Gov. Rick Scott avoids public, media during St. Lucie River boat tour to see algae bloom

Editor's note: A spokeswoman for Scott initially told reporters a "security concern" prevented Scott from meeting with them. They later said it was based on "timing." 

During a visit to Stuart early Friday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott declined to meet with the public and the media about toxic blue-green algae blooms plaguing the St. Lucie River. 

Scott's staff initially cited security concerns, which they wouldn't explain, for his lack of availability and told reporters his office would answer questions only via email.

A Scott spokesman later told TCPalm "timing" prevented Scott from meeting from reporters. Scott had a scheduled campaign event for his bid for U.S. Senate two hours later across the state in Tampa.

Scott toured the river by boat with Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein, Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, and other state officials. 

Negron said they discussed multiple water storage and treatment projects, including:

• Lake Okeechobee reservoir, which awaits U.S. Senate approval
• State grant for Martin County to remove algae from the river
• Expedited renovations of the Herbert Hoover Dike
• Raising the L-29 Canal under the Tamiami Trail
• Water farms that hold local stormwater runoff
• More options north and south of Lake Okeechobee.  

"I think it was a very productive opportunity for the governor to, once again, see firsthand what's occurring here," Negron said. "He's very informed on what's happening in our community and he's committed to doing everything we can on a state level to address this situation."

The Republican governor is running for U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson, who has visited Stuart twice this summer to discuss the algae bloom.

At arm's length

U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Palm City, was put on a separate boat than Scott Friday morning, traveling with local media. Mast has criticized the state's response to the crisis.

A third, private boat carried local politicians and candidates, including state Rep. Gayle Harrell; her challenger in the GOP primary for state Senate, Belinda Keiser; and Stuart City Commissioner Troy McDonald. 

Demonstrators expressed anger and disappointment that Scott avoided them. A small group followed the tour via land, yelling from land that Scott was "disrespectful," and pointing out his connections to the sugar industry. 

Scott did not visit Stuart during a 2016 algae bloom. He visited the St. Lucie Lock and Dam during a 2013 algae bloom, but he sidestepped demonstrators and in a news conference blamed the blooms on a lack of federal assistance. 

After leaving Stuart Friday, Scott traveled to Tampa for a campaign event scheduled to start about two hours later. 

The governor was not brushing off the Treasure Coast, staff spokesman McKinley Lewis said.  

"The governor speaks with members of the media and Florida families every day and has spoken with concerned Floridians and members of the media on both coasts in the past several weeks on this very issue," Lewis said. "We always welcome public input through our office and will continue to work directly with local partners to do what's best for the families in our state."

The governor's office did not answer several questions from TCPalm including: 

• Why was Mast not invited on the governor’s boat?
• Why did Scott sign a bill that killed a statewide septic tank inspection program that would have been key to reducing water pollution?
• Does Scott believe the sugar industry has any role in the algae blooms?

Instead, Scott's office emailed TCPalm several previous statements about the crisis.

Environmental criticism

Environmentalists criticize Scott and his administration's role in preventing and responding to the blooms now polluting Florida's east and west coasts. 

After Scott took office in 2011, DEP laid off 134 staff and cut a dozen vacant jobs, saving the agency about $6.5 million. DEP also relaxed rules to make it quicker and easier to get permits, and shifted from enforcing rules to helping violators comply.

Scott also gutted the South Florida Water Management District, which oversees Everglades restoration and advises the Army Corps of Engineers on Lake Okeechobee discharges that cause algae blooms in the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers.

Scott cut the agency's budget in half, by $700 million, resulting in 500 layoffs and several dozen vacant jobs being cut or frozen. Half of them were scientists, hydrologists, engineers, field technicians and regulators tasked with protecting, conserving or restoring water resources in the 16-county district.

Scott also ended the deal his predecessor, Gov. Charlie Crist, made to buy U.S. Sugar Corp.'s land south of Lake Okeechobee to recreate the "River of Grass" from the lake to the Everglades.

Scott also signed off on the 2012 repeal of a law requiring routine septic tank inspections to determine if they're leaking untreated waste into water bodies, including Lake O and the Indian River Lagoon. Lawmakers who proposed the repeal said inspections were an expensive burden for homeowners.

“To see Rick Scott stand up now and act like he’s been doing something about this is an embarrassment,” Patrick Murphy, the Treasure Coast's former congressman, said during a phone call organized by the Florida Democratic Party. “He’s done nothing but hurt the environment.”

Scott's actions

Scott in July issued a state of emergency for seven counties affected by Lake O algae blooms, and made $3 million available for local cleanup projects. 

Martin County is receiving $700,000 of that to try to block and suck up algae.

In 2016, Scott declared a similar state of emergency, but unsuccessfully pushed President Barack Obama for a federal one. 

This year's declaration eases regulations to store and move more water, and dedicates more staff to testing water, helping businesses and educating the public about the dangers of exposure to toxic algae. The state surveyed businesses, opened a help center for them and offered them loans, though owners scoffed at them as useless.

The governor often cites increased state funding for septic-to-sewer conversions as a solution to preventing blooms, as septic tanks can leak nitrogen that feeds algae.

Scott unsuccessfully proposed $40 million in septic-to-sewer conversion grants for communities surrounding Lake O and along the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers. The Legislature did not approve his funding request in 2017 or 2018, instead choosing to fund projects on a case-by-case basis.

Senate race

Scott's campaign has spent thousands on advertising accusing Nelson of being partially at fault for the blooms, and not responding properly. 

In the ad, the Scott campaign alleges Nelson has spent more time talking about potential solutions, instead of acting on them. 

"The federal government hasn't done its part to solve the algae problem in Lake Okeechobee, starting with failing to fix the dike," Scott said in a tweet Thursday. "I'm running for Senate to do something about the problem, not just talk about it."

Nelson has visited Martin County twice since the blooms started in June, and both were open to the public. 

During the first visit, in his capacity as the area's senator, he participated in a public round table with community leaders about how to address the blooms. 

During the second visit, planned by his re-election campaign, he held a separate, smaller round table at Florida Sportsman magazine. 

Local Republicans protested during his visits.