Bill Nelson: Congress poised to pass compromise WRDA bill; OKs Lake Okeechobee reservoir

Congress is expected to approve a reservoir to curb Lake Okeechobee discharges by the end of the month, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson said Tuesday.

The House and Senate Monday night unveiled a compromise version of the Water Resources and Development Act, a wide-ranging bill to fund and authorizes projects nationwide.

Nelson said he doesn't expect anymore delays in its passage. The Senate never voted on its original bill, which was stalled for months after the House passed its bill in July. 

More: TCPalm's complete coverage of the algae crisis

"There are so many desperate needs over the entire country for the water development projects," Nelson said. "I think that there will be sufficient pressure to get the WRDA bill passed." 

The compromise bill also includes:

• An amendment to re-evaluate the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule, which governs the Army Corps of Engineers' decisions on all aspects of discharges.
• A five-year, $3 million annual program for the Corps' Engineering Research and Development Center to identify and develop filtration technology that includes early detection, prevention and management of algal blooms, which can be toxic.
• About $16 million to repair and renourish eroded beaches in St. Lucie County. 

Limit nutrients

Nelson said the best way to stop algae blooms is to limit nutrients, predominately nitrogen and phosphorus that are carried into waterways by stormwater runoff from agriculture and urban development.

Saying discharges are only one part of the problem, Nelson also blamed pollution from north of the lake and leaky septic tanks that feed algae blooms.

Nelson, a Democrat who is running for re-election against Florida's Republican Gov. Rick Scott, blamed the state, not federal agencies such as the Army Corps.

Nelson also promoted a bill he and Rubio filed that would give tax breaks to businesses affected by algae blooms. Some local business owners have called the bill flawed because it doesn't address what causes the blooms or provide them enough relief. 

Nelson said it wasn't a permanent fix. 

"The solution is not tax breaks. The solution is to clean up the water," Nelson said.

Media barred

Nelson was in Port St. Lucie Tuesday to meet with the St. Lucie Economic Development Council Executive Committee at Indian River State College's St. Lucie West campus. 

Reporters initially were not admitted into the meeting, despite a news release from Nelson's office stating the meeting would be open to the media.

Nelson's staff escorted reporters in about halfway through the meeting. 

TCPalm is awaiting EDC President Pete Tesch's response to questions about who decided to ban the media and why. The EDC is a private nonprofit.

Nelson also talked to community leaders about GOP-led tax reforms and Medicaid expansion in Florida. 

This is Nelson's third visit to the Treasure Coast since the algae blooms started appearing in June. He held a town hall meeting in Stuart in July and met with community leaders in Stuart again in August.

Scott also visited Stuart in August, but was criticized for avoiding the public and media.

More: Rick Scott, Bill Nelson battle over algae blooms in U.S. Senate race