Is it safe? Current Weather. June 23, 2023 - Fort Myers Beach News. Find Out More; Next Previous. It was brown and it does have a strong smell. Funding necessary to cover emergency beach clean-up expenses through the end of fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. Readers can find beach water quality results at. 2023 Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, 2022 Sponsors, Winners & Honorable Mentions, Lee County Travel Rally & Community Celebration, How to Take Full Advantage of VCB Programs, Guests First Customer Service Training Program, Certified Guest Service Professionals (CGSPs), MOTE Marine Beach Conditions Reporting System, Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission Red Tide Current Status, Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission Red TideSample Map, Florida Health- HABs (Harmful Algae Blooms) Facts, Florida Department of Environmental Protection-Algal Bloom Sampling Status, Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Department of Health Cyanobacteria and Blue-Green Algae FAQs, Printable file with water quality FAQ black & white (PDF), Florida Department of Health Vibrio vulnificus Fact Sheet. It takes the town, but it also takes the people that are coming to visit, Mayor Allers said. The risk of catching the flu is moderate. The risk for mosquito activity are moderate. Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. The risk of asthma symptoms is high. . Water clarity in San Carlos Bay and along Sanibels beaches is very good due to reduced freshwater flows from the Caloosahatchee. Town of Fort Myers Beach is proud to present this annual drinking water quality report. Should we try to go someplace else? Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. I hope the water clears up, but until that time, visitors have a right to know what to expect, and these videos are not reflective of water conditions in FMB. Beach access 1 is right near the light house across from FMB. Click to reveal This report covers all drinking water testing from January 1 to December 31, 2022. This year the City partnered with Lee County, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, Charlotte County, South Florida Water Management District, the Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce, and the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation to launch a new fertilizer education campaign aimed at educating the citizens of Southwest Florida about the unintended consequences of over fertilizing on water quality. These are the ways, https://calusawaterkeeper.org/issues/bacteria-monitoring/, here for the direct link to Fort Myers Beach water sample results, Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area, Water quality information for visitors can be viewed, Current beach conditions collected by the BASE Department in the Town can be viewed, Live video footage of Fort Myers Beach can be viewed, Real time Gulf water quality can be viewed, Beach health advisory status can be viewed. Link to Sanibel Awards , http://garygoforth.net. Its always present in the Gulf of Mexico in small amounts, but when it blooms and occurs in larger amounts, it sometimes discolors the waters, giving them a reddish or brownish appearance, hence the name red tide. When blooms occur, their toxins can kill fish and other marine animals. Conditions for lawn mowing are fair. This website provides valuable partner resources, from timely information on visitor research to details on Visitor & Convention Bureau programs. Water is the lifeblood of Sanibel Island. This means that even if the U.S. Army Corps is not releasing water from Lake Okeechobee it is not uncommon for a storm event within Caloosahatchee watershed to make the water within the bays appear dark or turbid for a few days following a storm event. The State should acquire lands needed to store, treat and convey water south through purchase from willing sellers, acquisition of private easements, or by swapping existing non-essential state-owned lands to acquire the footprint needed to effectively store, treat and convey water south through the Everglades Agricultural Area. The machines used to remove debris from the waterways are enormous and look like an excavator on a. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Should we try to go someplace else? Hi all, we are going to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Water quality is measured against standards developed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. are representative of a suite of bacteria from the digestive tract of mammals, and often come from sources such as inadequately treated wastewater, leaking septic tanks, stormwater runoff, pet waste, livestock, and wildlife. more. Increase distributed storage in Kissimmee, Lake Okeechobee, and Caloosahatchee basins. Performance & security by Cloudflare. That could collapse at any time.. However, the Corps is using operational flexibility to target flows of 1,000 cfs at S-79. Disaster application case management/assistance at Disaster Recovery Centers is still available. Decisions made as far away as Orlando, in the headwaters of the Kissimmee watershed, can affect the quality of Sanibels waters. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. This Deer and Wildlife feeder live webcam stream takes to you to a wooded area is South Western Pennsylvania, in the United States. Florida Healthy Beaches Program NOTICE: If a beach is closed to the public, water quality will not be monitored and water quality advisories will not be issued. Check out our list below to see which beaches are open and which ones plan to reopen soon. 188.2 kB Be sure to use HEPA filters in your home to cut down on indoor asthma triggers. Flows greater than 2,800 cfs can reduce salinities in the lower estuary to a point where it can impact marine organisms including oysters and sea-grasses, which provide critical habitat for a number of important species. When their toxins become airborne, they can also have respiratory effects on people at beaches. I just returned (July 14, 2016). As of December 19, 2018, the elevation of Lake Okeechobee was 12.26 feet. August 28, 2013,Governor Scott visited Fort Myers to announce additional funding for water storage projects, including a commitment to provide $90 million in State funding for an additional 2.6 miles of bridging along Tamiami Trail to increase flow south into Everglades National Park. Fort Myers Beach in Florida is a long, sandy beach that's popular amongst locals, spring breakers, and families. Rep. Jenna . For 7/1/22: The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was not observed in the waters of Lee County over the past week. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. <form action="" style="background-color:#fff;position:fixed;top:0;left:0;right:0;bottom:0;z-index:9999"><div style="font-size:18px;font-family:Helvetica,sans-serif . There are several non-profit agencies that monitor the releases as they occur. Lake Okeechobee levelsare currently within the Base Flow Sub-band of the Lake Okeechobee Regulations Schedule. These projects will build the foundation for moving more water south into Everglades National Park and help to eliminate the harmful discharges to the estuaries. Natural phenomena such as hurricanes and heavy rains can increase water quality issues by increasing stormwater pollution runoff to local water bodies. Resource managers with the City and our partners at SCCF, J.N. This can have a trickledown effect on local businesses, resulting in lost revenue and jobs. Get answers to your questions about Fort Myers Beach, Browse all 5,386 Fort Myers Beach topics . We have updated our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Stay current with all the latest and breaking news about Fort Myers Beach, compare headlines and perspectives between news sources on stories happening today. Read today's pollen levels in Fort Myers Beach, Florida with IQAir. Administrative Services/ Human Resources/ Benefits/ Pensions, Business Tax Receipts (formerly Occupational Licenses), Police including Emergency Management Forms, Register with AlertLee for Emergency Announcements, Register for Recreation Center Activities, City of Sanibel Demographics - April 27, 2021, Commercial Hurricane Re-Entry Application, Link to City of Sanibel Red Tide Information Page, Link to Florida Protecting Together Water Quality Webpage, Link to 360 panoramic view of Blind Pass taken August 23, 2016; SanCap Aerial, Link to 360 panoramic view of Blind Pass taken August 16, 2016; SanCap Aerial. [ Conditions for hiking are fair. Its a weird thing to think about, but are people flocking back to the island faster than the community can handle them? Fox 4's Kenan Scott gets a live look at the damage done to Fort Myers Beach by Ian on the water. Just dont leave the garbage on the beach. When you book through Expedia, the entire process is simple. 5:39 PM. ], February 21, 2014 letter from Colonel Alan M. Dodd regarding supplemental freshwater flows to the Caloosahatchee ], Draft Summary of Lake Okeechobee Flows for Water Year 2016 provided by Gary Goforth I only spent a short time there before driving to another beach. In accordance with federal standards and regulations, our most recent testing data has been provided. Find out more about how to prevent pollution. The risk of weather-related sinus pressure is moderate. Of course, there are many other concerns with water quality that are not represented in this particular map, including vibrio, red tide, blue green algae, and hurricane debris in the water, to name a few. The more that we can get the word out that we want you to enjoy yourself, but we want you to be safe, I think thats the important message.. 454.8 kB We are here now and the water is brown and murky. No Fish kills and respiratory irritation suspected to be related to red tide have been reported in Lee County over the past week by FWC. August 02, 2013, Mayor Ruane and Director Evans met with representatives from Lee County, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the South Florida Water Management District to discuss discharges from Lake Okeechobee and the impact that these discharges can have on the ecological resources of the Caloosahatchee River and estuary and the economic impact that it could have on the local economy. When completed, it will move approximately 210,000 acre-feet of water south into Everglades National Park. Interim storage on C-43 West Reservoir site Project would significantly increase the amount of water that can be stored on the C-43 West Reservoir (Berry Groves) property until the full project is completed. The City of Sanibel | 800 Dunlop Road | Sanibel, FL 33957. The overnight low will be 67 F (19.4 C). [ For more information on the current status of red tide in our area, see link on sidebar of this page to the State and Federal red tide monitoring programs. FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. If youve been to Fort Myers Beach recently, youve likely seen the swarms of people that line the beach. Both (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Over the past several years, the City has implemented a number of measures aimed at reducing nutrients on-island. [ Hopefully the water releases from the lake causing this will slow down or stop and waters will clear up, but no one can be sure about that or the timing. Click hear to access the Fertilize Smart website, Overview and Impacts of the 2013 Freshwater Discharges. In accordance with federal standards and regulations, our most recent testing data has been provided. ], City Resolution 16-042 - Accepting and endorsing the "Caloosahatchee Watershed - Regional Water Management Issues" Report The west coast stakeholders, which include representatives from the City of Sanibel, SCCF, J.N. To see detailed information on this week's samples, view the current Statewide Google Earth map for June 16, 2023. Click here to see the Current Level of Lake Okeechobee. In Lee County, tourism generates more than $2.7 billion dollars annually. Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water with relationship to those characteristics' effects on human and environmental health. Statewide Red Tide Status Map (June 16, 2023) View a larger map (June 16, 2023). [ Florida Department of Environmental Protection algal bloom response website. Lake Okeechobee and Caloosahatchee Freshwater Discharges - Frequently Asked Questions (pdf 113.59 kB), On June 20, 2018, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued an Emergency Final Order to address the high-water conditions in the South Florida Region. To find out about more about water quality throughout Southwest Florida,visit the However, it is recommended that beachgoers avoid wading or swimming in large accumulations of drift algae, which may harbor bacteria. Fort Myers Beach, which sits on a 7-mile-long island along the Gulf of Mexico, saw "total devastation, catastrophic," Fort Myers Beach Town Councilman Dan Allers said Friday. We continually strive to adopt new methods for delivering the best-quality drinking water to you. Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Website. Get real-time and forecast pollen count and allergy risks data. Water is an integral part of daily life on Sanibel, and therefore, it is critical as stewards of this sanctuary island that we protect this important resource that defines our community. Conditions for flying are good. NewtonPark (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The health of our waters is important to our local economy because visitors and locals like to fish, dive, visit the beaches, and eat the seafood. August 16, 2013, Mayor met with Governor Scott; Martin and Palm Beach County officials; Senator Nelsons staff; and FLC Presidents Nominating Committee to discuss Caloosahatchee water resource issues. Committee approves Final Draft Report and Recommendations, October 1st 3rd Mayor Ruane, Vice Mayor Congress, and Director Evans traveled to Washington D.C. to attend Congressional Fly-in and briefing on the Lake Okeechobee Freshwater Releases hosted by Congressman Radel and Congressman Murphy. It regulates the types of plants that grow on our island, it supports the diverse populations of wildlife that make Sanibel their home, it provides recreational opportunities for residents and visitors alike, and it is the basis for our local economy. FEMA building new community in Englewood East to aid hurricane-impacted families, NBC2 tours the new Margaritaville Resort on Fort Myers Beach, Couple found slain in Central Florida retirement community, Floridas permitless concealed carry law takes effect July 1, Sean Martinelli: Its time for a referendum on rankings, Waterspout spotted off the coast of Naples. You might want to read through some of the threads to get some opinions. Flows less than 650 cfs allow salinities within the estuary to get too high, which can impact freshwater tape grass and reduce nursery areas for ecologically and economically important fish species. You know, they love the area. Please take a look at your designated day of the week. Thisdata map shows howclean the water is before you go swimming or fishing near Fort Myers. One of our greatest accomplishments towards addressing water storage within the Caloosahatchee watershed during this past year was adoption of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act[ ] of 2014 (WRRDA). Strong El Nio conditions during the winter and spring of 2015/16 resulted in rainfall greatly exceeding historical averages throughout South Florida. I was in FMB in Jan and March and the water wasn't super clear but this time it's s different story. ]. This year the Florida legislature appropriated $18 million to help fund the C-43 Reservoir Project and according to the South Florida Water Management District, work on the project is scheduled to begin in October 2014. The risk of experiencing weather-related arthritis pain is very high. It was a beautiful day so we decided to come sit out at the beach, said Paige Teregan. Weather 33C Thursday 28 | 32C Friday 25 | 32C Saturday 27 | 32C We are once again pleased to present our annual water quality report. Earlier this month, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, in nearly 100 samples throughout Southwest Florida. Do your part, dont feed the monster! This year the Florida legislature appropriated $18 million to help fund the C-43 Reservoir Project. ], July 8, 2014 sign-on letter from the SWFCF to Assistant Secretary of the Army Jo Ellen Darcy regarding risk assessment for the Herbert Hoover Dike 0:29 Last week, 11 Southwest Florida beaches got poor marks after tests showed high fecal bacteria counts. Register for Fort Myers alerts by visiting www.alertlee.com. Gulfshore Business The Trouble with our Water How Business and Civic Leaders Search for a Solution, January 2014 Stay alert of any changes to the weather forecast. The goal is not to maintain the Lake higher and store more water in the Lake permanently, but to allow for more operational flexibility in the event of an emergency to reduce the need for the Corps to have to discharge large volumes of freshwater to the estuaries.