When I first was made aware that investigative reporter, JP Bender, had filed a story about water quality in Broward County, and in particular the water quality in Pompano Beach, I immediately thought of my very first trip to Florida in 1962.

My parents had retired and purchased a waterfront home in Garden Isles. My boys were just eight and four at the time, when my husband and I ventured down to Pompano Beach for a visit with them. It was rather late at night when we first arrived and really could not appreciate the graceful palm trees, the vibrant flora, the beautiful foliage and the clear, crystal like view of the canal.

   The next morning we saw my Dad’s boat, fishing poles and lines affixed to each of the pilings, and the sparkling water. The canal was pristine and clear. One could see through the water clear down to the bottom silt. Every shell, every piece of debris, and schools of fish could be seen and identified. The children enjoyed throwing small pieces of bread in the water, watching as the fish would come to the surface for their snack. That’s how clear the water was.

My dad had a crab trap set up and every noon for two weeks, he would check the trap bringing up six or seven good sized blue claw crabs. My mom would then cook the crabs with some garlic and butter making one heck of a lunch. I would match my mom’s savory blue claw crab recipe with any of the major seafood restaurants here in Florida - - and fresher than taking them from your own canal, there isn’t.

Alas, those days are gone - - and I am afraid they are gone forever. The canal is now brackish and actually looks like the proverbial black hole of Calcutta. Mullets, catfish, and a host of other marine life are also gone. At night we used to hear the fish jumping out of the water - - now all is quiet - - oh so quiet except for pool pumps and air conditioning units. When the tide goes out, you can see all the silt built up in the corners of the canal indicating that the canal could use a good dredging. Pompano Beach periodically sends a boat out to clean up the canal but certainly not as often as the residents would wish.

In 1962, my mom and dad never considered getting bottled water or installing a water filter. In 1962, my parents were able to indulge in fresh crabs whenever they wanted. In 1962, they could sit on their dock and watch the fish as they jumped out of the water. All this with a waterfront home they purchased for $21,000 - - and paying a couple of hundred dollars a year in taxes. Now the houses in Garden Isles are selling in excess of $500,000 with taxes running between $3,000 and $11,000.

I guess that is the price we must pay for progress and prosperity. Is it worth it? I don’t know! What do you think?