Sen. Nelson celebrates Hoover Dike project during Fort Myers visit

Reporter: Morgan Rynor
Published: Updated:
FILE: U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson addressed the Florida delegation breakfast on Tuesday during the Democratic National Convention. (Stan Chambers Jr./WINK News)

Senator Bill Nelson was in Fort Myers Thursday working to stop an outbreak of algae in the Caloosahatchee River.

The sight and smell of green algae covering waterways continues to plague parts of Southwest Florida.

And it’s warning like a posted sign in Cape Coral that says “Warning: Algae Alert, Swim at Your Own Risk, No Drinking by Humans or Animals, No Eating Fish,” that’s forcing many people to stay away from the water as the peak of summer approaches.

Nelson headed to Stuart to address the same issue for our neighbors on the East Coast.

Nelson tweeted the Army Corps of Engineers approved a request to expedite the Herbert Hoover Dike project, which is expected to be completed in 2022.

Rep. Tom Rooney also took to social media to express his excitement with the new development:

It’s bringing relief for Southwest Florida resident Kristina Jackson.

“I like the honesty. I like the answers,” Jackson said. “I liked the beginning answers to the solution. It’s a multifaceted problem.”

Jackson said she’s fighting an infection to her right leg after swimming in algae-infected water.

Jackson asked Nelson to warn the public of the dangers.

“He kind of left it back into our hands of the community assuming the leaders of the table to contact the health department to contact the CDC,” Jackson said.

MORE: Algae, red tide impacting SWFL water quality

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