Ecologist talks Ceitus boat lift at GPICA meeting
In its continuing series about the hazards facing the waterways of Matlacha and Pine Island, the Greater Pine Island Civic Association invited noted ecologist Kevin Erwin to speak at its meeting last week.
In the announcement of the meeting, GPICA Vice President Kathy Malone said, “The Greater Pine Island Civic Association represents issues affecting Pine Island, Little Pine Island and Matlacha – three islands that are surrounded by water. The value of our homes, the success of our businesses, our fishing and tourism industries, our quality of life and health depends on the quality of the waters that surround us.”
In introducing Erwin, Malone said, “Kevin is a consultant, he travels around the world and is internationally known, but he has been in this area a long time. He was involved with the mitigation bank on Little Pine Island, involved with putting in the original spreader and barrier and the Ceitus boat lift. He knows this area well and shares some of the concerns we have.”
“The last time I was here was in 1996 and I came here to allay fears that the island was not going to be developed,” Erwin said, starting his presentation. “I am here tonight to talk about the science of water and the North Spreader Canal and how it may, or may not, be affecting the waters of Matlacha Pass and that ecosystem.”
“I am a third generation Floridian,” he continued. “I grew up in the Everglades. That’s what got me started to becoming an ecologist. Most of what I do around the world is ecological engineering and problem solving.”
Erwin then explained his background concerning the spreader canal and the Ceitus boat lift.
“Tonight when we talk about the spreader canal and the Ceitus boat lift, I do have some history there because I was working for the state at that time and was one of the few people that did the science investigations at the time.
“One of the things I did was to work on Cape Coral for then Gov. Reubin Askew,” he continued. “To make a long story short, the Gulf American Corporation (the development company of Cape Coral) was developing lands that they didn’t own – lands owned by the state including lands below the mean high water line including mangrove lands. Within a couple of weeks of receiving a cease and desist letter from the governor, they went bankrupt. This was the largest bankruptcy in the states history at that time.”
Erwin went on to say, “We were able to have the developer restore the lands that they didn’t own and restore that mean high water line even further inland than it was originally. There was also a fine of $1 million the largest environmental fine up until that time.
“The spreader waterway was put in at the point of demarcation of the waters of the state of Florida and the waters in the Cape Coral canal system. The spreader system restored the hydrostatic pressure (pressure exerted by or existing within a liquid at rest with respect to adjacent bodies) in the canal system. That spreader canal was never intended to provide any water quality benefit it was strictly to maintain hydrostatic pressure and a spreading of fresh water into the mangroves.
“So what has happened in the last 30 years? The original settlement order contained a warning that there needs to be a watershed study and other things done so that system doesn’t deteriorate to the point where we have the problems we are having today,” he continued. “What happens with a system that eight, nine or 10 miles long and starts to leak is it releases pressure where the leak occurs and water starts to flow in one area instead of another area. What we have now is a system discharging mainly at the south with several other breeches along the entire length. As the tide goes in and out from north to south, water rushes through these breeches north to south instead of east to west. I don’t have to tell you that this is really disruptive to the system. You have all seen pictures of siltation occurring raising the beds.
“What we need to do to fix this system is to understand how it got that way. What we know is that the mangroves are going through a process of change. That doesn’t mean we’re going to lose them we just don’t know until studies have been done.
“One of the good things that’s happened is the city of Cape Coral and Lee County decided to work together and let the scientists work together,” he continued. “We installed a monitoring system because when you go to court you need to show what conditions were before, what they are now and what they could become.
“We put in probes to begin collecting data to create a mathematical picture of water flows and water quality studies.”
Some time in the next month, the collection of that data will stop, he said. “They’re going to take all of that data from September 2012 until now and send it to an engineer that will create a three dimensional picture of what’s really going on out there.
“The next step after that, engineers will target areas to do ecological analysis. That will give us a really good idea of what’s happening in that system by fall of this year.
“One of the beautiful things about these models is they can tell us what the future holds by running predictive models.”
Erwin suggests that citizens stay involved.
“Keep in touch with your elected officials to let them know what your interests are. They are finally on track to determine what the conditions are in Matlacha Pass.”
The meeting was followed by a brief question-and-answer period.
Roger Wood, president of GPICA, asked, “As you know, we’re part of a lawsuit against Cape Coral to replace the barrier and put in a boat lock would you address that?”
“It’s important that the hydrostatic pressure in that system be restored,” Erwin said to applause from the audience. “I’m not saying is has to be either a boat lift or a boat lock, but everybody is going to have to work together on this to solve that problem. A second part of the solution is to find places to store water. Once Cape Coral gets off septic systems, the water levels in those canals can be raised, it becomes more difficult to manage. All these things cost money and that money will have to be found.”
At the conclusion of the Q & A, Ray Judah, Florida Coastal & Ocean Coalition Coordinator and former County Commissioner, was asked if he had anything to say.
“This has been a terrible injustice perpetrated on the people of Lee County by the city of Cape Coral and the state,” Judah said. “Dr. Phil Buchanan has taken it on his shoulders, and there is a huge supporting cast, to wage this legal battle on behalf of all of us. I am willing to leverage some funding. I am willing to match up to $500 in funding, and I mean tonight, towards funding this legal battle. If you all can raise $500 dollars here tonight I will kick in another $500.”
In a matter of 15 minutes $724 was raised from 30 or 40 people. With Judah’s $500 the total came to $1,224.
The GPICA has been active for over 40 years and according to group officials is responsible for the retention of the “Old Florida” charm and atmosphere that attracted most of us to this location. The GPICA strives to protect the health, safety and quality of life of the residents through educational programs and necessary group activities. All civic meetings are open to the public at no charge.
Meetings are at 7 p.m., the first Tuesday of the month at the Elks Lodge on Pine Island Road, west of Stringfellow Road.