Caloosa Belle

 

Published: Jan 17, 2007 - 02:50:55 pm EST

 

River debate on January 30: One DEP reclassification meeting in area

By Patty Brant

 

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will hold its only designated uses and classification refinement policy advisory committee meeting in Southwest Florida on Jan. 30 from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. The meeting will continue DEP's review of designated uses and water classification. It will be held at the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council, 1926 Victoria Ave, Fort Myers. It is open to the public and public comments will be heard.

 

The meeting will be followed by a workshop on water quality issues.

 

Environmentalists throughout the state are concerned over DEP discussions they feel would reclassify all man-altered state waters. That would mean the C-43 Canal (Caloosahatchee River) will essentially be able to accept reduced standards for water quality.

 

Local environmentalists fear the reclassification would turn the Caloosahatchee River into an industrial canal, changing it from "fishable/swimmable" to barely "splashable." They worry that any reclassification may not stop any type of new pollution and want to hold the line on further degradation.

 

As one of the most endangered rivers in the country, the Caloosahatchee struggles with bouts of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Experts say the algae is so toxic that one shot glass full can kill you; however, the US has no standards for dealing with it.