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The District 2 office has continued to hear from residents concerned about what they are observing at our beaches. Below is an excerpt from our most recent update from the County's Pollution Control staff:
"The brown water at Naples beaches started showing up last week. It has moved back and forth between Barefoot Beach and Naples Pier. This brown water is being caused by a bloom of a non-toxic diatom, Cylindrotheca. Most of the Naples beaches are also experiencing low oxygen levels and species that aren’t typically affected by red tide toxin (crabs and sand dollars) are dying from lack of oxygen. Other bottom-dwelling fish such as flounder, eels, batfish and toadfish are also being affected.
We still do have red tide at some beaches and offshore along the entire Collier coastline. People who are sensitive to red tide or have chronic breathing illnesses might want to avoid the mainland beaches; Marco Island seems to be the only beach currently not experiencing discolored water or dead fish. However, these bloom events are very patchy and conditions can change quickly. People can check out the Beach Conditions Report before they go at www.visitbeaches.org.
We could use the public’s help in reporting conditions, good or bad, at the beaches. If they have a smart phone and visit the beach, they can download the app MOTE CSIC. This information is used by MOTE, NOAA, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and University of South Florida to track and forecast red tide and other harmful algal bloom conditions. [UPDATE: The iPhone app is not available for download at this time. MOTE is aware of the problem and working on it; please check back in a day or two if you want to use this app.]
In addition, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has a Red Tide Offshore Monitoring Program. Because of limited state personnel, boats, and other resources, this program relies on volunteers such as charter boat captains, commercial fishers, divers, and other citizen volunteers to collect offshore water samples at least once a month from piers, bridges, or docks along shore or from locations at least 1 mile offshore. FWC pays for sampling supplies and shipping costs. E-mail for more information or use the Volunteer Signup Form to learn more about this program."
As we have worked together this spring and summer, I have once again been so impressed by our county's staff, this time at Pollution Control. These men and women chose this profession because of their love for and commitment to protecting our natural resources, and it shows in the passion they bring to their work and their perseverance in these difficult circumstances. I look forward to hearing their updates throughout the Fall, and to our fertilizer workshop in February. I'll bring you more information on that as we get closer.
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