SCCF briefs Erin Brockovich on regional water quality
Representatives from the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation provided a water quality briefing cruise on Oct. 3 for famed environmental activist Erin Brockovich.
SCCF Natural Resource Policy Director Rae Ann Wessel and Marine Laboratory Director Dr. Eric Milbrandt spent the morning with Brockovich on the Caloosahatchee, addressing the issues and challenges to regional water quality resulting from current water management practices.
Milbrandt spoke to the data SCCF Marine Lab scientists are able to gather through the 24/7 RECON water quality sensors and other research on the causes of algae blooms in the Caloosahatchee. Wessel presented a historical overview of the channelizing of the Caloosahatchee to Lake Okeechobee and subsequent negative consequences that have threatened the health of the river, as well as the Pine Island Sound estuary.
“Ms. Brockovich was an engaged and quick study,” Wessel said.
Brockovich came to see conditions for herself because so many people from South Florida had contacted her.
“Her plainspoken passion whipped up the crowd as she cautioned, ‘Superman is not coming and I am not Superman, instead each of you have to engage: become informed, show up and demand action. A good place to start is at your own local government meetings. Unless you tell them, they won’t know that you are angry, what you are angry about or the health concerns you have.’ Clearly her enthusiasm and take no prisoners approach empowered the audience to engage,” Wessel said.
Following the cruise, Brockovich and Wessel participated in a Clean Water Panel at the Burroughs Home and Gardens in Fort Myers. Brockovich was enthusiastically received as a hero for her advocacy efforts. Other panelists joining the discussion on regional water quality were John Cassani, with the Calusa Waterkeeper, and Daniel Andrews, of Captains for Clean Water.
Brockovich, who introduced Wessel at the Clean Water Panel, referred to her as “the Take Charge Marge of the Caloosahatchee.”
Attended by a very large group of concerned citizens, the event was an opportunity to address the water quality challenges plaguing Southwest Florida before a public audience.
“If you’re looking for my permission to speak up and speak out, you have it – speak out,” Brockovich said before a group of almost 800 attendees.
Priorities raised by the panelists included health concerns and testing resulting from exposure to blue-green algae, the need to buy land south of Lake Okeechobee for water treatment and the inaction by the state to address both blue-green algae and red tide.
“We are on the verge of an opportunity – an extraordinary opportunity in six weeks to bring about policy reform. There’s never been more at stake,” Cassani said.
“The policies we enact today will impact our kids and definitely our grandkids,” Andrews said.
Brockovich urged those who have been impacted health-wise by the water quality issues to report their symptoms to her website at www.CommunityHealthbook.com as a means to document and share health issues concerned citizens are facing in different locations.
SCCF Business Roundtable members John Lai, president of the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce, Richard Johnson of Bailey’s General Store, Chris Davison of the Island Inn and David Schuldenfrei, with the VIP Realty Group, were among those in attendance.
The SCCF is dedicated to the conservation of coastal habitats and aquatic resources on the islands and in the surrounding watershed. Through its lab and RECON sensor network, it is the only organization providing 24/7 water quality monitoring at points throughout the Caloosahatchee and Pine Island Sound estuary.