Harmful algal blooms in Cape Coral Jessica Cosden Hi, Im Jessica! - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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harmful algal blooms in cape coral
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Harmful algal blooms in Cape Coral Jessica Cosden Hi, Im Jessica! - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Apr 12, 2023 19 likes •160 views

Harmful algal blooms in Cape Coral Jessica Cosden Hi, Im Jessica! Lifelong resident, mother of 3 Councilmember elected in 2015 Running for re-election Not a scientist ; just a very concerned citizen Cape Coral has 400

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Harmful algal blooms in Cape Coral

Jessica Cosden

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Hi, I’m Jessica!

  • Lifelong resident, mother of 3
  • Councilmember elected in 2015
  • Running for re-election
  • Not a scientist; just a very concerned

citizen

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Why is this issue so important to me?

  • Cape Coral has 400 miles of

human-made canals, is surrounded by water on 3 sides

  • Every resident lives less than

half a mile from water

  • My family’s health
  • Our economy
  • Our environment
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What is cyanobacteria (a.k.a. blue-green algae?

  • Occurs in salt/fresh water
  • Normal levels are safe
  • Conditions for overgrowth: stagnant

water, high temperatures, nutrients

  • During bloom: smelly, ugly, and

microcystins released into the air

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Health impacts

  • Short term effects: mostly respiratory
  • Long term effects? University of Miami

scientists found that dolphins that had come into contact with blue-green algae toxins displayed degenerative brain damage similar to Alzheimer’s, Lou Gehrig’s disease and Parkinson’s in humans.

  • Air quality testing underway in Cape

Coral and elsewhere

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Outbreaks

  • 2018: double whammy (red tide

and blue-green algae)

  • Many Florida cities saw the same

thing

  • Gov. Scott declared state of

emergency in 7 counties, including Lee

  • Current outbreak: blooms in 3

landlocked Cape Coral canals (2 adjacent to golf course, third within 2 miles of same golf course)

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Andrew Gillum - Yacht Club, August 2018

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Prevention (the one thing we can control: nutrients)

  • Reduce/eliminate discharges

from Lake Okeechobee

  • Enhance fertilizer ordinance
  • Convert septic tanks to sewer
  • Pet waste
  • Use natural or man-made

filtration before stormwater hits canals

  • Reduce nutrients in irrigation

water

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Treatments

  • Clay spray
  • Barriers
  • Other methods
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Clay

  • “Flocculation”
  • Non-toxic, approved by

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

  • Dry clay mixed with water,

sprayed directly into canal

  • Clay binds with algae, falls to

bottom

  • Used widely in Asia, being

tested here in Cape Coral

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Barriers

  • Turbidity curtains
  • Bubble curtains
  • Booms (Cape Coral Fire

Department used these during 2018 outbreak)

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Other methods

  • Foams/sponges
  • Suction -- in 2018, AECOM

pulled 190,000 gallons of algae slurry out of 11 Cape Coral canals

  • Methods that kill cyanobacteria

algae in the water

  • Any product used must be

approved by FL DEP, as the canals are considered state waters

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Algal bloom tracker

Source: Florida Department of Environmental Protection https://floridadep.gov/AlgalBloom (Image captured 9/4/20)

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Contact

Jessica Cosden jessicacosden@gmail.com www.JessicaCosden.com 239.770.5046