Suspensions have been lifted on swimming and other water activities at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ W.P. Franklin Recreation Area near Fort Myers.
The Corps was notified this afternoon by the Florida Department of Health that water quality in the area has met its safety criteria. Swimming was suspended on May 22 due to an algal bloom upstream of the beach that had tested positive for microcystin, a substance produced by freshwater cyanobacteria. Subsequent testing by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Health Department confirm that algae is no longer present.
“This is wonderful news for people who want to swim at our recreation area,” said Steve Dunham, chief of the Jacksonville District’s South Florida Operations Office in Clewiston. “We will continue to monitor conditions in the area to ensure the safety of our visitors.”
For more information on Corps’ recreation facilities in south Florida, please visit the following website: http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation.aspx.
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Release no. 15-062