Prioritize Cape’s canal system
To the editor:
Comprised of four hundred miles of canals, Cape Coral is no novice when it comes to dealing with water. It is everywhere in sight, yet the sight is quickly losing its appeal. In recent years, the state of the canal system has reached an all-time low, and minimal efforts have been put into action. The declining condition of Cape Coral’s canals is creating a major issue for the water’s quality.
Cape Coral consists of more miles of canals than any other city on earth. It was only a matter of time before this paradise felt the inevitable consequences. The population growth has risen over 50 percent within the last seven years, and that’s in the midst of an economic recession. Those drastic inflations produce demands for a house on saltwater and freshwater, the ideal desire for a homebuyer. Construction crews blow harmful debris into the city’s main water source lowering the water quality. Then, the inhabitants allow trash and other wastes to infiltrate the canals. Yet another issue is the water flowing into the Cape from Lake Okeechobee arriving contaminated to local canals. It all comes down to the fact that Cape Coral needs to recognize the situation and take initiative before it’s too late.
An overall improvement of Cape Coral’s canals can begin with formulating some solutions. These can range from canal and dam clean up to boating and fishing restrictions such as times or number of people. As it has been seen, the more people present, the greater the impact on canals. Each of these proposals not only come from an average 17- year-old, but are also a painless yet tactful approach to solving an eminent local issue involving the state of Cape Coral’s canal systems.
Nicholas Saracione
Cape Coral