Community Action Plan:
Billy’s Creek, Fort Myers
Executive Summary
The Billy’s Creek Community Action Plan (BC-CAP) serves as a call to action for restoring a local tributary, Billy’s Creek. From its early history to the present day, memories and life experiences intersect and continue to affirm the significant role Billy’s Creek holds in the greater Fort Myers community. Throughout the process of writing the Billy’s Creek Community Action Plan (BC-CAP), oral histories were collected in an effort to understand the place Billy’s Creek holds in the hearts of the people who live here. Shared with us were stories of learning to swim in the once white, sandy-bottom creek; teaching youth about the local environment with school trips to the creek; and, most popularly, fishing alongside family and friends.
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Additional Billy's Creek Resources
- Fort Myers Pollutant Reduction Plan
- Letter to FDEP, Re: Fort Myers FIB Consent Order
- City of Fort Myers & FDEP Consent Order
- John Cassani Addresses Inaccuracies in Billy's Creek Workshop
- The History of Billy's Creek and City of Fort Myers' Maintenance, Evaluation & Financial Investment
- PR: Fort Myers City Council to Discuss Bacterial Contamination of Billy’s Creek
- Consent Order by FDEP against City of Fort Myers for Releasing Effluent into Billy's Creek
- Billy's Creek Bacteria Results since Hurricane Irma
- Billy's Creek One-page Issues Paper
- Billy's Creek Contamination Letter to City of Fort Myers Mayor and Lee County BOCC
Billy’s Creek Oral History Project
Our stories are what connect us to each other and our environment. Therefore, Calusa Waterkeeper is collecting oral histories from community members to amplify the historical, cultural, and recreational significance that Billy’s Creek has had in our lives.
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Related News Stories
Fecal Bacteria
Manuel’s Branch plagued by alarming contamination levels
Manuel’s Branch runs along vital community landmarks where children and families gather and play. The risks associated with drinking, swimming, or fishing in these waters are serious.
Floridians face continuing risk of swimming in contaminated waters due to veto
Florida public health policy took a blow recently when Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed legislation aimed at reducing public risk from beach waters and public bathing places contaminated with fecal bacteria.
Action Alert: Ask Governor to Approve the Safe Waterways Act
This important water quality and public health legislation could use your help getting over the finish line!
The Safe Waterways Act is Poised for a Senate Vote
The Safe Waterways Act of 2024 has received more bi-partisan co-sponsors, was guided through committees and is now poised for a special order vote by the full Senate.
High Fecal Bacteria at Lee County Beaches Trigger Warnings
Lee County’s health department warns residents to avoid the water at local beaches due to high fecal bacteria levels that could cause illness. Bowditch Point Park on Fort Myers Beach and Cape Coral’s Yacht Club beaches had unsafe levels of Enterococcus bacteria.
Calusa Waterkeeper Issues Area’s Bacteria Sampling Report for June
This month out of the 30 sites throughout the watershed tested by the Calusa Waterkeeper, 23% passed and 77% failed. The highest FIB count reported of 2,909 MPN at Manuel’s Branch will be discussed in a upcoming meeting.
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Priority Issues
Harmful Algal Blooms
Cyanobacteria & Red Tide
Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and Karenia brevis (red tide) have been making major impacts on Southwest Florida.
Lake Okeechobee Discharges
Revise System Operating Manual
The Caloosahatchee River often suffers from too much freshwater in the wet season, and not enough freshwater in the dry season.
Cape Coral Spreader Canals
Nutrient & Sediment Loading
The City of Cape Coral is working to remove large storm-water barriers to make recreational boating more convenient.
Bacteria Monitoring
Fecal Bacteria
Calusa Waterkeeper has been at the forefront of monitoring this Fort Myers tributary for fecal bacteria indicators.