Calusa Waterkeeper
In the News
Fecal bacteria could still be high in creeks, rivers after Helene.
Avery is part of a small army of volunteers who scour Lee County creeks and rivers in hopes of better understanding pollution in the various watersheds, and they’ve been out in droves over the past week trying to capture a snapshot of local water quality after Hurricane Helene stirred local waters and flooded island communities.
Find Out What’s in Estero Bay at the October State of Our Water Meeting
The Estero Bay Basin located within Calusa Waterkeeper’s 1000 sq. mile jurisdiction, is the topic of Calusa Waterkeeper’s State of Our Water quarterly meeting held on Saturday, October 12, 2024, from 9:30 to noon at Fort Myers Regional Library.
Calusa Waterkeeper to highlight ongoing severe fecal bacteria presence at Manuel’s Branch creek
Calusa Waterkeeper sampled water in Manuel’s Branch last month and found the level of Enterococcus measured 21 times higher than the Florida Department of Health’s safety level and 44 times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s limit.
Calusa Waterkeeper To Host Manuel’s Branch Neighborhood Water Quality & Human Health Event
In an effort to keep children and families informed of troubled waters in Manuel’s Branch and other local waterbodies, Calusa Waterkeeper is hosting a Water Quality & Human Health Public Meeting on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM.
New release plans for Lake O may reduce red tide in Gulf
Environmentalists say a new federal playbook for managing Lake Okeechobee’s water levels could reduce the size and frequency of red tide incidents off Naples, Marco Island and other Gulf Coast communities.
Wastewater Overflow at Gasparilla Island Water Authority (Boca Grande)
A half-million gallons of rainy sewage leaked onto the Gasparilla Island Water Authority plant grounds after Hurricane Debby. The spill was at 2:05 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 5. The public notice did not go out until August 29.
Fish kill in Matlacha over, waters cleared weeks after Tropical Storm Debby
Calusa Waterkeeper Codty Pierce said the waters have cleared since but that he’s still concerned about nutrients in the system.
Will we see Lake Okeechobee discharges this year to the Caloosahatchee? What to know
Calusa Waterkeeper Codty Pierce said only time will tell how well LOSOM works for the Caloosahatchee River.
Putting Our Local Water Quality Into Perspective
Based on what I am currently seeing across our region and compared to the water quality I have observed here over my lifetime, we are witnessing a steady and at times, shocking, decline.
What does potential changes to several Florida State Parks mean for SWFL?
This past week the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) announced its 2024-2025 Great Outdoors Initiative. It’s caused an outcry from residents from across the state.
Fecal bacteria continues to be found in extremely high levels in Lee County waters
Every month the Calusa Waterkeeper tests our water for fecal indicator bacteria. And just this past month alone, 26 of 31 samples came back as poor to extremely poor. Similar results have been found each consecutive month for more than a year.
What’s the state of our water? Answers come from stakeholders at chamber event
Once a taken-for-granted bankable asset, Southwest Florida’s degraded water quality is now a critical, contentious topic. A recent Chamber of Southwest Florida event was a case in point. Five stakeholders from very different sectors gathered Wednesday to offer insights on challenges and solutions to a crowd of more than 100. Perspectives differed.