Dark water surrounds Sanibel Causeway after Lake Okeechobee water releases

SANIBEL – Dark water is surrounding the Sanibel Causeway as a result of water releases from Lake Okeechobee. The US Army Corp of Engineers plans to continue water releases from Lake Okeechobee even though algae was found on the lake.

“I won’t take a swim in it. Period,” said Victor Hernandez, who’s in town for the weekend.

For weeks now, local waters have been brown.

“We’re currently experiencing large volume discharges from Lake Okeechobee,” said Chris Wittman, co-founder of Captains for Clean Water.

Every year, when the lake levels get too high, the US Army Corp of Engineers releases water to the east and west coasts.

The releases create a very visible deterrent along the Sanibel coast.

“I was going to do some fishing and probably get in the water but the water is bad,” Hernandez said.