Calusa Waterkeeper
In the News
Words from the Waterkeeper – Episode 35
Updates on local water quality in the region from Lake Okeechobee through the Caloosahatchee to the coastal waters. Please consider supporting our ongoing air & water sampling.
DeSantis and Florida Legislators Have Largely Failed to Implement Blue-Green Algae Task Force Recommendations
Waterkeepers Florida has collaborated with other environmental organizations to publish a progress report on the implementation of recommendations made by Florida's Blue-Green Algae Task Force. In short, meaningful progress is difficult to find:In his first week in...
Florida’s Blue-Green Algae Task Force Meets After Half-Year Hiatus
It was a day of sharp questions and soul-searching as Florida’s Blue-Green Algae Task Force met Thursday for the first time since February. The broad topic of this meeting: Why, after three years of task force effort, is Florida’s water still so troubled?
Blue-Green Algae Bloom Season and Caloosahatchee Conditions
A blue-green algae bloom is festering again this summer on Lake Okeechobee, but lake levels are low, and experts say there is little to no reason to fear a major blue-green algae outbreak in Southwest Florida this year.
Calusa Waterkeepers Closely Monitoring ‘milky’ Waters Around Matlacha
The water is not just murky around Matlacha – it’s now appearing milky and the problem is being closely watched by Calusa Waterkeepers. “It’s quite concerning,” said Susan Dahod, a Calusa Waterkeeper volunteer and biologist who studies water.
HAB Task Force feels public outcry may be the only way to affect change in local water quality
The Harmful Algae Bloom Task Force met to discuss possible pertinent information on local water quality, in case it affects public health on Pine Island. The group is made up of a combination of Calusa Waterkeeper rangers, such as Sue Dahod.
Elevated Fecal Bacteria Recorded in Several Lee County Waterways
The Calusa Waterkeeper released sampling data showing three Lee County locations that saw high fecal bacteria indicators. Those locations included Pine Island Sound at Flamingo Bay on Pine Island and Billy’s Creek near Ortiz Avenue and Shady Oaks Park.
Swimmers ignore warnings of fecal bacteria from the Florida Department of Health at area beaches
Eleven Southwest Florida beaches got poor marks after tests showed high fecal bacteria counts. At popular Bonita Beach, the Florida Department of Health is advising people to stay out of the water completely until it clears.
Calusa Waterkeeper Names Public Service Award After Commissioner Frank Mann
In honor of the important work that Mr. Mann did while he served as a Lee County Commissioner and other public offices, and after receiving his family’s blessing, we have elected to name one of our annual awards after him.
An Update from Calusa Waterkeeper Board President, Jim Watkins
A special update on the status of Calusa Waterkeeper from Board President, Jim Watkins
Lake Okeechobee sees 240 Square Miles of Blue-Green Algae
Lake Okeechobee is seeing about 240 square miles of Blue-Green Algae on the north, west, and south shores. That is about a 30% increase over the last two weeks. The Army Corps of Engineers began to release water from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee system.
Milky White-Colored Water & Fish Kill in Matlacha Pass
We are learning more about what caused a fish kill in Matlacha Pass last week. NOAA says the fish likely died because of low oxygen levels in the water. The water’s white color is caused by sulfur particles that precipitate from H2S (hydrogen sulfide) produced from the bacterial decomposition of the macroalga Caulerpa.