CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
They bought the dream… a home on the water. However, for Margaret and Carl Bohne, the view from their Cape Coral backyard has become anything but picture-perfect.
“We were away for most of the summer, but we came back about a month ago, and we’re kind of shocked at what we saw,” said Carl Bohne. “Nothing’s really moved. It’s really stagnant, to be honest with you, and it’s getting worse,”
Thick patches of dead grass and trash blanket the surface of the freshwater canal behind SW 13th Street.
Unsure how to tackle the problem, they reached out to the city. The Bohne’s said the city eventually responded, explaining that strong winds pushed the dead grass into the water.
“They have sent some guys out to look at it. They took some debris out and basically sent us a letter back saying that when the wind changes, that should take care of your problem. But my concern is, where does it go? To the next guy down the street?” said Carl.
Margaret also took her concerns to Facebook, hoping someone might have answers. Now, the couple is left wondering how much longer this mess will take over their backyard.
“If there isn’t a protocol or a system in place, I’m willing to help organize and design one and maybe prevent it before it gets to this stage,” said Carl.
Gulf Coast News reached out to the city for additional information. The city says Lee County Hyacinth Control District manages aquatic vegetation in this waterbody.
City staff confirmed that the district treated vegetation this week in several lakes, including Alhambra Lake, which borders SW 13th Street.
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