Who’s behind the Lake.com article labeling Lake Okeechobee as the ‘dirtiest’ lake in the country.

Scott Martin, of Anglers for Lake Okeechobee, posted an online video on Sept. 17 to call out misinformation now circulating on South Florida television stations thanks to that article.

“In today’s world, misinformation Is rampant. I don’t know if it’s just to get clicks. I don’t know if it’s false narratives. I don’t know if there’s other people behind these things, there’s other agendas going on. I’m sure it’s all of that,” said Martin.

He was particularly troubled with the allegation about lead in the water.

“Lake Okeechobee has always had phosphorus issues,” he explained. “The great thing about phosphorus is the phosphorus levels are reducing.

The farming practices have improved, he said. Lowering the lake level  allows submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) to regrow and that will also reduce the phosphorus in the water.

“People with narratives write an article, say certain things and hope that the news stations pick it up,” Martin said. “Unfortunately the news stations did not call me.”

He said they did contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and USACE did not back up the data in the article.

“They want to cast Lake Okeechobee as the big bad wolf,” said Martin. There is a phosphorus issue that we’re addressing.

“There is no lead problem in Lake Okeechobee,” he added. The data in the study showed Lake O with 0.67 parts per billion. The EPA considers levels above 15 parts per billion to be a problem to human health.

The trace levels in Lake Okeechobee are “more than 200% less that what it would be to have a problem,” he said.

“This lake is a natural lake. There’s a lot of people who use this lake for different resources, from fishing and tourism, to the farmers, to the coast that needs water, he continued.

“I don’t want someone talking nasty and tell untruths about Lake Okeechobee,” said Martin. We do not have lead poisoning in Lake Okeechobee.

“West Palm Beach TV, you should call somebody before you put articles on the air,” he said. “It’s not fair.

“The lake is looking really good,” Martin said, complimenting South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and USACE and everyone “pulling in the same direction” to help the SAV in Lake Okeechobee recover. He said he is out on the lake every day and sees the improvements – and the fishing is good!