Expert Sends Cape Coral Water Sample to be Tested for Blue-Green Algae

Neighbors who live nearby the Shaughnessey canal in Cape Coral are concerned now that it might have fallen victim to a blue-green algae bloom.

Water experts told us Friday storms over the weekend will wash more nutrients into canals like the Shaughnessey. If it’s blue-green algae, it could get worse with all the rain.

Director John Cassani, with Calusa Waterkeeper, first noticed the algae in the Shaughnessey two weeks ago.

“I’ve seen much, much worse,” Cassani said. “But with all this rain and the nutrients coming in to fuel it, it’s likely going to get worse through time.”

Cassani doesn’t yet know if what’s in this water is harmful. But because he fears it could be blue-green algae, he reported it to the state Friday.

“You don’t want to swim in it,” Cassani warned. “You don’t want your pets to be near it or drinking that water. And so this particular type of cyanobacteria doesn’t always produce toxins, but it could be. And it hasn’t been tested yet.”