1. To: Executive Office of the President of the United States
From: Cody Gramlin, NOAA Research Council Liaison
Date: November 25, 2015
Subject: Dangers Facing the Florida Barrier Reef
Summary_____________________________________________________________________
Nonpoint source pollution does not come from a specific location, making it difficult to
identify. It is generally produced by things like pesticides, fertilizers, other various toxins, and
soils. Through the Hydrologic Cycle these travel through groundwater and other sources,
eventually making their way to the ocean. From there, oceanic currents disperse this pollution
worldwide.
Corals, marine fish, and many other species are very sensitive and can come to lethal
amounts of stress with even miniscule changes in water chemistry and temperature. “Natural
factors causing reef coral discolorations, damage, or death include waves generated by
hurricanes or cyclones, and salinity alteration from heavy rainfalls that often accompany
tropical storms (the runoff frequently carries silt and debris from the adjacent land masses),”
(Jaap, 1979). From this, one could make the argument that the effects of climate change making
even the slightest environmental change could result in catastrophic levels of coral reef loss
along the closest parts of the coast.
Background___________________________________________________________________
The coral reef systems around the world are essential to all life. Oxygen is primarily
generated by phytoplankton and other various forms of life sustained through the reef systems
around the world (McClure, Daniel, Conners, Reshanov, 2015). The loss of these ecosystems
could possibly mean the end of hundreds, if not thousands of species, a huge blow to the world
economy, and a loss to anywhere between 50 and 85 percent of the world’s oxygen. Millions of
people globally rely on reefs for tourism and their supply of fish as a source of income and food.

2. It’s estimated that reefs are being depleted at an unacceptable rate parallel, if not, beyond
that of tropical forests (0.5% / yr.) (Waycott et al., 2009). With no regard to environmental
health, companies and individuals poison our oceans and our atmosphere through the dumping
and use of chemicals and fertilizers and destructive fishing methods. These factors take their toll
on the climate and in turn, ecosystems such as the Florida Barrier Reef. If not kept in check,
humanity’s nasty habits could very well be the end of civilization as we know it.
Policy Solution Options_________________________________________________________
By modifying regulations through the EPA on quantity and class of chemicals used—
perhaps substituting with more environmentally friendly alternatives—toxic runoff can hopefully
be reduced by substantial margins. As well, bioremediation of soils where chemicals have
already taken their toll could benefit many areas around Florida and the nation as a whole.
“…Even more important from the perspective of many critics is that nonpoint source
water pollution presents a significant and growing problem and continues to be minimally
regulated under the Clean Water Act,” (Layzer, 2012). Having since been revised and modified,
the Clean Water Act has produced substantial progress where other policies fall short. Sensibly,
stricter enforcement of the current standards held in the Clean Water Act (recently modified in
June 29, 2015 and put into effect August 28 of the same year (EPA, 2015)) are an order.
Examples of other current efforts include documents like the "Guidance Specifying Management
Measures for Sources of Nonpoint Pollution in Coastal Waters," (EPA, 2012) and the "Coastal
Nonpoint Pollution Control Program: Program Development and Approval Guidance," (NOAA,
EPA 1993).
Many experts suggest that freshwater runoff from Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades
could be affecting the salinity in the Gulf and Florida Barrier Reef. Salinity can be related

3. directly to amounts of dissolved inorganic nitrates (DIN) in the water. This could be partly to
blame for eutrophication between the coast of Florida and many parts of the Caribbean. These
algal blooms can cause many problems within the reef ecosystem by releasing even more toxins
into the water and suffocating other organisms (Sellner, Doucette, Kirkpatrick, 2003). To reduce
runoff into our coasts, the National Parks Service could make various modifications to the
landscape around the Lake Okeechobee/Florida Everglades area. The difficulties which
accompany such a broad solution make this easier said than done, although it may not
necessarily be out of the question.
Progress is slow in reducing carbon emissions and in making the switch to renewable
energy sources. Many of the necessary actions taken to cause change on this great of a scale
would likely be done on an international scale and organizations such as the EPA. Additionally,
the state of Florida could certainly take advantage of the newly mandated Clean Power Plan and
modify energy use, consumption, possibly even taking steps towards a carbon sequestration plan.
Criteria_______________________________________________________________________
- Efficiency – Achieving maximum productivity with little expense
- Backlash – Being accepted with little or no incident by the general public
- Demand – How necessary this policy is to be implemented
- Time Scale – How much time it will take to achieve the goal
- Political Acceptability – Agreeable by all parties
- Improvability – Has potential for future improvement or modification
- Impact – How well the policy is expected to work
- Economic Effect – Potential harm or benefit to local business and economy

4. Analysis______________________________________________________________________
Column1
Status Quo: Chemical
Regulations & Clean Water
Act
Runoff Regulations Combatting Climate
Change
Efficiency 4 3 2
Backlash 4 1 3
Demand 4 3 5
Time Scale 3 3 1
Political Acceptability 4 2 3
Improvability 3 5 5
Impact 4 4 5
Economic Effect 4 3 3
Totals: 30 24 27
Following are projected outcomes of each policy implementation measured from one to
five. All criteria were measured on a “worst to greatest effect” scale of measurement, as to not
confuse any subjects where more would be considered unfavorable. As discussed in a lecture I
attended as a guest at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, Dr. Jeff Dukes expressed
thoughts that, “efficiency is the cheapest new energy unit,” (Dr. J. Dukes, personal
communication, October 16, 2015). With this in mind, the most efficient solution will be the
final proposed solution.
Breaking down the scores on a scale of 40 (40 being the most efficient), the status quo is
perceived an efficient use of resources, though many challenges are predicted. As well, little
backlash from the public is anticipated, perhaps by a few select groups at most. The policy is
relatively necessary, though an accurate time span could vary. Politically, it is predicted to be
easily accepted and passed, although the familiar past of environmental policies suggests that a
small handful of questioning individuals may stand in the path. Regulating chemicals and runoff
is a fairly sound task, however can always be improved upon. The impact and economic effects
are both rated equally, suggesting a respectable chance of the changes going off without a hitch,

5. and with little harm to the local economy. This leaves the status quo with scores of: four, four,
four, three, four, three, and four respectively, for a total of thirty.
In regulating freshwater runoff from Lake Okeechobee, the variations throughout the
criteria are quite static. If passed, it would prove relatively efficient, though backlash would be a
force to reckon with. This could be a potential “nail in the coffin” if other grievances had not
already completed this very task. There is demand for this solution, though other issues most
definitely take precedence. Much like to the status quo, there is no real gauge as to how long this
solution may take. Similar issues to backlash arise in the category of political acceptability. Few
politicians would be willing to stand behind such a proposal for fear of what could ultimately be
political suicide. On a more positive note, we know for certain that this policy has room for
improvement. If passed, the policy is expected to work quite well for all intents and purposes,
however, many factors came into play when deciding exactly this would affect the economy.
This leaves freshwater regulation with scores of: three, one, three, three, two, five, four, and
three respectively for a total of twenty-four.
The most ideal solution would be to simply stop climate change. The problem with this is
how necessary global cooperation is to achieve this goal. Making changes to the way up for
damage done by climate change. The world has always been dragged kicking and screaming
through the gradual changes to adapt and combat climate change, so a negative response is to be
expected. This does not compare to the benefits. Restoration of the world climate is increasingly
high in demand. The biggest drawback is the predicted lengthy timescale, which could reach past
our own lifetime. Combating climate change has been growing in relevancy drastically since the
1970’s. There is always going to be room for improvement in our environment, and the potential
is within an arm’s reach. Economically, the total value of a healthy ecosystem is estimated at

6. $125-$145 trillion on average or twice the total GDP of all countries combined (Dr. B. Dunning,
personal communication, August 31, 2015), not to mention the aesthetic and intrinsic values of
living on a healthier planet. Initial cost is quite high in the beginning but will pay off in the long
run. This leaves combatting climate change with scores of: two, three, five, one, three, five, five,
and three respectively for a total of twenty-seven.
The total scores together are: the status quo with a score of thirty, freshwater regulation
with a score of twenty-four, and combatting climate change with a score of twenty-seven. As
such, the status quo comes out on top.
Conclusions___________________________________________________________________
To summarize, every type of ecosystem has various disrupting factors that must be kept
in check. Significant stressing factors on reef ecosystems to note include drastic temperature
swings, chemical imbalances including various particulate matter, DINs, and salinity.
I propose a most definite regulation on the amount of chemicals used in agriculture and
other industries. While the Clean Water Act may have been just recently modified, there is
always room for improvement. The whole world sees the significance in reducing climate change
in any case, and much is being done to combat environmental degradation. This doesn’t mean
the fight is over, nor should we be content where we are. Separately, making changes to a
national park is not the most realistic of goals at this time and further evaluating would be
necessary to see any changes in the Lake Okeechobee area.
Change is possible and necessary. In making these changes, the state of Florida could
break ground on a new, cleaner way of maintaining agricultural production and possibly set an
unspoken standard for other companies and states to follow. This would pave the way to a
brighter, cleaner, healthier, happier America.

7. Sources_______________________________________________________________________
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