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Harlan Franklin glances at several dolphins frolicking in the distance, a majesti c sight <br />for many people but a frustrating one for him. He would rather see fish. <br />Franklin, a former fishing columnist, blames the runoff funneled through canals i nto the <br />lagoon for killing the sea grass. Septic tanks that leach into canals, groundwater and <br />the lagoon contribute to the pollution, he said, though he's not sure how much. <br />"I moved here to fish," said Franklin, who has lived near the lagoon since 2006. "It's a <br />major disappointment." <br />NITROGEN :ISOTOPES IN MICROALGAE <br />FROM SEWAGE IMPACTED COASTAL- WATERS <br />9 <br />8 <br />7 <br />tn <br />c) <br />0. <br />0 <br />a S <br />w 4 <br />o 3 _Air <br />Th estuild in l at sena a <br />g 9_ <br />Roberts Boston Indian Quashnet Big Pine Sarasota Western <br />Bay, Fla. Harbor, River River, Key Bay, Florida <br />Mass Lagoon Mass. Fla. Fla. Bay <br />Source: Harbor Branch Oceanographic institute <br />PHOTO BY JIM URICK <br />This chart shows nitrogen isotopes in microalgae from sewage impacted <br />coastal waters. <br />Researchers at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute in Fort Pierce have found <br />sewage contaminating the entire 156 -mile lagoon. Indian River County's levels are <br />comparable to Boston Harbor's when raw sewage was dumped there, a new water <br />analysis shows. <br />Despite growing evidence that septic tanks play a role in the lagoon's degradation, <br />most elected leaders are hesitant to tackle this part of the problem largely because <br />many property owners oppose increased septic regulati ons, a Scripps Treasure Coast <br />Newspapers investigation found. <br />