Swimmers, businesses unhappy with Cape Yacht Club beach closing

Tina James was swimming with her 3-year-old granddaughter at the Cape Coral Yacht Club beach on Sunday morning when workers arrived and started planting no swimming signs.

"We were in the water when they put the signs up," the 25-year Cape resident said Sunday morning. The pair had the beach almost to themselves at mid-morning with only a handful of sun worshipers sprinkled far and wide.

The signage was part of a health advisory that was announced via a Facebook posting by Cape Coral Mayor Marni Retzer on Saturday night.

Connie Baron, spokeswoman for the city, said Cape Coral City Manager John Szerlag made the decision to close the beach for swimming after talking with the mayor and state Rep. Dane Eagle, and reviewing a letter from DEP that indicated some potential risk to particular groups of people (children, elderly).

"He will talk with the appropriate agencies tomorrow and determine the proper course of action," she said in an email response to a News-Press question.

Beach-goers like James and business people near the beach bemoaned the ban and said the algae problem was having an affect on beach activities and their bottom line.

The notice stated: "ADVISORY-Effective immediately, the Yacht Cub beach is closed for swimming until we can follow up further with environmental agencies to  ensure the safety of our residents and visitors. We will keep you posted with any updates."

The mayor was not available for comment on Sunday.

Expert: Local waters 'ripe' for algae blooms

Algae had been reported in the Caloosahatchee River for more than a month. Algae started piling up on the east side of the pier at the yacht club on Monday.

A large bloom in the Stuart area on the east coast has crippled coastal operations there. Some water experts fear conditions will  deteriorate further in Lee County waters.

For James and her granddaughter the swim ban signs came a bit too late.

"There's no reason for this, some thing should be done," she said of the algae problem. "We love the beach here, the water doesn't get too deep fast."

James said she wished someone had come to the beach earlier, maybe even last night when the ban as announced, and put the signs up. The minute she saw the signs she pulled the tot from the water and both showered off.

"I don't understand why they keep releasing water," she said of the Lake O situation. "There's got to be a different way."

Algae coats Florida's East Coast

Regular beach-goer James Stallone of Cape Coral said the beach is usually packed at 10:45 a.m. on a Sunday. Scanning the sandy expanse only about a dozen others dotted the shoreline.

"We're usually here with some friends," he said. "It is disgraceful. It is really horrible, it should never have happened. The signs should have been up yesterday."

Stallone and his wife pulled up their beach umbrella around 11 a.m. and hightailed it out. "We'll go home and go to our pool," he said.

Out-of-state visitors were also discouraged.

Justin Briglin, 26, and Elizabeth Mussy, 49, of Saratoga, New York, took one look at the signage and said they were disappointed.

"I was down here last year and I could swim. I had plans to swim today," Briglin said.

"We'll probably go to Sanibel," Mussy said. "This was just spur of the moment."

Businesses around the club's beach were also feeling the effects.

Mickey Ferry, general manager at the Boat House Tiki Bar and Grill at the yacht club boardwalk area, said business was off about 40 percent so far due to the algae issue.

"The Boat House is a wonderful place," he said. "I have a lot of employees, some single mothers, who have been hurt by this."

Ferry looked around the deck of the restaurant and said people were staying away because of fears of toxic smells or other algae related issues.

"It hurts," he said. "The real problem is in other areas. This is a major problem, I understand that. My business depends on a healthy ecosystem. The politicians need to address this."

Waitress Mandy Newman, 26, said she has noticed a more than seasonal slowdown in the past week or two. Her opinion was that the algae issue was taking a toll.

Newman said she understands how things slow because of season but that the current conditions were even slower than that.

Ferry said that he's had to cut back on waitstaff because of the slower business but that the restaurant was open and the water looks clean and not a problem at the site.

"I'm still open, the music is still playing and the view is still good," he said. "Nobody is getting sick."

Businesses affected by water issue can get help from SBA

Ferry said any possible restitution would be up to the restaurant owner.

Local leaders went to Washington on Thursday to seek help with the water issues.

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