After a yearlong evaluation of some of the Florida's biggest and smallest rivers, the Orlando Sentinel found that nearly half are in decline because of pollution from lawns, street runoff, wastewater and agriculture, and because of shrinking flows caused by drought and rising demand for water by cities and industries.
The Sentinel's Kevin Spear reports that taking care of rivers is difficult and expensive. Fixing just two rivers, the Kissimmee and St. Johns, which both originate in Central Florida, has cost $2.5 billion so far. Floridians shell out an additional $1 billion a year to various river-related state agencies.
But the state has a compelling reason to protect its rivers, Spear writes. Click here to read more at OrlandoSentinel.com.
