Study finds really high or near zero salt levels avoids toxicity

Charlie Lassett of Fort Denaud remembers what the water used to look like around here.

“Water and Okeechobee lake and Kimimmee lake was just as clear as crystal,” Lassett said. “You could see the bottom anywhere. You can catch a 5 pound bass most any place you want to stop. You cant do that anymore.”

Just a few weeks ago, the river was disgusting, with a blue-green algae haze in thick layers all along the surface.

“It would just get like it would look like in the back of those homes in Cape Coral can,” Lassett said. “We get thick. It looked like Jell-O.”

In a recent study conducted by the scientists at the United States Geological Survey, the Jell-O looking blue-green algae becomes toxic when it is mixed with salt. It suggests you can avoid toxicity if the salinity levels are really high or near zero.

“I thought it was interesting that they had pretty solid evidence that toxicity increases with salinity,” Dr. Mike Parsons said, an FGCU professor.

Parsons said this study by the scientific agency will not change his opinion because if the salinity levels are kept too low or too high, it can destroy the estuaries.

“It’s just another factor that we need to have weighed in as we decide how to handle not only the blue-green algae blooms,” Parsons said, “but how we want to best manage estuary in part of the Caloosahatchee in terms of estuary health.”

Dr. Parsons said the focus should remain on eliminating harmful nutrients from the water ways and flushing out canals.

Lassett is afraid what will happen if something is not done soon.

“That’s what you’re going to end up with,” Lassett said. “A polluted world.”