LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- The beach at Franklin Lock along the Caloosahatchee has been shut down. Cyanobacteria has left the water so contaminated, the Army Corps of Engineers have declared it a health hazard.
The W.P. Franklin lock recreation area is ideal for families and friends to enjoy the beauty of Florida. But not right now.
Yellow tape is warning parents to not go in the water. Blue green algae blooms are making the water too toxic for Ben Warthen and his kids to take a dip after playing in the park.
The US Army Corps of Engineers posted on its website the beach is now closed.
Its not clear when it will reopen. But weekly tests by the Lee County Health Department showed the water saturated with cyanobacteria, or blue green algae,a dangerous neurotoxin.
Symptoms related to exposure to blue-green algae include stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing.
People who love coming to this park find the situation disturbing and worry how this water will impact communities down stream, particularly the beaches.
