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Calusa Waterkeeper
Big Calusa

Upcoming Event:

The Big Calusa®

Earth Day, April 22 - 28, 2019
Our BIG CALUSA event aims to reconnect the community in a positive way with our waterways and celebrate all the reasons we love our region - for its exceptional beaches, rivers and tributaries, its boundless recreational opportunities and its sheer beauty. Festivities begin on Earth Day: Monday, April 22nd with a kick-off party hosted at Millenial Brewing Company in Fort Myers.

Earth Day Week

April 22nd - 27th
We will embark on a week-long concerted effort to clean our waterways, in partnership with civic associations, HOAs, service groups, churches and schools.

Calusa Culture Night

Wednesday, April 24th
Join us at the Sydney & Berne Davis Arts Center in downtown Fort Myers for an evening with storytellers, artists’ exhibits and musical entertainment.

Big Calusa Day

Saturday, April 27th
Enjoy an all-day Recreational River Adventure at the North Shore Park in Fort Myers, with tons of activities for young children, families and sports enthusiasts.

Big Calusa Awards

Sunday, April 28th
Clean-up Champions, Race Winners and Clean Water Heroes are recognized at a celebration with musical entertainment at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates Museum.
Volunteer with The Big Calusa

Ranger Corner:

Sawfish
CWK Rangers Ed and Chris Shinouskis were out sampling water for bacteria and came across an angler who had landed a juvenile sawfish entangled in fishing line and a heavy lead sinker. Ed deftly removed the line and released the sawfish unharmed. Watch Now!
Brad Quandt
Brad Quandt used Microsoft's Power BI Analytics tool to investigate water quality issues in Southwest Florida. "With my data in Power BI, I was able to quickly build line charts to visualize the changes in salinity, dissolved oxygen and phosphorus levels over time." Read More!

Lake Okeechobee System Operations Manual (LOSOM)

Southwest Florida residents were the first to weigh in on the Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) public scoping process for the new Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM). The most direct and immediate way we can have a say in how water discharges to the Caloosahatchee are managed.
meeting

Army Corps Scoping Meetings

Huge turnout at the first Lake O scoping meeting on the Lake Regulation Schedule in Fort Myers. Thanks to all who showed support and especially to our CWK Ranges Holley Rauen, Jason Pim, Melanie Hoff, Don Lees, Louise Kowitch, Chuck Richardson, Kaye and Joe Vaughn and CWK Board Chair Gene Gibson for showing or making comments. Other Rangers attended the evening session. Hope this is a new beginning for change.

Learn more from Waterkeeper John Cassani about the importance of these meetings.
FOX4
Video of Calusa Waterkeeper and other citizen advocates at the first Army Corps of Engineers LOSOM Scoping Meeting. Many Rangers were in attendance and providing interviews to local media.
More from FOX4 News
News-Press
Lee Health board member Therese Everly and Chauncey Goss underscored the potential public health implications of the Lake O crisis at the Corps' LOSOM Scoping Meeting in Fort Myers.
More from The News-Press

State & National Updates:

Breaking: Miami Judge Denies SFWMD's Motion to Vacate Everglades Consent Decree

Everglades
Environmental organizations from around the state sent a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis urging him to direct the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to withdraw its motion to vacate the consent decree that has been the engine that has driven clean water protections for Everglades National Park for three decades. A victory was achieved February 11th when a Miami judge denied the motion.

Waterkeeper Alliance Takes a Stand Against Proposed Changes to Waters of the US

The Waters of the United States Rule (WOTUS) that defines eligibility under the Clean Water Act (CWA) is proposed for revision by the Trump administration. Waterkeeper Alliance his developing a tool kit to better understand the issue and to fight back on this damaging action that eliminates important headwaters from CWA protection. The impacts in Florida are potentially significant. The state of Florida is attempting to assume federal wetland permitting that is typically administered by the Army Corps of Engineers. Lookout for more information on WOTUS soon.

Upcoming Ranger Training:

Ranger training

Saturday, March 2nd, 9th & 16th

Calusa Nature Center Iona House, Fort Myers
If you're ready to make a difference for our local waterways as a volunteer CWK Ranger, mark your calendars and get registered now for our upcoming Ranger class. We can only take 22 candidates so don't delay in signing up!
Register Now!
The CWK Ranger Academy is an educational and training resource for volunteers interested in working with the Calusa Waterkeeper in Southwest Florida. Rangers volunteer as citizen monitors of area waterways and will be trained to conduct surveys and report conditions and observations while on local waters. Volunteers set their own schedules and monitor in areas within seven zones of their choice.
Calusa Wateerkeeper will have an official presence at these February events:
Burrowing Owl Festival

Burrowing Owl Festival

Saturday, Feb. 23rd | 10am - 4pm
Rotary Park, Cape Coral

Event Info
VegFest

3rd Annual SWFL Vegfest

Sunday, Feb. 24th | 10am - 5pm
Riverside Park, Bonita Springs

Event Info

Around the Watershed

Franklin Lock
Cyanobacteria in the Caloosahatchee water column and wind-rowed at the surface near the Franklin Lock freshwater side
Dr. James Metcalf
Dr. James Metcalf talks about his findings on our most recent toxic cyanobacteria outbreak at FGCU's water conference
Water Summit
Photos from our recent Florida Water Policy Summit at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theater. Photos courtesy of For Truth Media
Billy's Creek
With the exception of Billy's Creek in Fort Myers, enterococci levels are relatively low for a change
FL Sportsman's Expo
Calusa Waterkeeper was on site at the FL Sportsman's Expo thanks to the generosity of Michael and Michelle Conner who gave us a free booth - a $495 retail value! Pictured: John Cassani and David Laties at the show

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About Calusa Waterkeeper:

Calusa Waterkeeper is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of the Caloosahatchee River & Estuary, Lake Okeechobee, Nicodemus Slough, Charlotte Harbor, Estero Bay, the near-shore waters of Lee County, and their watersheds, through education and promotion of responsible use and enjoyment by all people. Your support helps us continue critical testing & reporting, provide regulatory advisories, educational & community outreach and sustained public advocacy.
Become a Calusa Waterkeeper Member or Update your Membership Now!
Our project area covers more than 1,000 square miles, and our mission is to Protect and Preserve the Caloosahatchee River from Lake Okeechobee to the Coastal Waters.
Donate to Calusa Waterkeeper
WKA
Calusa Waterkeeper is a member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance, the largest and fastest growing nonprofit solely focused on clean water, with more than 300 Waterkeeper Organizations and Affiliates on the frontlines of the global water crisis, patrolling and protecting more than 2.5 million square miles of rivers, lakes and coastal waterways on six continents.
Phone: (239) 784-0880
Pollution Hotline: (239) 444-8584
Email: [email protected]
Calusa Waterkeeper
PO Box 1165
Fort Myers, FL 33902-1165
Copyright © 2019 Calusa Waterkeeper, All rights reserved.


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