Local boater offering boat slip ahead of Chiquita Lock closure

WHITE HOUSE KILLING OR WOULD GULF COAST NEWS? >> AFTER DECADES OF DEBATE, THE 2 KEY TO LOCK IN CAPE CORAL'S. FINALLY COMING DOWN NEXT WEEK, THE SPREADER CANAL WILL BE CLOSED SO CREWS CAN BEGIN THE WORK TO REMOVE THE LOCK AND IMPROVE WATER FLOW BETWEEN THE CITY'S CANALS AND THE CALOOSAHATCHEE BOATERS ONLY AT 5 MORE DAYS TO MOVE THEIR BOATS. ONE MAN IS OFFERING HIS SLIP TO PEOPLE WHO NEED A PLACE TO DOCK UNTIL THE WORK IS DONE. GULF COAST NEWS REPORTER KENNEDY MASON IS INTRODUCING US TO HIM. VOTERS ARE STILL GOING THROUGH THE CHIQUITA LOCK TODAY. BUT THE CITY IS URGING VOTERS TO MOVE THEIR BOATS NOW HAS A LOT GETS READY TO CLOSE FOR 3 MONTHS IN JUST A FEW DAYS, HE TO LOCK WILL BE CLOSED. THE LOCK HAS BEEN BROKEN SINCE HURRICANE IAN, WHICH HAS BOATERS BOTHERED. YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL. YOU COULD YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SLAM INTO THE SIDES PRETTY EASILY HAVE SEEN PEOPLE DO IT. >> BECAUSE IT'S A TIGHT SPOT. HAGER IN OTHER BOAT OWNERS ARE EXCITED FOR SMOOTH YOUR SEAS AHEAD. ONCE THE LOCK IS GONE, DEFINITELY HELP. A LOT OF PEOPLE. THE CITY SAYS EARLIER IN 2020, THE CHIQUITA LOCK PLAN WENT BEFORE AN ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE WHO APPROVED IT TO BE REMOVED. BUT IN THE MEANTIME, VOTERS HAVE TO MOVE THEIR BOATS BEHIND THEIR HOMES OR TO NEARBY IN ARENAS. MARIA IS OPEN. THAT'S WHY HAGUE OR IS OFFERING UP HIS BOAT SLIPS WHY NOT 3 MONTHS. IT'S NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL CAN HELP. PEOPLE THE CITY SAYS PEOPLE ARE ASKING WHY THE REMOVAL DIDN'T HAPPEN IN THE WINTER. THE REASON THAT WE COULDN'T ACTUALLY DO IT THEN IS BECAUSE IT WAS MANATEE MATING SEASON AND WE WEREN'T PERMITTED TO BUT WORRIES OVER THE REMOVAL GO BEYOND THE TEMPORARY EFFECTS. ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERT MATT DEPOT, ELLIS SAYS IT WILL LIKELY HAVE A LASTING IMPACT TO THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER. NOW THOSE NUTRIENTS ARE GOING TO BE FLEET FREE FLOWING INTO THE CALOOSAHATCHEE ESTUARY. SO AS WE LOAD THOSE NUTRIENTS, WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE LIKELY. >> HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM OUTBREAKS MORE MACRO ALGAE BLOOMS. THE CITY SAYS THE LAW WILL CLOSE NEXT TUESDAY MORNING. IT SHOULD BE COMPLETELY GONE BY THE BEGINNING OF JUNE. BUT OF COURSE, WEATHER COULD PUSH THAT DA

In just a few days, the Chiquita Lock will be closed for three months. That’s why the city of Cape Coral has been urging boaters to move their boats behind their homes or to nearby marinas. The city says earlier in 2020, the Chiquita Lock plan went before an administrative law judge, who approved it to be removed. The lock has been broken since Hurricane Ian, which has affected boaters. "If you're not careful, you can slam into the sides pretty easily," said Cape Coral part-resident, John Hager. "I've seen people do it because it's a tight spot."Hager and other boat owners are excited for smoother seas ahead, once the lock is gone. However, in the meantime, the city said boaters have to move their boats now.That's why Hager is offering up his boat slip. "Why not?" he said. "Three months. It's not that big of a deal. We can help people out." The city said people are asking why the removal didn't happen in the winter. "The reason that we couldn't actually do it then is because it was manatee mating season, and we weren't permitted to," said Melissa Mickey, Cape Coral public information officer. Worries over the removal go beyond the temporary effects. Matt DePaolis, environmental policy director for the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, said it will likely have lasting impacts on the Caloosahatchee River. "Those nutrients are going to be free-flowing into the estuary," he said. "As we load those nutrients, we're going to see more likely harmful algal bloom outbreaks and more macroalgae blooms." The city said the lock will close next Tuesday morning. It should be completely gone by the beginning of June, but of course, weather could push that date back.

In just a few days, the Chiquita Lock will be closed for three months.

That’s why the city of Cape Coral has been urging boaters to move their boats behind their homes or to nearby marinas.

The city says earlier in 2020, the Chiquita Lock plan went before an administrative law judge, who approved it to be removed.

The lock has been broken since Hurricane Ian, which has affected boaters.

"If you're not careful, you can slam into the sides pretty easily," said Cape Coral part-resident, John Hager. "I've seen people do it because it's a tight spot."

Hager and other boat owners are excited for smoother seas ahead, once the lock is gone. However, in the meantime, the city said boaters have to move their boats now.

That's why Hager is offering up his boat slip.

"Why not?" he said. "Three months. It's not that big of a deal. We can help people out."

The city said people are asking why the removal didn't happen in the winter.

"The reason that we couldn't actually do it then is because it was manatee mating season, and we weren't permitted to," said Melissa Mickey, Cape Coral public information officer.

Worries over the removal go beyond the temporary effects.

Matt DePaolis, environmental policy director for the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, said it will likely have lasting impacts on the Caloosahatchee River.

"Those nutrients are going to be free-flowing into the estuary," he said. "As we load those nutrients, we're going to see more likely harmful algal bloom outbreaks and more macroalgae blooms."

The city said the lock will close next Tuesday morning. It should be completely gone by the beginning of June, but of course, weather could push that date back.

Local boater offering boat slip ahead of Chiquita Lock closure

Share

Share

Share

Top Picks