Fort Myers

Lng: -81.88097 Lat: 26.64934Back to site data

Description

Fort Myers and Cape Coral has experienced rapid growth and urbanization in the past two decades, which has altered the amount of runoff to the Caloosahatchee. Shorelines vegetated with mangroves and marshes once lined the Caloosahatchee which trapped pollutants and provided wildlife habitat. Today, seawalls and concrete-lined canals predominate and provide no functional benefits. This allows fertilizers and pollutants from stormwater drains to run off directly into canals, and eventually the river and the estuary. Hypoxia occurs here with some regularity because of salinity stratification and high oxygen demand. Typically hypoxia occurs in late spring early summer but can occur anytime. 

 

Chip and Nancy Roach initially provided RECON equipment at Fort Myers.