LEE COUNTY -

Wave after wave of red drift algae is washing ashore all across Lee County beaches.

It's leaving an unsightly mess in some areas, and experts say that could just be the start of a larger problem.

When you put red and algae together many seasonal residents like Judy Kennedy have the same reaction.

"Red tide or something like that," said Kennedy.

It's actually red drift algae, and right now it's across Lee County beaches, such as Tarpon Bay Beach on Sanibel.

Eric Milbrandt, director of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Marine Lab says there are a number of reasons why.

"With all the freshwater discharge we had this summer, there's a good possibility we'll continue having algae wash up on the beach," he explained.

SCFF researches say this summer's freshwater releases from Lake Okeechobee caused algae eating organisms to disappear and led to this tangled tale of trouble.

"As time goes on and the freshwater discharges were retreating, there's more light and this macro algae take advantage of that light and the nutrients that were growing in the fresh water discharges, and they're growing like crazy," explained Milbrandt.

Originally posted here:

Red drift algae lining Lee County beaches