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Copyright, GEMS

Name: Don Juan Tuno
Suspect?: YES
Background: Juan's uncle and area business owner. Owns cattle ranch, oil refinery, and logging company.

Verdict: Guilty? Innocent?

The cattle ranch is a prime suspect in the possible algal bloom at James Pond. Animal wastes and manure causes phosphate pollution which leads to eutrophication and less oxygen in the water. A test did prove that most of the phosphates were coming from the golf course.
Oil has been found on the shores of Synchrony City, but tests prove that it comes from the city and it's cars, not his oil refinery.
Sediment pollution may be coming from the fact that less trees and roots in the ground can cause erosion. Even though he recently stopped clear cut logging, selective cut logging may still cause problems and clear cutting may have already left its mark.But the Rafta River does NOT have a sediment problem.

Introductory Statement:

I’m proud of my nephew’s interest in science, but let’s get real. What do fish matter? People matter! The Gray Area should not be wasting it’s money and resources studying fish. Phosphates are in fertilizers and they help plants grow. When they’re in water, they also help algae (water plants) grow. Fish eat algae, so more algae in the streams and ponds would be good for them! Tell the fisherman to cut back on their fishing to stop the problem--if there even is a problem.

Final Statement

I want to thank Juan and all the other scientists who have been doing tests and research, but I would like to point out that the data DO NOT POINT AT MY COMPANY. The phosphates came from the golf course, not from my cattle ranch; the oil found was from cars, not my refinery; and the sediment was not from clear cutting. I'll do my best to keep my company from causing other problems - I just told you we won't clear cut anymore - but we didn't cause this problem.