Guest Opinion: Stating the Facts About Water Quality in Lee County

I would like to comment on the June 24 Guest Opinion by Michael A. MacDowell titled “Compared to Flint Michigan, we’re in good hands with water quality in SWFL”.

First of all, there is no comparison between what happened in Flint Michigan and what is now happening in SW Florida. I know, having spent the first 20 years of my life growing up in Flint.

Mr. MacDowell states that unlike in Flint “SWFL is graced with mostly competent state and local officials who are working to resolve these water issues”. For the record, I would like to state a few facts about water quality in Lee County and then the readers can make up their own mind on how competent our state and local officials are.

• In the 3 years from 2018 to 2020, the number of Verified Impaired (i.e.: polluted) water bodies in Lee County has increased 36%.
• In the same 3 year period, FDEP has determined that 43% of all Lee County water bodies are Verified Impaired for at least one pollutant.
• In the 10 year period between 2010 and 2019, within Estero Bay, Total Nitrogen levels have more than doubled, the average annual water temperature has increased 5 degrees F, the water has become more acidic, turbidity has increased, and dissolved oxygen levels have fallen.
• Estero Bay Seagrass has fallen from a historic level of about 30-35% of the total area to less than 10% and according to a recent FGCU report, “we can say is that seagrass cover remains worryingly low”.
• In 2019, Estero Bay, Florida’s first Aquatic Preserve and an Outstanding Florida Water, was declared Verified Impaired by FDEP for Total Nitrogen.
• Four Estero Bay Tributaries (Mullock Creek, Estero River, Spring Creek, and Imperial River) are Verified Impaired with Fecal Indicator Bacteria, sometimes 10-50x higher than the threshold FDOH would post an advisory for at a public swimming beach[vi]. As of today, none of these waters have any signs posted by FDEP, FDOH or local governments warning residents of the health dangers. The reason no signs are posted is that the State does not consider the purpose of these waters to be for swimming.

• All major Estero Bay Tributaries, also Outstanding Florida Waters since 1991, have been Verified Impaired for at least one pollutant.
• Over $55M has been spent on 39 projects to reduce the Total Nitrogen load in 2 Estero Bay Tributaries (Hendry Creek and Imperial River) since 2012. From 2014 to 2020, Total Nitrogen levels in both of those water bodies have increased.

The list can go on and on. Despite the fact that millions of tax dollars have been spent and lots of commitments have been made by elected officials to clean up our water, our water is getting worse, not better.