Prevent wildfires by disposing of yard waste responsibly — Here’s what to do

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 26, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Fire crews have been working around the clock to put out the brush fire ravaging areas of 14th Avenue in Golden Gate Estates. More than 900 acres have burned and as of Wednesday morning and the brush fire is 80 percent contained. Fire officials are remininding people who live in areas prone to brush fires that burning yard debris is strongly discouraged, espescially during the dry season. Yard waste fires that get out of hand are one of the leading causes of wildfires in Florida, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture. Also, burning household garbage...

Birds suffering from neurological problems due to Red Tide

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 25, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

CAPE CORAL, Fla.– Red Tide blooms can be serious for the environment, it does not only impact the fish. While there have been several fish kills reported recently from Carlos Point Beach in Estero to a Canal in Cape Coral, birds are also affected by the algae. Experts said the birds brought in for treatment to CROW and Audubon in Collier County are exhibiting neurological problems like an inability to move. According to officials, this is a telltale sign that they’ve been eating fish contaminated with Red Tide. “Sometimes people describe it as being drunk...

Ecologist proposes landscape changes after Golden Gate Estates brush fire

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 24, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

GOLDEN GATE ESTATES, Fla. – Several groups in Golden Gate Estates are helping families affected by the fires. But a local ecologist hopes to make an even bigger change by preventing the fires before they even spark. Kara Driscoll studies plants and animals for a living. Over the weekend, she said she felt helpless as she watched fire crews battle a brushfire on 14th Avenue Southeast. “I don’t want to see people get hurt, I don’t want to see a tragedy like this happen again,” Driscoll said. “I think it’s incredibly brave that they’re out there...

Red Tide and blue-green algae continue to impact the Southwest Florida waters

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 24, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.– The latest samples on Red Tide show low to high concentrations up and down the Southwest Florida coastline, according to officials. The next water condition update will be on Wednesday. According to FWC, Bonita Springs waters have shown traces of Red Tide for months. This has not stopped beachgoers from enjoying the nice weather. According to Estero resident, Tony Kramer, he has only experienced pockets of red tide. “So we rented a boat and in the back bay there were pockets of red tide, even though we looked online and we saw there was red tide...

Technology could be used to respond to Lee County algae blooms

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 21, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – Lee County confirmed a contract with a vendor that could respond to algae blooms if they get bad this year is expected to go before the board of commissioners next month. In 2018, the county partnered with AECOM for a pilot program. Crews launched machines into about a dozen canals hit hard by algae in North Fort Myers and Cape Coral. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection granted the county more than $2 million in emergency funds to pay for it. The county did not specify if AECOM is the vendor it will contract this year, or what type of service...

Endangered sea turtle dies from suspected red tide poisoning

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 21, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

CHARLOTTE HARBOR, Fla. – A red tide bloom off our coast is suspected to be responsible for the death of the world’s smallest and most endangered sea turtle. On May 14, a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle was admitted to CROW after it was rescued in Charlotte Harbor, according to the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation. The turtle was found floating, breathing strangely, and acting like something was stuck in its mouth. Veterinarians suspected red tide poisoning. Despite intensive treatment for brevetoxicosis, SCCF said the turtle did not survive. The Kemp’s ridley is critically...

Online petition started to ban commercial boats at Cayo Costa dock

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 20, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

CAYO COSTA, Fla.– Hundreds of people have signed an online petition for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to stop allowing commercial boats at a dock on the south side of Cayo Costa.The island is nestled between North Captiva Island and Boca Grande, only accessible by boat. Its southern end, known as “the narrows,” has a dock that Randy Johnson with “Save Cayo Costa” told NBC2 used to be accessible to private boaters like himself. He loved the area for its remoteness and peace. “It’s the crown jewel of southwest Florida,”...

Blue-green algae detected at two boat ramps on the Caloosahatchee

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 20, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – Blue-green algae toxins have been detected at the Alva and Davis Boat Ramp’s on the Caloosahatchee River. The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for those areas based on reports of algae toxins found by the boat ramps. The department is recommending people avoid contact with the water. Blue-green algae can cause gastrointestinal effects if swallowed, according to local health officials. Children and pets are especially vulnerable, so everyone should keep them away from the water during a bloom. Stay up-to-date on alerts for...

SWFL’s algae situation continues to worsen, gunk decaying in Caloosahatchee

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 20, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The algae situation in Southwest Florida is getting worse as a bloom decays in the Caloosahatchee River. Algae first appeared in Lake Okeechobee, then at Franklin lock, the Alva Boat Ramp, and now its in Fort Myers at the Davis Boat Ramp. There’s a thin green film floating across the surface of the Caloosahatchee. The recent blooms smell worse than they look. The Calusa Waterkeeper said that they are sampling the green gunk to find out how toxic it is. On Wednesday, the Waterkeeper group sent a letter to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection...

Cape Coral officials prepare for blue-green algae in waterways

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 19, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – With blue-green algae appearing in some Southwest Florida waterways, the City of Cape Coral is preparing with a plan. “Our hope is to get ahead of this prior to it coming into our canals,” said Cape Coral City Councilor Jennifer Nelson. The plan has several parts. First, the city will be working with state and county agencies. The bubble curtain at the Mandolin canal will be reactivated. City staff will also look into developing and procuring additional bubble curtains for high-impact canals. Additionally, they will even look into producing in-house...

Tag: Environment