Legislators don’t want to hear the emotional stories about how harmful algal bloom (HAB) has affected the lives of Southwest Floridians, said Matt DePaolis, SCCF environmental policy director and moderator of the SanCap Chamber panel discussion at the July 10 business luncheon held at Pink Shell Beach Resort. “They do listen to numbers in Tallahassee,” he said as he introduced a partnership study released this year about the economic impact of poor water quality.

 

Representatives from the four partner organizations that commissioned the study made up the meeting’s ”Economics of our Ecology: How Blue = Green” panel: James Evan, chief executive officer for SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation); Daniel Andrews, co-founder and executive director of Captains For Clean Water; Bill Robinson, chief executive director for Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of REALTORS; and Michele Arquette-Palermo, chief programs officer for Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

 

“We partnered to put together a study to give us those numbers, to give us some of that data that would be impressive to our legislators, our decision-makers, so that they know truly the ramifications of the decisions they’re making,” said DePaolis.

 

He presented some of the figures gleaned from research in Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties, beginning with the number $5.2 billion – the amount lost in the coastal economy from a future HAB of the severity of those experienced in 2005 and 2018. Lee County alone would lose $3 billion. He also talked about impact on jobs, fishing-related revenue, property values, and tax revenue before posing questions to the panel. (Results of the study are available at sccf.org/economic-impact-water-quality.)

 

The panel discussed recovery from past events, the effectiveness of what is being done, and what needs to be done both at a personal and governmental level.

 

Stopping discharges from Lake Okeechobee is a high priority for all. We have learned the region can survive an individual event like 2018, they said, but it’s uncertain the outcome back-to-back events might have.

 

“That knocks down the resiliency,” said Arquette-Palermo. “Every time the system takes a knock… we don’t know when we’re going to hit that tipping point where we actually crash the system.”

 

The government needs to attack nutrients at their source, the panelists agreed. Evans pointed out that 50 percent comes from Lake Okeechobee and the other 50 percent from the watershed. Thanks to the Everglades restoration efforts, we should start seeing benefits as soon as next summer, said Andrews.

 

All the panelists emphasized the importance of becoming involved at a personal level by keeping informed, taking action when possible, and voting wisely. Andrews repeatedly advised the full-house gathering to “just show up.”

 

“You guys really step up when we need you, in huge ways,” Evans said of the islands’ business community. “That is not typical of communities throughout Florida.”

 

One tool the chamber and partners have enacted to intensely involve the business community, the Preserving Paradise initiative runs August through October for business leaders in the community who will advocate for the water-quality mission among staff, colleagues, and clientele.

 

“This leadership program is unlike any other,” SanCap Chamber president and chief executive officer told members. “It will take you inside the actual issues and places like the Everglades. It’s very empowering.” He advised members to visit preservingparadise.org for more information.

 

Lai announced the next business luncheon to take place Thursday, Aug. 1, at Sundial Beach Resort on Sanibel Island. Speakers include Dr. Larry Antonucci and Michael Nachef with LeeHealth.

 

ABOUT SANCAP CHAMBER

The SanCap Chamber is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. The Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents, and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. Its website, sanibel-captiva.org, receives over 1.3 million visits per year. For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org or contact John Lai, president and CEO, at 239-472-2348 or [email protected].