Working together, we can make a difference
To the editor:
On Friday, July 9, the City of Sanibel was notified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) of their decision to begin a 12-day pulse release from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries on Sunday, July 11, at 7 a.m. The target flow to the west was an average flow of 4000 cfs over the 12-day period, measured at S-77 (Moore Haven Lock and Dam). The target flow to the east was an average of 1800 cfs over the 12-day period, measured at S-80 (St. Lucie Lock and Dam). At this flow rate, it would devastate our region. It is the City of Sanibel’s position that the flow rate should not exceed 2800 cfs and that USACE measure the flow to the Caloosahatchee at S-79 (WP Franklin Lock and Dam).
Nutrient rich water from the Lake Okeechobee risks damaging seagrass beds and oyster bars as well as triggering algae blooms with algae washing up on area beaches and devastating the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Previous such Lake releases in 2004-2007 caused algae events that had a devastating affect on our local economy. The loss of marine seagrass destroys one of the most productive habitats in the estuary that is critical to the production of many of our commercially and recreationally important fish, shrimp, scallops and crabs. If lost, these habitats could take years to recover. Damage to the estuaries caused by nutrient rich excessive water releases from Lake Okeechobee directly affect our economic engine, tourism, as well as the way of life of our residents and possibly our property values.
The announcement of the water release by USACE on July 9th resulted in immediate action by the regional stakeholders. Vice Mayor Denham reached out to the Commander of the USACE in Jacksonville. The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and others lobbied for reconsideration of the amount of water to be released as well as the location to measure such release.
I personally wrote and faxed letters to Senator Bill Nelson and Congressman Connie Mack to enlist their assistance in reducing the Lake Okeechobee releases to a level that would not devastate our region, including Sanibel. A message needed to be delivered to the Commander on how critical the situation was to all of Southwest Florida.
I also had the opportunity to personally observe the affects of the high water release on the condition of the estuary and obtain information concerning local impacts with members of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and a staff member from Senator Nelson’s office. We observed SCCF staff examine one of their RECON real time water quality testing stations that are placed in strategic locations in the Caloosahatchee River and estuary. The data from these stations is used extensively by City and County natural resources staff to provide up to date information and recommendations to the Corps and water management district regarding lake discharges.
On July 13th, USACE announced a new 14-day release schedule. Responding to the unified request from Southwest Florida stakeholders for relief from very high flows out of Lake Okeechobee, the flows to the Caloosahatchee dropped to no more than 2,000 cfs as measured at S-79 as requested, the westernmost lock on the Caloosahatchee River.
The USACE new release schedule was a welcome relief due to the unseasonable high water flows for over 120 days as a result of the abnormal wet spring and early summer weather. Water releases at 2000 cfs give our estuary grasses and important marine life a much better chance of surviving which helps make Southwest Florida the beautiful paradise that it is.
The immediate local response to the threat of excessive nutrient rich water releases by the USACE made a significant difference in both the amount of water released and the location that the release should be measured.
Southwest Florida stakeholders will continue to be vigilant and work closely together to defend and protect our environment, economy and exceptional way of life.
Jim Jennings
Sanibel City Council Member
President, Southwest FL
League of Cities
Director, Florida League of Cities