HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Laura and Emily de Oliveira arrived early for the massive tournament, dressed head-to-toe in their maximum festive inexperienced outfits.
The two younger women and their folks had been some of the first to line up alongside the Hillsborough River at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in Tampa on Friday afternoon.
“We want to see the water, if it’s green, to see if the boats are making the water green,” Laura, 7, mentioned with a grin.
Friday afternoon, Mayor Jane Castor delivered. She gave them — and 1000’s of others — what they sought after to peer.
After Castor sounded a horn, the City of Tampa boats dyed the portion of the river between the Kennedy and Cass Street Bridges a colourful neon inexperienced in party of St. Patrick’s Day.
The town has been demise the river since 2012, however this was once the primary time Michelle Sinewe and her circle of relatives were given to return out and spot it.
“I wanted to come down and experience it. You know, you’re here — you get caught up doing other things — so we figured why not today to bring the grandkids down,” mentioned Sinewe.
For hours, the river was once the supply of 1000’s of images as other people covered either side of the river. Some piloted their boats and kayaks throughout the inexperienced, uneven water.
“The weather is nice,” Sinewe mentioned. “It’s not too hot, but yet, it’s not cold, so the weather is great.”
However, for the 1000’s of people that confirmed as much as have fun the strikingly inexperienced river, 1000’s of others signed a petition in opposition to the demise.
Dustin Pack — a fishing constitution captain from a marina at the river — started a Change.org petition with greater than 3,600 signatures in only a few days.
“In no way am I trying to stop St. Paddy’s Day or a party,” he clarified. I can be celebrating St. Paddy’s Day too.”
Pack, however, believes the dye is unnecessary and could impact wildlife.
“We’re treating the river as though it is a ditch creek at the facet of the street and no longer a 27,000-year-old river that we get our consuming water from,” he said.
In an email to ABC Action News, a city’s water department spokesperson said the fluorescent dye is non-toxic, biodegradable, and safe to use in and around drinking water sources.
“The army makes use of this similar dye to mark the positioning of downed pilots throughout seek and rescue operations at sea,” the spokesperson wrote.
The electronic mail additionally cited research suggesting the dye is harmless when used in correct or “anticipated environmental concentrations.”
Pack, however, worries the temporary green water could increase the river’s turbidity or clarity, which might prevent fish, eagles, and ospreys from temporarily catching food.
Whether there is an environmental impact, he believes dyeing the river sets a bad example in an eco-conscious city.
“From my standpoint, it is simply easy sufficient to not do it,” he said. “It’s no longer going to prevent that celebration.”
Even regardless that his petition didn’t forestall the river’s dyeing this yr, he hopes it’ll proceed to achieve momentum and alter extra minds earlier than subsequent yr.