Dramatic Images Show Lake Okeechobee Releases Meeting Gulf near Sanibel

There are new concerns for Southwest Florida water quality. New aerial images show the Lake Okeechobee water discharges reaching the Gulf of Mexico near Sanibel Island.

You can see the stark contrast where the releases of freshwater meet the saltwater from the Gulf.

“People are really interested in this issue. They’re really paying attention to it,” explains John Cassani, Calusa Waterkeeper.

Thanks to pilot Ralph Arwood with Lighthawk Conservation Flying. His eyes in the sky help keep tabs on what is happening when the lake releases coming downstream are mixing with local runoff.

Arwood says, “It does give you a totally different perspective of what’s going on down there.”

“Almost all the water that’s coming out of the mouth of the Caloosahatchee now is lake discharge water,” Cassani added.

You can see where the dark and light-colored water meets near the Sanibel lighthouse.