Calusa Waterkeeper

Newsletter | April 2020

Friends and Water Warriors -
In times like these, we are reminded how important it is to protect our planet and our most precious commodity: our water. Because we are all sheltering in place, Calusa Waterkeeper has brought forward the online release of TROUBLED WATERS from its planned June release.

Troubled Waters

Home Screening Debut!

Our Exclusive Documentary On-Demand

Highly-requested online viewings of TROUBLED WATERS are now available for your stay-at-home viewing pleasure!

The world's leading experts - Dr. Paul Alan Cox, Dr. Walter Bradley, Dr. James Metcalf, Dr. Elijah Stommel, Dr. Larry Brand, Dr. Mike Parsons, Dr. David A.Davis, Adam Schaefer, our own Waterkeeper John Cassani and so many more - all willingly joined our landmark documentary, TROUBLED WATERS to inform our community of the public health risks associated with HABs.

Trailer

View Trailer >

ORDER NOW

Exclusive Offer for our Members

 Send us an email to receive your members-only discount code!

During the height of the Blue-Green Algae and Red Tide HAB crises in Southwest Florida, Calusa Waterkeeper met and interviewed many of the nation's leading research scientists studying HABs, but also doctors and nurses on the front lines and patients suffering harm. The result is a compelling, current, informative and entertaining 40-minute documentary conveying much needed information on potential risk - particularly on the aerosolized transmission of particles from HABs and the increased danger that poses to public health.

In the News

Massive Raw Sewage Spill in Fort Myers

 
Raw Sewage Spill
 

For about a year, Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani has been wondering why fecal bacteria readings in water samples he’s taken from the Caloosahatchee tributary have been “off the charts.” Now he thinks he knows why. What appears to be a chronic slow leak in Fort Myers sewage lines turned into a gusher at the city’s lift station No. 5 at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Canal Street and resulted in a 183,000 gallon spill.

Continue Reading
 
Chiquita Lock
 

Denial of Chiquita Lock Removal Permit Upheld in Final Order by FDEP

FDEP Secretary Noah Valenstein rejected the permit that the agency previously said it would approve. The order issued from Valenstein represents the DEP’s final decision on the matter and supersedes a November 2018 announcement that it would issue the permit. Read More >

 
Keeping Our Waterways Clean
 

‘Clean Waterways Act’ Passes Florida Senate; What Does it Mean for the State?

A new Senate Bill aims to make our waterways cleaner and keep them that way. CWK John Cassani supports parts of the bill, saying, “I think what it boils down to is… does the state of Florida have the political will to effectively implement the legislation so that it’s something more than words on paper?” Read More >

Words from the Waterkeeper - Episode 10

WFTWK

Words From the Waterkeeper is back! John reports on algal bloom activity in the area, SFWMD governing board meeting, reduced minimum flow threshold for the Caloosahatchee estuary, local sewage spills, and recent federal enforcement rollbacks.

Watch Now

Our Training, Monitoring & Public Outreach Efforts Never Cease

Calusa Waterkeeper has continued our water quality monitoring in the region and offered remote training for our volunteer Rangers during the pandemic. In addition to the 27 sites in Lee County we monitor for pollution monthly, we were the first to alert the public of the record sewage spill into Manuels Branch, Fort Myers and we continue to monitor the situation and work with officials to provide better public notice of public health risk.

Get Your Calusa Waterkeeper Bandanna!

 
Renew Your Membership for a Bandanna
 

A Gift for Members & Donors

Renew your membership, become a member or make a donation to Calusa Waterkeeper and we will mail you one of our fashionable & protective bandannas! Act now, quantities are limited and this special ends May 31st.

Join or Renew a Membership
Make a Donation

Volunteer Ranger Profile

 
Curtis Orvis
 

Curtis Orvis - Tidal Caloosahatchee

Curtis developed a passion for rivers starting as a 5-year old, fishing on the Middlebury River in East Middlebury, Vermont. His love of nature and quest for knowledge in natural resources was ingrained through years of scout camp, hiking, canoeing, sailing, swimming, and boating. Curtis is trained in civil engineering, hydraulic engineering and river mechanics. Read More >

Water Quality Updates

 
Caloosahatchee Estuary
 

Cyanobacteria Found in the Caloosahatchee

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) has been detected by FDEP as the dominant alga in the Caloosahatchee at the Franklin Lock and Alva Boat Ramp. Cyanobacteria was visually evident on the south shore of the upper Caloosahatchee estuary and our testing has shown a selection of cyanobacteria species.

 
cyanobacteria
 
 
Billy's Creek
 

Billy's Creek Water Monitoring

 
Lee County
 

Lee County Water Monitoring

Around the Watershed

Clean Water Week

Extremely grateful to Peter Karas and the St. James City Boat Club and to all our CALUSA PALOOZA Sponsors for making CLEAN WATER WEEK possible!

Test Results

CWK results for enterococci fecal bacteria in Manuels Branch, Ft. Myers after the raw sewage spill

sand bag sewage spill

Another layer of sandbags by City workers in response to the sewage spill into Manuels Branch in Ft. Myers. 

cow patties

This heavily grazed pasture, less than a mile from the Caloosahatchee, will become a huge source of phosphorus when the first rains come this summer.

Ground Water levels

 Cape Coral and other areas have very low groundwater levels indicated by the SFWMD conditions report

CALUSA WATERKEEPER MISSION

To Protect and Restore the Caloosahatchee River from Lake Okeechobee to the Coastal Waters.

Phone: (239) 784-0880
Pollution Hotline: (239) 444-8584
Email: [email protected]

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Calusa Waterkeeper
PO Box 1165
Fort Myers, FL 33902

 
Waterkeeper Alliance Member
 

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