Fort Myers to join Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach and Cape Coral in petitioning for more water releases

The Fort Myers City Council voted to join three Southwest Florida cities in their petition to the South Florida Water Management District to increase Lake Okeechobee freshwater releases to alleviate the presence of an algal bloom on the region's waterways. 

Council members heard from Sanibel Mayor Kevin Ruane, who is spearheading the campaign, during their meeting Monday. He said Sanibel, Cape Coral and Fort Myers Beach were preparing a formal petition to the water district. A court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 29, Ruane said. 

Ruane gave an impassioned presentation about how he went in front of the water management district board Sept. 13 to ask them to increase their releases from 300 cubic feet per second to just over 700 cubic feet per second. 

More:Cape Coral to ask state to test air quality for algae toxins

More:More water set aside for Caloosahatchee during dry season

But instead, water officials increased it to just 400 cubic feet per second. 

That can mean more water for the river during dry times, but Ruane and others believe more water is needed to keep the Caloosahatchee River and its estuary in balance. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducts the water releases with input from the water district.

The state sets minimum flow levels to determine the point at which further water permit allocations would damage the downstream ecosystem. 

"I can't get water during the dry season and I get too much water during the wet season," Ruane said. 

"What they need to do is realize they haven’t managed the lake properly at all," Ruane added.

Ruane said he will speak to county commissioners during their meeting Tuesday morning and he plans to enlist the support of other municipalities in Lee County, including Estero and Bonita Springs. 

More:County sees blue-green algae dissipating, changes cleanup strategy

"I believe our citizens expect us to be proactive on this," Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson said. 

Councilman Fred Burson said lack of water quality will "destroy" the quality of life in Fort Myers. 

"Time is of the essence," Ruane said.