Algae covers water from Lake Okechobee to Fort Myers

FORT MYERS, Fla.– Algae is covering water from Lake Okechobee down to Fort Myers.

Right now, more than half of Lake Okeechobee is covered by algal blooms. Captains For Clean Water co-founder Chris Wittman said it’s too late to make a big change for our summer. He hopes we do not experience heavy rain before June.  

“Water quality is the most important issue that affects our community and our economy,” Wittman said. “If we have a very wet summer, it’s going to be bad news for our communities.”

Captains for Clean Water is calling on the Army Corps to change where they release water for future dry seasons. They want engineers to send more water south during the winter months.

Captain Wittman hopes that solution will keep the lake lower and harmful discharges away from us. 

“The writing is on the wall, we are in a very similar situation to what we were in in 2018,” said Wittman.

Governor Desantis said he will not issue an emergency order because of the blooms.

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