{"id":283843,"date":"2026-05-25T17:49:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T17:49:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/283843\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T17:49:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T17:49:08","slug":"algae-bloom-stinks-up-caloosahatchee-river-near-w-p-franklin-lock-lee-county","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/283843\/","title":{"rendered":"Algae bloom stinks up Caloosahatchee River near W.P. Franklin Lock | Lee County"},"content":{"rendered":"

ALVA, Fla. (WINK) \u2014 Concerns are growing along the Caloosahatchee River<\/a> as visitors at W.P. Franklin Lock report a possible algae bloom, a strong odor, and noticeable changes in the water.<\/p>\n

Diana Whatley, a park visitor, was at the lock to observe Purple Martins when she encountered the concerning conditions. She said she comes to the area almost every year to see the birds.<\/p>\n

“In that box, if you look real careful, there’s like little beaks sticking out,” Whatley said.<\/p>\n

Her planned day of birding took an unexpected turn. “I will be keeping well away from the water’s edge, that’s for sure,” Whatley said. “Definitely had not anticipated this.”<\/p>\n

The water glowed a greenish color. “It’s pretty nasty,” Whatley said. “It’s rotten, slightly sewer-ish. I have never seen algae that literally kind of soap sud blue before.”<\/p>\n

WINK News reporter Bridget Bruchalski visited the park to speak with visitors about what they were seeing and smelling. Just up the Caloosahatchee near the Sebastian Canal, a health warning was issued earlier this month for blue-green algae. Bruchalski sent photos of what was observed at W.P. Franklin Lock<\/a> to the Florida Department of Health, requesting water testing and confirmation.<\/p>\n

“I would hate to be wildlife trying to live amongst that. That’s just nasty,” Whatley said. “It’s actually gotten to where it’s kind of too crispy on the top a bit.”<\/p>\n

Dead fish were rotting along the riverbank. “I wouldn’t want to be a fish. I wouldn’t want to be a frog, because that’s really concentrated toxin,” Whatley said.<\/p>\n

Whatley expressed concern for people venturing onto the water. “The kayakers, bless them, they’re braver than I am,” Whatley said. “Do not swim in this mess, do not drink this mess, do not get this mess in your eyes.”<\/p>\n

As for her day of birding, Whatley summed up the experience simply. “Yuck, that’s just kind of yuck,” Whatley said.<\/p>\n

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