FORT MYERS, Fla. – A 13-year-old boy focuses his science fair project on the water quality crisis in Southwest Florida.
Ashton Brewster did the project on Lake Okeechobee after he couldn’t catch any fish near his home.
His family lives along the Caloosahatchee River with his family in Fort Myers.
Ashton put the project together 3 years ago, around the time Lake O was releasing water.
His project revolved around how the discharges polluted the water killing off the seagrass.
He spent a month collecting water samples and gathering data. As a result, his hypothesis was correct: the bacteria from Lake O water caused algae blooms affecting the seagrass.
He says the problem has gotten worse.
"Honestly, it has gotten worse. From my data, I said I think the seagrass is dying faster than before, because it didn't have as much time to grow back and it doesn't have the protection it needs.
Ashton is doing a follow-up project on the same topic in his TV production class.
His Mom, Sarah Alexander, says she’s never seen the water quality this bad. She’s lived in Fort Myers since she was a little girl. She prays something is done about the water before it’s too late
"This year was unbelievable. This year was apocalyptic where you feel like you are gaining ground and you are seeing fish in the river last spring, and then come summer within a few days, not weeks, it was dead...the river was dead."
Sarah said she believes the national recognition by Erin Brockovich will help bring a lot of awareness on South Florida’s water quality crisis.
Brockovich is holding a public town hall meeting Wednesday on the clean water challenges. Sarah and her son, Ashton plan to go to the meeting together.
