Lake O flows to decrease as algae issues grow

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Army Corps of Engineers said it will further reduce the flow of water from Lake Okeechobee through the Hoover Dike into the Caloosahatchee River beginning Friday as part of an effort to curb blooms of algae that have popped up in Southwest Florida.

Some of that algae poses a threat, with a low level of toxicity found in water samples that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection took last week at the Cape Coral Yacht Club.

On Thursday, dead fish were visible in canals infested with algae throughout Cape Coral.

Clumps of green slime, similar in appearance to the toxic algae visible on the east coast of Florida, also popped up near the Shell Point community and waterways heading towards Sanibel.

“This is the worst that I’ve seen it in my 25 years down here,” said David Meracle.

Advocates from Southwest Florida met with members of Congress and federal agencies Thursday in an effort to spur action to address the algae issues on both the east and west coasts of Florida.

“My constituents depend on and deserve clean water, without waiting on decades to get there,” said Rep. Curt Clawson. “This is not sustainable, this is going to change.”

Decreased rainfall, increased evaporation, and storage of water in the Kissimmee chain of lakes have combined to help lower the level of water in the lake, putting less pressure on the aging dike and allowing for the reduction of flow into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers, according to the corps.

The latest water flow reduction comes on the heels of a decrease the corps put into action two weeks ago. This one is relatively slight, with target levels dropping from 3,000 cubic feet per second to 2,800.

Still, the aim is to reduce the algae blooms, the corps said. The DEP has warned young children and the elderly against coming into contact with the algae that’s been spotted in several places around Southwest Florida.

A representative from the Conservancy of Southwest Florida took a sample of algae that washed up on Sanibel as well as water from the Caloosahatchee near downtown Fort Myers to the meeting with federal agencies and Congressional representatives as part of an effort branded as Lagoon-Gulf Action Day.

Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday activated an emergency program to provide short-term loans to businesses affected by the algae.

DEP water tests will continue this week. WINK News, in conjunction with Sanders Laboratories of Fort Myers, will conduct tests at Jaycee Park, the Punta Rassa boat ramp, Fort Myers Beach and the W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam in Olga.

Resources:

• Frequently asked questions about algae via the Florida Department of Environmenal Protection: https://depnewsroom.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/freshwater-algal-bloom-faq.pdf
• Lee County Water Quality Status website: http://www.leegov.com/naturalresources/WaterQuality/WaterQualityStatus
• Businesses affected by the algae who need a loan can consult the Florida Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University: https://fsbdcswfl.org/