Water Quality Woes: Lee County providing dumpsters, mayors to discuss red tide cleanup

Mayors of Southwest Florida’s coastal communities are teaming up to figure out a solution for red tide cleanup.

The mayors plan to meet Wednesday to discuss a plan of action for cleaning up beaches littered with dead fish.

Fort Myers Beach Mayor Tracey Gore says that going to the beach shouldn’t be an unpleasant experience.

MORE: Is red tide impacting businesses on Fort Myers Beach?

Cape Coral Mayor Joe Coviello says in order to combat the red tide, they need strength in numbers.

Residents agree and are joining the cleanup efforts.

“Two years ago we talked about it behind the scenes like, ‘Oh my God, this is so terrible’ and we didn’t do anything and this is what we get,” said Scott Safford who owns the Sea Gypsy Inn.

“So now, this time we’re standing up saying this is ridiculous we’re not going to stand for it.”

Water Quality Affecting Air Quality

Dr. Paul kuehner has a walk in clinic on Sanibel. He’s had to tell patients on vacation it’s too dangerous to be at the beach, “it isn’t just affecting people who have chronic pulmonary disease or asthma, it’s affecting all people.”

Red tide blooms hug the coast and algae floats in rivers, like the kind Jerry Green says he has in his Forth Fort Myers canal, “I got a sore throat for like three weeks, and about two weeks, my eyes started watering.”

Doctor Kuehner tells WINK News it’s not healthy to be around red tide for more than a couple hours and, “if you or someone in your family has a history of problems, you shouldn’t be here at all.”

The doctor says if you’re already experiencing respiratory issues, it could lead to heart failure or secondary pulmonary problems, blaming pollution from Lake Okeechobee.

We reached out to state officials about how often the air quality is tested and what the results are in Southwest Florida and are waiting for answers.