by Katrina Elsken, Lake Okeechobee News
OKEECHOBEE — Negative media reports about Lake Okeechobee have cost some Lake Okeechobee businesses about 30 percent of their revenue, according to a group of Okeechobee fishing guides and businessmen who met with U.S. Congressman Greg Steube recently.
The congressman, in town for meetings with constituents, stopped by Garrard’s Bait & Tackle Thursday afternoon to meet with a group of area residents.
Fishing guides also expressed concerns about lower lake levels, which can make it difficult — sometimes impossible — to take boats out on the big lake.
“One of our main concerns is the news media is really hurting business right now,” said Leif Garrard. He said the coastal and national news media repeatedly use the word “toxic” when describing Lake Okeechobee, although scientific studies show this is not true.
“They’ve done the studies, University of Florida and Harbor Branch. It’s not toxic,” he said.
Mr. Garrard also noted that the coastal media outlets have not given the same publicity to the health hazards in the coastal waterways. During the summer, there were numerous beach closures due to high bacteria counts. There were also some algae blooms in coastal waterways.
Even with no lake releases, the media still blame Lake Okeechobee, he added.
Read the rest of the story at Lake Okeechobee News here: https://lakeokeechobeenews.com/communit ... usinesses/
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