Residents Alarmed as Beloved Canal Ecosystem Collapses in Hollywood

On November 15, 2025, residents of a Hollywood, Florida neighborhood are grappling with a troubling environmental crisis unfolding in their backyard. The canal behind their homes, which has been a part of the local ecosystem since the 1950s, has suddenly turned a murky brown and is now filled with dead fish.

Neighbors like Joanne Chinelly and Vanesa Dabul are devastated by the sight. Chinelly says it "breaks my heart to see them dead" and that she can no longer see the underwater vegetation that was once visible. Dabul describes the water as "awful" compared to its previous clear state. Both residents believe several factors may be contributing to the canal's collapse, including sediment runoff from nearby construction sites and issues with the city's plumbing system.

Authorities from Broward County's Public Works and Environmental Services Department are investigating the situation, citing the recent drop in temperatures and construction runoff as possible causes. The city of Hollywood is also looking into the problem, as neighbors demand action to restore the canal's health and revive the local ecosystem they've cherished for decades.