Fort Myers homeowner alarmed as blue-green algae blankets river property

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, (WINK) — Blue-green algae has appeared along the Caloosahatchee River, alarming a local resident concerned about her family's health.

Melissa Musselman walks down to the Caloosahatchee River almost every morning. Sometimes she gets a glimpse of manatees, but this morning, blue-green algae covered her dock and extended halfway out to the river.

"We love it out here," Musselman said.

For Musselman, it doesn't get much better than her six and a half acres of serenity. Her property features chickens, horses and a peaceful view of the river.

"It is absolutely paradise, it's real serene," Musselman said.

That serenity was shattered when she looked down at the water this morning. Blue and green algae covered the Caloosahatchee just behind her home.

"I looked down, and it was immediate, and it was thick," Musselman said. "It looks like green marble."

The algae extended halfway throughout the river. Musselman was alarmed at how much of it there was.

This comes just days after the Lee County Health Department issued a blue-green algae warning for the Caloosahatchee and Sebastian Canal. The algae thrives in warm water, sunny conditions and slow-moving water with excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus.

The algae was less than 50 feet from Musselman's water well. She's concerned the algae could seep into her water supply, threatening her health and the health of her animals.

"It's very concerning, very concerning," Musselman said.

Musselman says she came to the area to escape development. Now she's worried that she might have to pack up and leave once again.

"This was going to be our forever home and it's being encroached on," Musselman said.

WINK News collected a water sample to bring to Florida Gulf Coast University's Water School for testing.