~ RISING TIDE ~
Calusa Waterkeeper Newsletter | April 2019
A Week-Long Celebration of the Caloosahatchee River
April 22 - 28 | Lee County, FL
We will reconnect the community with our waterways in a positive manner and celebrate all the reasons we love our region – for its exceptional beaches, rivers and tributaries, its boundless recreational opportunities and its sheer beauty. Learn more about The Big Calusa
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Register Now for Big Calusa Events!
The Big Calusa Kickoff Party
Millenial Brewing, Fort Myers
Monday, April 22nd | 5:30 - 8:30 PM
Clean-up Crews and Racers can Signup at this Free Event
Live music, food trucks, a signature “Big Calusa” micro-brew, silent auction, and official Big Calusa merchandise, plus a chance to meet the Waterkeeper!
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Calusa Clean-Up
Partnering with Keep Lee County Beautiful
Monday, April 22 - Sunday, April 28
Contact Mike Thomas to register your team or organization for clean-up:
Clean-up of our waterways working with Kayak Outfitters, the public, schools, churches and civic organizations. Clean-up Champions will be awarded on Sunday, April 28th.
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Calusa Culture Night
Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, Fort Myers
Wednesday, April 24th | 5:30 - 9:00 PM
Please Purchase Tickets in Advance
Join us for story-telling with several local talents along with exclusive artwork by Myra Roberts and Paul Arsenault plus music by Roots 2 Vines and more “Big Calusa” beer.
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Powell Creek March Tours
Powell Creek Marsh, Fort Myers
Friday, April 26th | 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM
Contact Jason Boeckman at 239-204-1125 to reserve your spot on this uinque tour. Learn More
Organized by Lee County Natural Resources and Parks & Recreation's Conservation 20/20 Departments.
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Kayak & Paddle Board Races
Big Calusa Race for Clean Water
Saturday, April 27th | 7:00 - 10:00 AM
Register in Advance for these Races
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Big Calusa Day
North Shore Park, Fort Myers
Saturday, April 27th | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
A full day of recreation with kayak & paddleboard races, sailboat rides, fossil hunting, mermaid tales and “Little Toot” the Magic Tugboat for kids, along with fishing and boating safety workshops, master naturalist ecotours, and more along the Caloosahatchee in N. Fort Myers.
You may also Sign up for Manatee Eco Tours
Big Calusa Day Kids Activities
- Fossil Hunting
- “Little Toot” Magical Tugboat
- “Yemaya the Mermaid” stories
- Family Kayaking
- Fishing Best Practices
Adult & Family Activities
- Kayak & Paddle Board Races
- Hobie Cat sailboat rides
- Master Naturalists Manatee Tours
- Rowing Demonstration
- Boating Safety Courses
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A big thanks to our Big Calusa sponsors: Pinchers Marina at Edison Ford; the Severus Foundation; Manatee Eco & River Tours; CONRIC PR & Marketing;, Millennial Brewing; Captains for Clean Water; Kayak DIY;Three Fishermen Restaurant; Edison Sailing Center; Pure Florida; Metro Blinds; Keep Lee County Beautiful; Jensen’s Cottages and Marina; Hans Wilson Associates, and Sydney & Berne Davis Arts Center; Edison & Ford Winter Estates; GAEA Guides; Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP); Lee County Parks & Recreation Conservation 20/20; John R. Wood, LightHawk Environmental Flights; CCRC; Breeze Newspapers, Doc Fords Restaurants, CMCS Sailing Club, Chicos, Ocean Habitat inc., artist Myra Robers, artist Marcus Jansen & Unit A Studio, Bay Water Boat Club, and Official Hotel Sponsor: Best Western Waterfront Hotel.
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Big Calusa Awards
Edison & Ford Winter Estates
Sunday, April 28th | 4:30 - 6:30 PM
Clean-up Crews & Race Winners Awarded at this Free Event
Calusa clean-up champions, race-winners and local clean water heroes will be honored at an awards banquet at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates. Guests will enjoy live music with remarks by newly appointed Water Management District Chairman and Sanibel favorite son, Chauncey Goss.
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Annual Member Dinner
Pinchers Restaurant, Fort Myers
Sunday, April 28th | 6:30 - 9:30 PM
You must purchase tickets ahead of time to secure your spot!
Offering a limited number of reduced $20 tickets for our Members. Reservations are necessary, Space is limited. A limited number of $40 tickets are available for Non-Members.
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Ranger Corner:
Thanks to the efforts of our volunteer Rangers for collecting water samples throughout Lee County to test the levels of Enterococci bacteria from additional inland Lee County sites. View test results from our local waterways.
CWK ranger Jason Pim spoke with Florida Weekly about the Governor's passion for Florida's environment immediately after taking office: “Gov. DeSantis has come out strong on water quality, so it’s left some environmentalists asking, ‘Who is this guy?’. Continue Reading
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Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani speaks to Policy at the FGCU Biodiversity conference
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Waterway Advocacy & Outreach
Eden Oaks Development Update in Lee County
The ill-conceived Eden Oaks development moves forward with a Lee County zoning hearing scheduled for April 23rd. Calusa Waterkeeper (CWK) has opposed this development located in mangrove wetlands along Shell Point Boulevard in South Fort Myers. The Eden Oaks developer seeks to dredge and fill approximately 37 acres of wetlands. These mangrove forests protect the coast against storms, help improve water quality and serve as critical habitat for marine species such as the endangered smalltooth sawfish. Continue Reading
Legislative Notes from Waterkeepers Florida
Hundreds of bills and issues are being heard during the Florida Legislative Session and Waterkeepers Florida is keeping pace with the bills and efforts that could effect water quality throughout the state. From transportation and stormwater management infrastructure to water testing, the Clean Waterways Act and funding for red tide mitigation, you can keep up with legislation and our multi-group effort to support and oppose these bills as they move from the house to the state senate. Learn More
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Membership Updates
We'd like to say a special thanks to the 14 individuals who became Calusa Waterkeeper members in the month of March. Your pledge to help us on our mission of protecting and advocating for the Caloosahatchee watershed is admirable and deeply appreciated.
Not a member yet? Would you like to renew your membership?
Email [email protected] to check the status of your membership before annual dinner this month!
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Calusa Waterkeeper In The Press
“All year long, we find ourselves talking about the catastrophic harm we have suffered due to red tide and blue-green algae: fish and marine life dying by the millions, residents at higher risk of illness, significant economic damage and on,” Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani said. “Now it’s time to remind everyone why our water is so special.” Continue Reading
A water control structure in southwest Cape Coral will be the focus of a hearing this week as some environmental and civic groups aim to keep the city from removing the Chiquita Lock. The lock was designed to retain freshwater so that it has a period of time to wash through an adjacent mangrove system, which helps clean the water. Continue Reading
U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney is pressing the CDC to share what it knows about the short and long-term health effects of the toxic algae that befouled Southwest Florida last year. Rooney said he also hopes to include the university [FGCU] and Lee Health, both of which have been collecting information about the outbreak. Continue Reading
President Donald Trump toured both Lake Okeechobee and the Herbert Hoover Dike allowing him to see areas where blue-green algae has already begun to develop in the Lake. Recent tests show pockets of algae in the Caloosahatchee on its way toward Fort Myers. Continue Reading
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Around the Watershed
Millennial Brewing invited us to their Cider Festival. We are proud to have them as a community partner!
FDEP reports relatively high levels of the cyanotoxin microcystin (19.9 ug/l) at the Davis Boat Ramp off the Caloosahatchee
A comparison of the cyanobacteria pigment phycocyanin in the freshwater Caloosahatchee at Franklin Lock between March of 2018 and 2019.
Algal concentrations in Lake Okeechobee may be on the rise according to satellite imagery from 3/26 depicting Chlorophyll A which is an algal pigment.
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CALUSA WATERKEEPER MISSION
To Protect and Restore the Caloosahatchee River from Lake Okeechobee to the Coastal Waters.
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Phone: (239) 784-0880
Pollution Hotline: (239) 444-8584
Email: [email protected]
Follow Calusa Waterkeeper!
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Calusa Waterkeeper
PO Box 1165
Fort Myers, FL 33902
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