by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 30, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Stormwater
Originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Chad Gillis on August 30, 2024 The waters in Matlacha Pass have cleared after post-Debby conditions caused a fish kill there. Tropical Storm Debby dropped several inches of rain across the region, and a lot of that...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 15, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Stormwater
Originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Chad Gillis on August 15, 2024 There’s a fish kill going on in Matlacha Pass, and some water experts think it’s due to a lack of oxygen in the water. Warm waters, the idea goes, have lowered oxygen...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 15, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Stormwater
Originally published on NBC-2 by Rachel Whelan on August 15, 2024 New images from a local environmental organization are showing shocking water quality conditions off our coast. Calusa Waterkeeper Codty Pierce is documenting our water conditions in the wake of...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 13, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Water Testing
Originally published on Fox4 by Domingo Murray on August 13, 2024 “We’ve had dead fish at the shoreline, many times, not a whole lot… about a dozen times in 30 years,” he said. Tuesday morning Talbott called FOX4 about the issue, so we reached...
by Tricia Santucci | Jun 20, 2024
Monthly meeting for Pine Island / Matlacha Pass Zone Rangers
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Apr 17, 2024 | Featured, Press, Water Testing
Originally published on Fox4 by Andrew Shipley on April 17, 2024 Sea grass is such an important part of our environment here in Southwest Florida. It provides habitat for our fish and food for our manatees. But unfortunately, that sea grass is going away and is being...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 14, 2023 | Featured, Press
Originally published by Conservancy of Southwest Florida on September 14, 2023. Our nearshore waters are crying for help, but are we listening? In Lee County, many are familiar with the impact that Lake Okeechobee discharges and basin runoff have on the Caloosahatchee...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 12, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press
Originally published by WINK News on May 12, 2023 Algae swirling in the Gulf Coast is bringing a smelly odor to the air. It’s happening around the waters of Matlacha. “It’s almost a matted, matted surface that resembles a mud flat, but the colors are quite vibrant....
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 8, 2022 | Featured
Matlacha Pass Water Quality with Capt. Codty Pierce Thank you Capt. Codty Pierce for taking the time to share what you have been seeing out on the water. Learn about Matlacha Pass water quality and other local waterways from this charter fishing captain and lifetime...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 23, 2022 | Press
Originally published by NBC-2 News on July 22, 2022 The water is not just murky around Matlacha – it’s now appearing milky and the problem is being closely watched by Calusa Waterkeepers. “It’s funny, it wasn’t even here at noon today. Now it’s just coming in with the...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 24, 2022 | Press
Milky White-Colored Water & Fish Kill in Matlacha Pass Originally published by FOX4 News on June 24, 2022 We are learning more about what caused a fish kill in Matlacha Pass last week. NOAA says the fish likely died because of low oxygen levels in the water. They...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 13, 2022 | Featured, Matlacha Pass Water Quality
Calusa Waterkeeper Ranger, Sue Dahod lends her time and educational background to keep an eye on water conditions throughout Matlacha Pass from both Pine Island and the shores of Matlacha. Calusa Waterkeeper brings you these updates from her observations. We encourage...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 31, 2022 | Press
Calusa Waterkeeper on what to know about Macroalgae at Matlacha Originally published by WINK News on March 31, 2022 A stench is coming from algae in one part of Southwest Florida. And now, that smell is affecting businesses and fishing. The Calusa Waterkeeper is...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 31, 2022 | Press
Calusa Waterkeeper on What to Know About Macroalgae at Matlacha Originally published by WINK News on March 31, 2022 A stench is coming from algae in one part of Southwest Florida. And now, that smell is affecting businesses and fishing. The Calusa Waterkeeper is...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 14, 2021 | Press
Originally published by Pine Island Eagle on July 14, 2021 by Paulette LeBlanc. Water safety and sustainability problems should not be solved by the public, according to environmentalist islanders Sue Dahod and Susan McGuire, who say, unfortunately this is what it’s...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 14, 2021 | Press
Matlacha Residents Want Action Taken After Finding Thick Algae and Dead Fish Originally published by WINK News on June 14, 2021 Decaying algae is coming to the surface in the backyards of some Southwest Florida residents; now it’s leading to small dead fish, and...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 14, 2021 | Press
Matlacha Residents Concerned Over Growing Algal Blooms in Canals Originally published by FOX4 News on June 13, 2021 A disturbing sight in Matlacha canals is causing residents to rethink about getting in the water. Dead fish are popping up, floating on top of a brown...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 3, 2020 | Press
Lack of Oxygen Killing Fish, with Heat Making Matters Worse Originally published in The News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on July 3, 2020 Eels gulping air. Floating mats of bubbly crud. Milky brown tides. As it did a few months ago, foul water again surrounds...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 2, 2020 | Press
Water Quality a Concern in Matlacha Pass as Eels Surface Originally published by WINK News on July 2, 2020 Concerns are rising over the water quality of Matlacha Pass after cloudy-looking water was spotted, bringing eels and other sea life to the surface for air. The...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 23, 2024 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Matlacha Pass Water Quality, Stormwater, Water Testing
Recently, I was asked to speak on The Chamber of Southwest Florida’s water quality panel. The host, Peter Busch of NBC-2, asked each panelist to rate the current state of our water quality on a scale of 1-10. The responses from those directly responsible for...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 22, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing
Originally published on Fox4 by Andrew Shipley on August 22, 2024 Water is so important to us in Southwest Florida. Water not only feeds our economy, but it also gives us recreation. But what is in our water? Every month the Calusa Waterkeeper tests our water for...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 22, 2024 | Cape Coral Spreader Canals, Litigation, Press, Stormwater
Originally published in the News-Press by Chad Gillis on August 22, 2024 Some environmental groups and residents fought the city over the issue, saying removing the lock will impact endangered species like the smalltooth sawfish, which breed and live near the lock....
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 14, 2024 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Stormwater
Originally published on Fox4 by Andrew Shipley on August 14, 2024 A little over a week ago, Hurricane Debby dumped millions of gallons of water across Southwest Florida. Now question is what is in that water and what is it doing to our environment as it pushes out...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 27, 2024 | Featured, Press
Originally published on NBC-2 by Rachel Whelan on July 26, 2024 Participants who complete the academy will graduate as Rangers, equipped to conduct water and air quality testing as certified citizen scientists. They will also serve as ambassadors of Calusa...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 10, 2024 | Cape Coral Spreader Canals, Litigation, Press, Stormwater
Originally published in the Cape Coral Breeze by CJ Haddad on June 10, 2024 Calusa Waterkeeper Emeritus John Cassani, in testimony at the trial on the removal of the Chiquita Boat Lock, attempted to expose major failings in the FDEP which allow the city of Cape Coral...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 29, 2024 | Press
Originally published on Fox4 by Bella Line on May 29, 2024 Heat that affects more than just the air and land. Codty Pierce, the Calusa Waterkeeper, says his organization has recorded water temps in the low 90s which is rare this time of year. “We’ve seen...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Dec 21, 2023 | Cape Coral Spreader Canals, Featured, Press
Originally published by Cape Coral Breeze on December 21, 2023 by CJ Haddad A hearing to determine whether the state should issue a permit allowing the city of Cape Coral to remove the Chiquita Lock concluded Wednesday afternoon. The next steps will be post-hearing...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Dec 13, 2023 | Cape Coral Spreader Canals, Featured
John Cassani, Calusa Waterkeeper Emeritus, in testimony at the trial on the removal of the Chiquita Boat Lock, exposed major failings in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection which allow the City of Cape Coral to continue polluting the waters of Matlacha...
