Originally published in the News-Press by Chad Gillis on July 26, 2024
Heavy rains bring nutrient inputs from Lake Okeechobee, the upper Caloosahatchee watershed (which is largely agriculture) and urbanized areas like Fort Myers and Cape Coral.
The nutrients can feed blue-green algae blooms, and even red tide outbreaks in coastal waters.
Calusa Waterkeeper Codty Pierce said he’s seeing algae in the Cape Coral area, in waters near where the DOH alert was issued.
Saharan dust may be helping river after heavy rain earlier this summer
“There are still a lot of nutrients in the river, and temperatures are starting to come back up, so the river is holding on at this point,” Pierce said. “With the Saharan dust, that’s suppressing a lot of rain activity, and that’s been kind of a blessing.”
Record rains fell here in early June and flows in the Caloosahatchee River were high enough to cause damage to sea grasses and oysters in the estuary.
Pierce said he’s also worried about any water that may come from Lake Okeechobee.
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