Bonita Springs extends red tide state of emergency
Thaddeus Mast
Bonita Springs will extend a state of emergency it declared in response to the algal blooms killing mass amounts of fish and sea mammals, the City Council voted Wednesday.
The effects of red tide have slowed in recent weeks, but Councilor Fred Forbes said the continuation is needed.
“It’s not over,” Forbes said. “We’re not out of it for years to come.”
Two types of algal blooms have affected Southwest Florida waters for months. Red tide — a naturally occurring, harmful marine algae known as Karenia brevis — has spread toxins offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.
Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, has spread fresh waters in the vicinity of the Caloosahatchee River, making a goopy mess of canals in Cape Coral and other parts of northern Lee County.
Bonita Springs resident John Paeno praised the City Council's vote to extend the state of emergency. Paeno is a co-owner of CGT Kayaks, a downtown business that rents and sells kayaks and leads tours on the water.
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“Red tide is a scourge plaguing our whole coast,” Paeno said. “I commend you in your efforts.”
The City Council first set the state of emergency in place during an Aug. 15 meeting, after Mayor Peter Simmons brought forward a resolution.
“Our neighborhood beach is closed, some of our beaches are closed, there are dead fish,” said Simmons in August. “The bottom line is, I feel strongly we don’t do this (passively).”
A local state of emergency allows the city to use people’s docks or property for cleaning efforts and opens the door for state funding — the extension’s most important aspect, Simmons said.
“It’s a funding mechanism,” he said. “If we don’t file for the extension, we’re not eligible for funding for reimbursement for local businesses that have a loss of revenue, loss of tourism, loss of tourists.”
The heavy red tide presence in salt water has led to fish kills washing up on Bonita Springs beaches and floating offshore for the past month. Many beaches are empty as locals and tourists avoid the dead wildlife and toxic algae.
Blue-green algae has not penetrated the most popular waterways of Bonita Springs, such as the Imperial River. However, some residents have said their local canals are topped with green slime.
More:State to give another $3 million to counties impacted by toxic algal bloom
More:Florida algae crisis: Snook, redfish off limits for anglers due to red tide
The economic effects on local businesses are unmistakable, Councilor Greg DeWitt said in August.
“I’ve talked to local realtors — the people who normally book out for season for rentals isn’t happening,” DeWitt said.
Jim Weeks, owner of Horse Weeks Seafood in downtown Bonita Springs, agreed that the prolonged red tide outbreak has caused an economic fallout in the city.
“We’ve got businesses tied so closely to the water, we don’t need any more bad advertising,” Weeks said.
To declare a state of emergency, Bonita Springs officials have to prove red tide and blue-green algal blooms are affecting the city directly.
City Council said the dead fish and economic downturn for local stores and shops are enough proof.
Simmons said Bonita Springs will stand with other area cities in declaring emergencies and advocating for change.
The city’s emergency resolution attributes the blue-green river algal blooms to Lake Okeechobee discharges and supports re-routing water from the lake south into the Everglades.