Charlotte County Water Quality Manager Brandon Moody said in an interview with WGCU radio that the algal growth enabled by excessive nutrients “can cause a reduction in oxygen in the water that can make it difficult for fish and other organisms that need oxygen to survive. It can block out sunlight, which seagrass needs to be able to grow and thrive. So, it’s important for us to do our part to maintain the balance, which is really what it’s all about in ecosystems like Charlotte Harbor. It’s about balance.”

VOTE 411 provides information on registering to vote and the deadlines for doing so. It can tell you your personal registration status. It can tell you where your polling place is. (Well, we all know where to vote in person on the island.) It can look up your own ballot, and it also lists all the candidates for all the offices this year.

“Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach is excited to once again partner with CCA Florida as a destination sponsor of the STAR fishing competition,” said Tourism Director Sean Doherty of the Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau. “Showcasing Charlotte Harbor, the second largest estuary in the state, is a natural fit for this event. In addition, we applaud and embrace the conservation efforts of the Coastal Conservation Association as we rely so heavily on the quality and health of our waters from both a residential and tourism standpoint. We appreciate the opportunity to promote our area to responsible anglers throughout the state who have been educated on sustainable practices through their affiliation with CCA Florida.”