Brewing no trouble: Pre-Helene tannin water harmless despite rainy tint
Before Hurricane Helene, some beachgoers have had questions about the color of the water, which, even on the Gulf of Mexico side of the island, was the light brownish color of a cypress swamp.
“Water-wise, we are still experiencing a tremendous amount of rain inland that is causing storm water runoff and hence the tannins in the water,” said Codty Pierce, Calusa Waterkeeper. “I have been out in the Fisheating Creek/Eastern Arcadia area twice this weekend scouting, and I can’t believe how much water is out there still.”
The extra groundwater in Southwest Florida does not appear to be affecting Enterococcus, which is best bacterial indicator of whether there is a public health risk to swimming water.
In recent water quality checks in Charlotte County, all locations, including Boca Grande, Palm Island North, Palm Island South and Englewood Beach locations are all showing as good for Enterococcus. Tests are published by the Bureau of Environmental Health and Florida Healthy Beaches Program.
Port Charlotte Beach, however, was shown as poor on Sept. 9, and rechecked on Sept. 11. It had 70.5 per 100 ml of marine water in two tests. Boca Grande Sea Grape was tested on Sept. 23, and showed good water. A test on Sept. 9 also showed good conditions.
There is some red tide near Tampa Bay, but not here. Reports the FWC:
“The red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was observed at background to very low concentrations in three samples collected from Pinellas County, background concentrations in one sample collected from Manatee County, background to low concentrations in five samples collected from Sarasota County, and background concentrations in two samples collected from Charlotte County. Karenia brevis was not observed in samples collected from or offshore of Hillsborough, Lee, Collier, or Monroe counties.”
For fresh water, there is risk from upcoming rains. The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation is keeping a close eye on inland estuaries and lakes. They report that Lake Okeechobee is already over 15 feet.
The state also checks freshwater for algal blooms up in Charlotte Harbor and at Englewood’s Indian Mound Boat Ramp. There, on Sept. 25, Anatoxin-a, Cylindrospermopsin and Nodularin-R were not detected. Other local observation spots include the Peace River Harper Avenue Canal, and the Elkcam Canal in Port Charlotte, where there were algal blooms.
Back on island, visitors walking on Gasparilla Island beaches saw a number of different species on the beach, including some dead eels. They do not do well with lower levels of oxygen in the water.
“Eels are especially vulnerable to hypoxic conditions,” said Pierce.
Just before the storm, locals were also noticing a large number of baby sharks, easily visible in the water from the shore.
“Baby sharks are normal this time of year as they have been pupped,” said Pierce. “They hang out near the beach wave area as there is lots of food, baitfish and crabs.”
Residents can check the water themselves at floridahealth.gov. Algal blooms are tracked at floridadep.gov/algalbloom.
