Nitrate fertilizer runoff into coastal waters have created the largest algae bloom the world has ever seen. It's a third the size of Louisiana. The bloom creates hundreds of square miles of dead or dying fish poisoned by toxins as it depletes dissolved oxygen in the water. The algae create dense, visible red colored patches near the water's surface. The patches coalesce into a giant blanket covering the sea from horizon to horizon. The toxins become aerosolized by the action of waves and wind, creating an invisible but toxic cloud hovering above the sea surface. And, it's drifting on ocean currents directly towards the tourist mecca of the Mexico-Texas coast. A handful of strangers band together when shrimp boat crews are discovered dead at sea from no apparent cause. Dr. Kate O'Neal, renowned immunologist from Centers for Disease Control stationed in Mobile, Alabama, Commander Steve Phillips, United States Coast Guard, Bayboro Station, St. Petersburg, Florida, Thuy Piseth, Cambodian immigrant exposed to Agent Orange as a child, now a retired chemical engineer and self-appointed environmental watchdog in Tampa, Florida, and Jimmy Falcone, investigative reporter from Atlanta, Georgia. They must solve the mystery, and once solved, they must figure out how to stop the deadly bloom before it makes landfall. Millions living along the coast are in grave danger. But there are forces at work to thwart them. Highly placed, self-serving individuals that fail to grasp the magnitude of the impending disaster, and others that are opportunists. They will do anything to protect their financial interests and political positions.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1545339082
• ISBN13: 9781545339084
• Release Date: May 2017
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 338 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 6.0"