Freshwater releases from Lake Okeechobee in the summer and fall have seriously degraded water quality in coast Southwest Florida harming sea grasses and killing fish and discolored water.

Mack said the there could be short and long term solutions. The short term solution, he says, involves limiting or diverting the quantity of the water being directed down the Caloosahatchee and the long term solution may involve improving the quality of the water being released into the river. Right now water in Lake Okeechobee contains large amounts of phosphorous and other nutrients.

Mack could not say how long it would take to accomplish this and he encouraged Sanibel City Council to keep all its options open, including the legal remedy of suing the South Florida Water Management District.

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I would like to see us be able to get some solutions without having to go through the legal system, because a lot of times the goals you’re trying to accomplish you can actually end up hindering. But you need to keep every tool you have available and if you have to use them, you have to use them.

At a recent meeting Sanibel city council members instructed their attorney to look into bringing a lawsuit against the South Florida Water Management District. City council members are working to get legislators to priority to the problem. Sanibel Council members spoke to Senator Bill Nelson in Sanibel and they are planning a trip to Tallahasse to see Florida governor, Jeb Bush as soon as next week