New Study Finds Polluted Water from Lake Okeechobee Decreases Home Values
This loss is attributable to polluted discharges from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Rivers and estuaries.
Palm Coast, FL – March 31, 2015 – New research by Florida Realtors° of the effect of polluted water on homeowner property values shows a potential decrease of nearly $1 billion in Lee and Martin Counties. This loss is attributable to polluted discharges from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Rivers and estuaries, according to the study, which was supported in part by Everglades Foundation.
“For the first time, this study clearly shows that pollution in waters discharged from Lake Okeechobee negatively impacts home sales and prices,” said 2015 Florida Realtors President Andrew Barbar. “The study found that as water quality degrades, home values decrease which could potentially cost Florida’s real estate market nearly $1 billion in Lee and Martin County alone.
We know that murky rivers and estuaries, closed beaches, poor fishing and other harmful effects of polluted water discharged into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Rivers hurt tourism in the area, but now we can begin to quantify the harmful economic impact of the these discharges on property values.
“Florida Realtors urges local and state leaders to protect these unique ecosystems that are vital to the state’s economy, real estate industry and most importantly, to Florida’s unique quality of life.”
Everglades Foundation CEO Eric Eikenberg said the study is important documentation of the need to move water south of the lake to relieve pressure on homeowners.
“Home values matter to Florida families. The Florida Realtors study reveals the extent of economic damage caused by discharges of polluted water from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Rivers and estuaries,” said Eikenberg. “Florida’s leaders have a duty to buy strategic land needed for storage to protect the interests of thousands of homeowners.
“This study underscores the importance of protecting the Florida real estate industry. Sending Lake Okeechobee water south is a first step.”
To learn more about the report’s findings please visit:
Palm Coast Project-We speak for Man .
For the newer Palm Coasters – the forward thinking of Levitt I.T.T. in development of the 93,000 acres comprising the ‘ Palm Coast Project ‘ attracted thousands of prospective buyers here last century.
Perhaps it can best be said in the 1972 Publication: ‘…an approach to a New City: Palm Coast …’ by Dr. J. Norman Young and Dr. Stanley Dea.
From the Prologue of this Publication:
Prologue
It is self-evident that our earth is finite and that our population is growing. In ever increasing numbers, man must be sheltered, and the shelter, of course, must cover land. Transportation media to and from the shelter must cover land. Shops and service facilities must cover land. Who will say that land should not be cleared for at least these purposes, assuming an increase in population?
Proceeding from this starting point, we quickly arrive at the most sensitive area of environmental turmoil: making certain that when man clears and improves land, he simultaneously maximizes environmental integrity and maintains ecosystem continuity. thus being the challenges to us at Palm Coast. In our deliveration on the environment and ecosystems, as will be seen, much consideration has been given to both plant and animal life. Every attempt has been and shall be made to assure maintenance of al parameters of life cycles. Literature, both scientific and lay, is full of differing criteria with regard to protection for various plants and animals. In all candor, there is no way that all the sincere voices can be satisfied.
—->At Palm Coast, the preponderance of voices will have a city more satisfactory in the ecological sense than ever before anywhere.<---- Neither perfection nor utopia will result...only the best that our talents, time, energies and resources can produce. At Palm Coast, given the fact of biological synergism, we do speak for plant life...and we do speak for animal...but most of all we speak for man. Dr. J. Norman Young P.S. Palm Harbor Parkways real name is for Dr. J. Norman Young -Parkway; hopefully in time proper historical credit will be restored to Dr. Young.