Nelson, Clawson discuss Southwest Florida water woes

Local, state and federal lawmakers met Saturday in Fort Myers to talk about a fix to problems caused by the Lake Okeechobee water releases.

Some leaders in the room said the bills Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Curt Clawson are promoting are Southwest Florida's last hope for cleaner, clearer water.

Nelson and Clawson were both in the room, along with several Southwest Florida mayors and others. "I'm a conservationist to the core, this is why I got into this in the first place," Clawson said.

They're calling it the number one topic this legislative session: sending overflow from the lake south rather than west or east.

"So if it's going to do this when we have a heavy rain, something has to be done. I hope they do something productive," said Bill Fulmer, who is a tourist to the area.

Nelson and Clawson discussed the three new bills they think would help if passed.