Originally published by Ocean Grants on November 18, 2024
Harmful algal blooms have been at the center of Calusa Waterkeeper’s science-based advocacy initiatives exploring the impacts of water quality on human health, our economy, and quality of life.
Originally founded as the Caloosahatchee River Citizen’s Association in 1995, this grassroots not-forprofit organization rechartered as Calusa Waterkeeper in 2016-2017 to become a member of the global Waterkeeper Alliance. Calusa Waterkeeper’s jurisdiction includes over 1,000 square miles of water bodies, including Lake Okeechobee, the Caloosahatchee River, and estuary, and the nearshore Gulf waters of Lee County stretching from Boca Grande to Bonita Beach.
One of the linchpins of Calusa Waterkeeper’s efforts has been the volunteer Ranger program, which invites community members to join the organization as boots on the ground and fins in the water protecting and restoring the watershed. Through a series of classes, the Ranger Training Academy teaches the basics of water quality parameters, common pollution concerns, advocacy, and restoration initiatives. The citizen scientists enabled by the Ranger program greatly increase the amount of monitoring and advocacy the organization can achieve.
There are many serious challenges in the work to protect and restore the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary system, including harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee, nutrient-laden stormwater runoff from agriculture and land uses of all types, and local and state policies allowing for rampant development and ineffective enforcement against water pollution.
Original Story