Originally published on Fox4 by Bella Line on August 22, 2025
Water quality remains a top concern for Calusa Waterkeeper, and this weekend they’re aiming to raise awareness. The environmental organization is teaming up with Swamp Cat Brewery to raise money to help protect local waterways, and they’ve even created their own brew to do it
…Calusa Waterkeeper Joe Cavanaugh said the water quality has been good this summer up until about a month ago.
“Now it’s gotten a little darker and little more tannic, and it’s harder to see, but there’s more fecal indicator bacteria and other nutrients coming into the river, and it’s kind of an ebb and flow cycle with the rains,” Cavanaugh said.
He says money from this weekend will go toward fecal indicator bacteria tests and other clean water initiatives. Cavanaugh says they typically see harmful algae blooms after a hurricane, so it’s a concern as we head into the peak of hurricane season.
“Clean water is something that’s essential for all of us that are near the water and also using the water,” he said.
The partnership has also created their own brew for the event called the Calusa Crusader Citrus Ale, because as Cavanaugh notes, you need clean water to make good beer.
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