To the editor:

An opinion editorial entitled Building a wall at Cape waterway not a sound idea was recently published in the Cape section of the News Press. it was interesting to note how the same facts can be observed by different people and be interpreted completely different. Such is the case with this article; for example, the article reports that there were “some 12 breaks” in the spreader by 1995, and the state was unable to contain them. Later it correctly mentions that the tidal water flows in and out of the spreader system through these breaks and indicated that it was a surprise that this flow was West to East. Considering that this spreader is a seven mile long canal and approximately a minimum of 50 yards wide running north to south, one wonders why it would be a surprise that the tidal flow is west to east. One conclusion that is erroneously drawn in this article is that the current in the seven mile long canal is now predominately west to east. Having recently traversed a portion of the spreader, this writer can assure you that the current still runs north to south and is very strong.

This fact is borne out by the massive recent accumulation of silt/sand now forming in the bay at the mouth of the spreader outlet. This junction is a veritable river Delta, and the accumulation of silt/sand is spreading into Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve. This siltation began when the breach around the Ceitus boat lift first occurred and has had explosive growth since the removal of the boat life. This fact can be ascertained by a series of photos of the back bay taken by Lee County beginning first quarter 2005 and each successive first quarter until 2009. The contamination is clearly evident. This situation is beginning to adversely affect the marine habitation in these bodies of water. The sea grasses are being covered and a greenish foam has appeared in these waters. Marine life is disappearing. Again, all of this begun since the breach and subsequent removal of the boat lift.

The editorial claims that the lift may have been a Net Ecological Deficit (NED). Considering the above, it is extremely difficult to support that claim.

Another interesting item is the fact that this writer (et al) had a telephone conversation with the lead facilitator, Tom Taylor, PhD, of the NSEM A (the group charged with solving these problems) on Feb. 26, 2010, and Dr. Taylor stated that the major culprit in this situation is the development of the northwest Cape; in his words,“too many roofs and pavement.” Yet the author of this article suggest that, “properties west of Burnt Store Road will become more attractive for development with the resolution the barrier, i.e., boat lift will not be replaced.” Thus, we now find ourselves in the unique situation where the problem (roofs and pavement) now becomes the solution. For those of us born Post World War II, we endured the New Math as our children attended school; perhaps this reflects the New Science.

On March 21, an opinion editorial was written by Phil Buchanan, PhD, in rebuttal to the Building a wall…editorial was published. While this writer agrees in principal with the ideas and concepts of Dr. Buchanan in regards to improving the water quality of the spreader, Dr. Buchanan fails to address the sedimentation/silt problem that the absence of the lift has caused. This sedimentation has buried the sea grasses in the East Bay adjacent to Shoreview Drive where the spreader is dumping its contaminated contents. This has dramatically altered the marine habitat of this Bay; killing some and driving others away. The sedimentation/silt is now encircling Shoreview Drive and rapidly spreading into Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve burying and killing the sea grasses there also; again dramatically altering the natural marine habitat.

Cape Coral has agreed to dredge the canal around Shoreview Drive at some nebulous time in the future keeping navigation open for the boat traffic. This is good, but it does not address the killing of the sea grasses and the destruction of the natural marine habitat.

Another major shortcoming of Dr. Buchanan’s ecological solution is the fact that it will be many years (some of the overhead charts targeted the year 2050) before his living shoreline concept begins to improve the water quality. The city of Cape Coral needs to implement Dr. Buchanan’s recommendations, but at the same time in order for the estuaries of the East Bay and Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve to experience immediate relief from the contaminated waters of the spreader, the barrier (lift/lock) needs to be reinstalled forthwith.

Walter Doll and

concerned residents of

Shoreview Drive

Matlacha Shores