Water Quality a Concern in Matlacha Pass as Eels Surface

Concerns are rising over the water quality of Matlacha Pass after cloudy-looking water was spotted, bringing eels and other sea life to the surface for air.

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation believes the milky water is the result of bacteria and low dissolved oxygen.

“Eels not only live on the bottom, they often times live in the bottom. They actually create burrows,” said Dr. Greg Tolley, executive director of The Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Those who keep eyes on our water believe the swim to the surface might be due to low dissolved oxygen.

“The water quality is very poor, there are some suspended solids in the water, there’s macroalgae that’s coating the bottom that may be the culprit behind a lot of this,” said John Cassani, Calusa Waterkeeper.

That means fish may need to find oxygen higher up in the water.