FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Lee County Department of Health has issued a health alert for a blue-green algae bloom in the Caloosahatchee River near the Davis Boat Ramp in Fort Myers.
Before the alert, DOH had warned the public to take caution in the area.
Blooms have the potential to release toxins, DOH said, and because conditions can change at any time, its important to use caution as though the bloom is toxic.
Thursday, green rings of algae in the river scattered at the edge of the Davis Boat Ramp.
"I really didn't see anything that alarming," said David Creadon, who lives along the river.
Creadon moved to Florida a few years ago to escape the Wisconsin winters. Since he lives so close to the water now, he's been bracing for the latest round of blue-green algae.
"I have been watching it and expecting some trouble to come down the road... come down the canal rather," Creadon joked.
And he's not the only one concerned.
“I don’t think anybody is surprised to hear that we are likely in for a bad summer," said Joesph Bonasia with Florida Rights of Nature Network.
Bonasia is a water quality advocate. He says he feels Southwest Florida is only at the tip of the iceberg and is concerned about the impact.
“It has been connected to neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and ALS," Bonasia said.
He added that experts are predicting this summer could rival what Southwest Florida experienced back in the summer of 2018 and 2019. Fearing what could be ahead, Bonasia wants more action because clean and healthy water is a fundamental right.
“To do what it has to do clean up the lake, not just to clean it up after the fact, but to stop the pollution at the source and going into the lake. Does that mean we need more reinforcement? We’ll do more reinforcement," Bonasia said.
Residents should take the following precautions:
- Do not drink, swim, wade, water ski, or engage in activities that may cause you to come in direct contact with waters where there is a visible bloom.
- Exercise caution when using personal watercraft or boating to avoid stirring up or contacting the algae or the affected water.
- Avoid getting affected water in your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.
- Keep pets and livestock away from the waters in this location.
- Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe.
Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts, and cook fish well. - You should not eat shellfish from this location.
