Where Does All the Phosphorus In Lake Okeechobee Come From?
According to an independent study conducted for World Wildlife Fund 80% of the phosphorus that flows into Lake Okeechobee each year comes from basins north of the Lake (the remaining phosphorus comes from rainfall and from backpumping from basins south of the Lake). The lion’s share of this northern tributary phosphorus, which averaged 703 tons per year from 1995-2001, was generated by improved pastures, vegetable crops, and dairy production. Citrus and residential areas generated phosphorus too, but in far smaller amounts (each contributed about one third as much phosphorus as improved pastures, vegetable crops, and dairy operations).
