Newsletter | April 2020
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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.
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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.
Exclusive Offer for our Members
Send us an email to receive your members-only discount code!
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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.
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In the News
Massive Raw Sewage Spill in Fort Myers
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.
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 >
‘Clean Waterways Act’ Passes Florida Senate; What Does it Mean for the State?
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Words from the Waterkeeper - Episode 10
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.
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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.
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Get Your Calusa Waterkeeper 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.
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Volunteer Ranger Profile
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 >
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Water Quality Updates
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.
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Billy's Creek Water Monitoring
Lee County Water Monitoring
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Around the Watershed
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!
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CWK results for enterococci fecal bacteria in Manuels Branch, Ft. Myers after the raw sewage spill
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.jpg "sand bag sewage spill")
Another layer of sandbags by City workers in response to the sewage spill into Manuels Branch in Ft. Myers.
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.
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Cape Coral and other areas have very low groundwater levels indicated by the SFWMD conditions report
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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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