Awilda Rivera
General Manager, Casa Ybel Resort

More than anything, hotelier Awilda Rivera wants to communicate the message that Sanibel is still a beautiful island. She wants to be positive about water quality issues and keep moving forward with resolutions. And, most of all, she wants everyone to support efforts to address the situation.

Normally, the water around Sanibel is green-blue and gorgeous; and everyone at her resort is playing on the beach, relaxing and enjoying themselves. But, when red drift algae is present, it's very unsettling. She never knows how much the beaches will receive; and, once it sits on the beaches and decomposes, guests get offended. Yet, while they're disappointed that it affects their stay, they are comforted to learn that something will be done about it. It eases their minds as well as hers. Guests love the resort, and they love the island. She thinks they'll be back because the island has its own unique natural beauty. The only downfall is the red drift algae.

It's impacting her resort's business. People are calling to inquire about the status of the beaches before they arrive. She and her staff tell them that any algae that's present could be gone in a few hours or a few days, but that the resort and the island still offer other amenities for their enjoyment. She encourages them to come out; and, for the most part, they do. They're willing to give it a try; and loyal repeat guests understand that these things happen.

Awilda applauds the City of Sanibel for its work to develop a plan to address beach clean-up that will be unveiled on October 1, 2007. It shows her that city leaders understand the urgency of the problem. She appreciates what they're doing to honor the city's mission statement of being a barrier island. "There's so much beauty here, you can appreciate their desire to keep it that way,” she says. "But this is not a natural problem. It affects the nature here on the island, and it affects the people here on the island.”

Awilda has read reports that say it's imperative to remove red drift algae from the beaches to prevent it from sitting in the sun, decomposing and washing back out to the Gulf only to create a cycle that kills growth on the water's bottom and perpetuates negative environmental impacts. She simultaneous appreciates and applauds the need to balance beach clean-up with the necessity of protecting shorebirds and sea turtles nesting on the beaches. And she appreciates the urgency of managing Lake Okeechobee water releases to minimize their environmental impact.

She sees the problem as larger than the city. "It's much bigger than we can handle here on our own. Water quality is a worldwide issue.”

So she is glad that county government and even the state's Governor are getting involved, and she's very encouraged by everyone pulling together to find solutions. The City Council is listening to business owners and residents. The Sanibel Chamber of Commerce is very active in the matter, as is the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau.

She encourages individuals to join their efforts by contacting the city and writing letters to government officials and by keeping their feedback constructive. She sees teamwork as vital to the area's livelihood.

"Our issues with water quality are more than any one place can handle. It has to be an effort on all parts."