Lake Okeechobee water releases

Oct. 21, 2005
Dear County Commissioners,
On behalf of the more than 250 members of the Cape Coral Civic Association please accept Civic's support for the Commissioners efforts to find a more immediate and permanent resolve with South Florida Water Management for the problems that have been created as a result of the fresh water releases from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee River.
The Caloosahatchee River is Cape Coral's eastern border. More than half of Cape Coral's 100 miles of salt water canals are influenced physiologically, environmentally and economically by the health of the Caloosahatchee River. Cape Coral's canals are the life blood of our city. Cape's canals are a vital part of the city's growth, flood control, transportation and parks and recreation systems. In addition river front and canal front property owners are assessed higher property taxes.
Civic believes the time frame suggested (2009 and 2010) by SFWM is not acceptable and requires greater acceleration in its implementation. The problems that have been seen and felt this year have magnified dramatically as a result of the negative cumulative effect from the fresh water releases over the years. People can't breathe as a result of the irritants that are being emitted from the river and our canals due to their unhealthy state. There has to be a better solution that allows for SFWM to simply flush away such a valuable resource such as fresh water released into the river. That waste is especially evident during our dry season.
While Civic does not have the answers to the problems, Civic reminds the commissioners that property owners from the City of Cape Coral provide property taxes that support SFWM, the State agency charged with managing and protecting the water resources of the region by balancing and improving water quality, flood control, natural systems and water supply. Our question is, are they doing their job?
Thank you in advance for your consideration.