The neighborhood worries. Algae carpets in man-made canals around Fort Myers. The residents demand a remedy. In southwest Florida, the local news now has only one topic: pictures of blue-green algae along banks and bridges.
The algae come over the Caloosahatchee River. Biologist John Cassani says the exposure has been exceptionally high this summer:
“I’ve worked on the river for 40 years. But I’ve never seen algal blooms like this at this time of year. The spread and potential health hazards are extraordinary. That’s pretty shocking.”
Boat rental companies fear that customers will not be there. The first real estate deals along the water are said to have burst. The excitement is great. And it is heard. Because there are elections in the USA in the fall. In Florida, Governor Rick Scott wants to move into Congress as Senator for the Republicans.
“First of all, I understand that it is frustrating. I will continue to stand up for families in Florida and do whatever I can.”
State of emergency in seven Florida counties
Governor Scott has declared a state of emergency in seven Florida counties. His rival, incumbent Senator Bill Nelson, of the Democrats, has urged health officials to better inform:
“I wrote to the health department asking them to let the people in Florida know regarding warning signs, the imminent dangers of swimming or being around the algae, and breathing air.”
“The toxins that these cyanobacteria produce can cause liver failure. There is nerve damage associated with blue-green algae. And some of the bacterial compounds get into the food cycle. It’s a nasty problem, a health hazard possibly on a broad basis. “
Why nothing will change despite the election campaign
John Cassani says environmental protection is becoming a campaign issue in Florida. Interestingly, the election campaign is also responsible for ensuring that nothing will change. A campaign for entry into the Senate costs several million US dollars. And big donors in Florida are agriculture and real estate developers who are adding to the plight.
Because the problem is contaminated water from the nearby Okeechobee Lake, which is being dumped into the river. The army is trying to regulate the lake in a way that would otherwise overflow, explains biologist Cassani:
“North of the lake is a huge water catchment area with agriculture and residential areas. This is where the water pollution with nitrates and phosphorus enters the lake. And in the end we get something from it. If they have to drain water.”
Nitrates and phosphorus together with rising temperatures are ideal conditions for algal blooms. But Governor Scott doesn’t want to go that far. He claims that the reasons for the green-blue pollution must first be researched.
“We’re trying to find out what the cause is. I’m still frustrated with working with the Washington government. If the programs had decent funding, it might not have turned out that way.”
Dispute over responsibilities
“The federal government only decides on the watercourse. That means that those responsible in Florida want to bypass the debate regarding water quality and instead blame the government in Washington.
“Less nutrients in the water, a renaturation of the world-famous Florida Everglades in the south of Lake Okeechobee and free areas for summer floods would be long-term solutions. And the first steps have been taken. A quick remedy is not possible. But politicians will hardly say that in the election campaign.
