Thousands of Fish Killed Following Record Flooding
Due to record flooding in South Florida, Biscayne Bay is reeling from its fourth major fish kill in as many years.
Heavy rains have immersed the region, causing a critical deluge of freshwater into the bay.
Freshwater Impact
This influx of freshwater has prompted low salinity and oxygen levels, bringing about the death of roughly 2,000 fish.
![fresh fish piled on top of each other.](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/f879605a-oziel-gomez-il-nzcmcnwc-unsplash.jpg)
Unsplash user Oziel Gómez
The fact that the affected area extends over several miles, as reported by Local10.com, exemplifies the increasing frequency and severity of environmental disasters worldwide.
“Anything But Normal”
Yoca Arditi-Rocha, executive director of The CLEO Institute released a statement on the matter.
![NAHJ Miami 2023 photocall with five people standing in front of it](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/28c87e69-f070ejcwibqds3u.jpg)
X user Yoca1000
She said: “We need to understand that these events are anything but normal, and these rain bomb events are becoming more often and more frequent.”
Biscayne Bay
This common ecological disaster underscores the delicate terrain of Biscayne Bay
![Downtown Miami Biscayne Bay showing the skyline](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/6151eb8e-downtown_miami_alt_photo_d_ramey_logan.jpg)
Wikimedia Commons user Don Ramey Logan
It also raises the impact of the changing environment on the ecology of South Florida.
Warming Earth
The idea that “dry gets drier, wet gets wetter” describes how a warming earth can cause severe droughts and heavy rain.
![Boats and sunset at Biscayne bay in Florida](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/8fcf9dbc-biscayne_bay_sunset.jpg)
Wikimedia Commons user Luis Alfredo Romero
More water vapor can be held in by the atmosphere as it warms, leading to heavier downpours and worse floods in already wet areas.
Chemical Contamination
Additionally, the stormwater is tainted with chemicals and sewage, which significantly lowers the water’s oxygen levels.
![An oyster toadfish (Opsanus tau), like those that are part of the Neurolab payload on Space Shuttle Mission STS-90, is shown in its holding tank in the Space Station Processing Facility.](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/eabac72d-1280px-opsanus_tau.jpg)
NASA
Toadfish and other bottom-dwelling fish are primarily affected by this.
Heavier Rainfall
These serious downpour events are turning out to be more and more common because of a warming climate.
![A picture taken of Biscayne Bay and Miami Beach from Bayfront Park in Miami Shores](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/d923e17b-view_of_biscayne_bay_and_miami_beach_from_bayfront_park_in_miami_shores.jpg)
Wikimedia Commons user LEatUSF
Rainfall becomes heavier as the air warms and retains more moisture.
Rising Sea Levels
The situation gets worse as sea levels rise, resulting in more flooding in South Florida.
![Beach on Virginia Key, Florida just south of Miami Beach's South Beach.](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/f0f65708-virginiakeybeach.jpg)
Wikimedia Commons user Marc Averette
The underlying causes of these devastating events are being addressed, and efforts are being made to lessen their impact.
Aggressive Climate Action
Scientists and environmental organizations support more aggressive climate action to slow the earth’s overheating and reduce pollution.
![Two people at a table in a convention center for the CLEO Institute](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/77e702bf-f_f5rlixqaap_um.jpg)
X user CLEOInstitute
Associations like The CLEO Organization work with policymakers to fabricate environment strength and advance feasible practices.
Urgent Action
To safeguard Biscayne Bay and other fragile ecosystems from further harm action needs to be taken.
![a large body of water with a city in the background](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/1de84d99-sergio-arteaga-6qr0tutxtte-unsplash.jpg)
Unsplash user Sergio Arteaga
Drastic and urgent measures must be taken to quickly and effectively scale up solutions.
New Solutions
Scientists are looking at innovative solutions in order to lessen the effects of global warming and the extreme weather that accompanies it.
![an aerial view of a city and a body of water](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/139ab508-fernando-jorge-svi0ile0lvg-unsplash.jpg)
Unsplash user Fernando Jorge
“Heat-reflective” paint is being used to aid in reducing temperatures by over 18 degrees.
Sewage Concerns
The lack of wastewater infrastructure which contributes to chemical contamination of rainwater has been an issue in other states.
![aerial view of green trees and brown buildings during daytime](https://images.savvydime.com/2024/07/9b3d52ec-patrick-federi-bjccekhrsqa-unsplash.jpg)
Unsplash user Patrick Federi
Rural Alabama has experienced backyard sewage problems leaving to exposure to parasitic diseases.
The Environmental Protection Agency has launched an investigation into the state’s appropriation of funds originally earmarked for improving sewage systems in these communities.