okeechobee water reseases

I was wondering if the florida water management people are still releasing water from lake okeechobee this year, or are they planning to release more during the rainy season? I remember last summer and fall the lake and river releases discolored the water around sanibel and a lot of people were upset about it. I also read residents of sanibel were considering taking legal action to stop the releases. Any info? Thanks!

okeechobee water reseases

As of a couple of weeks ago, when I was there, they were, but I don%26#39;t know if that is continuing. The Ft. Myers newspaper has taken this issue as a cause and has started a campaign against it. When I was there the paper had lots of pictures of algae-laden waters at the Ding Darling Sanctuary. This algae stuff is apparently threatening the wildlife, in adddition to being linked with recent red tides. I think the Ft. Myers paper is called the News Press or something like that and I urge you to Google it for complete coverage of this issue. They have also started a forum or message board where people can post their opinions on this issue.

okeechobee water reseases

Below is a link to a website the city of Sanibel has put together to speak directly to this issue. The page the link drops you on is a ';you can help'; page where they have email %26amp; postal addresses to let your voice be heard. I know the folks down there are rallying so how about all of us out of towners who love Sanibel help them out with our voices.

Everyone, please check out the site and if you feel like speaking up for Sanibel please do so and pass the word on.

http://www.sanibelh2omatters.com/help.cfm

:-)

www.news-press.com You will pay for archived stories.

A lawsuit has been filed by the City of Sanibel, among others, that are being impacted by the releases, including many towns along the river where the algae bloom killed many fish. See www.mysabibel.com There is a link to www.sanibelh2omatters.com/ which has tons of info.

This is a rock and a hardplace problem as the lake must be drained and the water has to go somewhere. Alternatives were offered in the suit, and others that would be affected immediately began their own protests.

It seems unlikely that the issue will be resolved quickly of easily, but the risk to the rufuge may end up being a big factor should the government decide to take it up. Regardless, FL is paying the price for its decades of land and water mismanagement and Sanibel and other locations that have done their best to maintain a sound ecology, unfortunately, may pay the price.