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Residents and experts urge urgent action after severe red tide; county outlines wastewater project and records requests
Summary
Fishermen, residents and a county panel told commissioners the recent red tide event was unusually severe and likely linked to nutrient inputs and a documented sewage leak; the county outlined a $28 million wastewater plant project and said it will coordinate with the city and state agencies.
Public comment at the Nov. 20 Gulf County meeting focused heavily on a severe red tide outbreak that residents and local fishing captains say has killed large numbers of fish and damaged seasonal fisheries.
Jordan Todd, who identified himself as a local captain and said he holds a degree in marine biology, told the commission the outbreak appears driven by human nutrient inputs and habitat loss. "This year, we didn't have the other variables ... the only other thing that it can feed off of are high nutrient contents, which come from sewage or runoff," he said. Todd and other commenters noted a documented raw-sewage leak under the Highland View Bridge that local officials said had discharged into St. Joe Bay and that they believe worsened the event.
Commissioners and staff described ongoing coordination with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Department of Health for testing and monitoring. County staff said they received notice that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) septic responsibilities may transfer back to the Department of Health in 2026, which could change permitting and oversight timelines.
Several speakers urged the county to prioritize prevention and remediation measures — protecting wetlands, enforcing land-clearing limits, and pursuing regional wastewater consolidation. A public commenter representing a transparency group asked for all feasibility studies and DEP-related records for the proposed wastewater treatment project; county staff confirmed public records procedures and said spoken requests are acceptable but the new portal is preferred for clarity.
County staff and commissioners said the county has secured approximately $28 million in DEP resilience and wastewater funding for a new advanced treatment plant intended to replace the current discharge practices, and they urged timely city–county cooperation to meet funder expectations. Several commissioners urged an immediate meeting with the city to resolve outstanding interlocal and permitting issues before the funding deadlines.
