NEWS PRESS
March 08, 2007

Beach battles unwelcome visitor — algae — at worst time

By Pedro Morales

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070308/NEWS01/703080372/1002

Fort Myers Beach officials will continue to pick up red drift algae today after it began to accumulate over the weekend in piles as deep as 2 feet. "They're going south from around the Red Coconut (RV Resort) to as far south as they can get," said Cathie Lewis, the town's senior project manager.

Workers are using a Bobcat tractor with a utility arm to pick up the thick algae, which has collected near Chapel Street on the northern half of the island. A larger tractor is raking the thinner algae. "We will not be out there every day," Lewis said. "It will be based on the accumulation after a daily assessment."

This outbreak of algae couldn't have come at a worse time for Beach businesses. March is typically the busiest month of the year as 12,000 students descend on the town for spring break and spend an estimated $6 million.

"It looks nasty," said Lucy O'Brien, a sophomore from Michigan State University. "I mean, it's better than 2 feet of snow in Michigan, but you'd think they would clean it up for the tourists."

Tom Myers, owner of the Red Coconut RV Resort on the northern half of the island, said the algae was horrible. "We're getting complaints, but we've not had anyone cancel on us," Myers said.

The part of the beach almost two miles south of the Mantanzas Pass Bridge is experiencing the worst of the algae. Last summer, red drift algae covered the island's beaches and a number of tourists left early complaining of rashes and breathing problems.

The algae, so far, is less extensive.

A spokeswoman for the Diamondhead Beach Resort near Times Square on the north end of the island said the shore is clear of algae there. "We haven't received any guest complaints" Dina Craig said. Craig, who also represents Gullwing, Point Estero and Santa Maria, said those resorts have had no cancellations either.

Florida's Department of Environmental Protection issued a permit last week allowing algae to be raked below the tide line, where most of the accumulation takes place.

Fort Myers Beach has a policy to clean below the tide line only when two-thirds of the five-member town council deems it an emergency.

Notifying council members and the public of an emergency meeting, and ensuring a quorum, can cause delays in the cleaning process. On Monday, a proposed ordinance was introduced to allow Town Manager Gary Parker to make the call on whether to clean up the algae. Hearings will be held Monday and April 2.

Seasonal beach resident Dianne Johnson said it should have been made that easy long ago. "I'm from Wisconsin and when a snowstorm hits and there is snow all over, they clean it up," Johnson said. "It would seem that it should be the normal course of business. ... It doesn't seem like that big of a deal."