Many residents living in greater Estero are unaware that Estero Bay was the first aquatic nature preserve established in Florida in 1966. It is a 10,000-acre Florida State Park with water, inlets, and islands along a 10-mile stretch. It is bordered on the west by a chain of barrier islands, which include Estero Island, Long Key, Lovers Key, Black Island, Big Hickory Island, and Little Hickory Island, from north to south, respectively. Mangrove trees are the Bay’s most dominant vegetation, although you can find extensive seagrass beds within the shallow bays and sounds.

The combination of subtropical climate, the lagoon configuration, and vegetation make this estuarine complex one of the most productive in the state. Approximately 40% of the state’s endangered and threatened species are in this area.

The estuary also indirectly supports a variety of commercial and sport fisheries by providing nursery areas, which substantially adds to the local economy. The estuary is also an essential home for bird nesting colonies and a valuable stopover area for migrating birds. It attracts many boaters, paddleboarders, kayakers, fishermen and women, and those who want to enjoy the view and sunset. It is a huge attraction for residents and visitors alike.

But sadly, the Estero Bay is at serious risk. The consequences are grave as it puts in peril the revenue received from tourism. Lee County’s Visitor and Convention Bureau has reported that there are 4.5M visitors to Lee County annually, giving rise to over $ 4 billion in revenue, with 20% of those employed in the county connected to tourism! Climate change, hurricanes, red tide, and blue-green algae seriously impact tourism in our area, although the full impact has yet to be determined. While addressing these issues in the short term may be challenging, the medium- and longer-term impact will be catastrophic if we don’t act meaningfully.  

Captain Codty Pierce, The Calusa Waterkeeper, addressed the Engage Estero’s Community & Member meeting on November 15^th and summarized his concerns about water quality in our area. He reinforced that using the Caloosahatchee to drain water from Lake Okeechobee hurts our local ecosystems in two ways:

1. Too much or too little freshwater kills oysters, seagrass, and larvae of aquatic species
2. The nutrient-rich water carries and accelerates algae blooms into canals and estuaries.

Historically, wetlands filtered and cleaned water flowing across the land. Without that natural filtration, algae are next in line to benefit from the nutrients. Blue-green algae live in fresh and brackish water canals, rivers, and estuaries, creating toxins that harm wildlife and humans.

The Seagrass level is down to only 4% of its historical range in Estero Bay, replaced by algae due to a high nitrogen level (it increased by 250%). Captain Pierce feels it is a “classic tragedy because everyone contributes a little bit to the overall impact of what we are facing, and no one is responsible for the clean-up!”

Why is seagrass Important? Underwater seagrass meadows — one of the main habitats in coastal estuaries — represent one of the most biologically productive biomes on the planet. They reduce the indirect effect of coastal erosion, through their capacity to stabilize and maintain sediments on the seabed. They also improve water clarity and quality by capturing organic material, sediments and nutrients that flow in the water. It supports a range of marine life. It is a vital food source for manatees, which are endangered, as well as providing the opportunity for fish larvae to develop and grow into various adult fish species to repopulate the Gulf and inner waterways. Yet, seagrass habitats are being lost at an alarming rate, and their decline now rivals those reported for tropical rainforests, coral reefs and mangroves.

Like the rest of Southwest Florida, the Estero area has been experiencing a rise in the water level in the Gulf of Mexico due to the rise in global temperatures and its impact on the polar areas.

The consequence is that with higher water levels, sea levels rise, and that water is constantly encroaching on the areas we call home. The more that the water makes contact with our areas, the likelihood of pollutants entering the water goes up. Captain Pierce added, “As the sea level rises, the water has more force to push water inwards, and then when the water drops, it has a greater force of drawing nutrients out of the land.”