SCCF scientist predicts algae & red tide for SWFL this summer
LEE COUNTY – A scientist at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation doesn’t like the situation estuaries are in right now.
Lake Okeechobee is above 15 feet. That is higher than the Corps wants it to be this time of year. That is why they are releasing about 15,000 gallons per second west. They’re also releasing some water east down the St. Lucie River, and south towards the Everglades.
SCCF Scientist James Evans said this is not lowering the lake quick enough. He is worried we could see higher releases during the summer. The last time that happened, we had red tide blooms and algae plague the canals and coastline.
“If history tells us anything, we’re in for a rough ride,” Evans said. He said this is a similar situation we were in during the start of 2018. Our economy was destroyed as people stopped going to the beaches and islands.