Calusa Waterkeeper
In the News
Expert: Matlacha fish kills show what pollution, low oxygen levels can do to marine life
“Southwest Florida has chronic water quality problems that stem from decades of sprawling growth, weakened regulations and underinvestment in green infrastructure,” Douglass wrote.
New images show shocking water quality conditions in Matlacha Pass
Calusa Waterkeeper Codty Pierce is documenting our water conditions in the wake of Tropical Storm Debby. He shared drone footage he took in Matlacha Pass this week. The images show harmful algal blooms and fish kills are clogging up the estuary.
Hurricane Debby left poor water quality and fish kills along SWFL coast
“Anything that has been deposited, spilled, leaked under the soil unfortunately will find their way into our local water bodies, which most of those do drain into our estuary here,” said Calusa Waterkeeper Codty Pierce.
Tropical Storm Debby ecological impacts mount
Pierce is worried about all the legacy sediments and nutrients that have built up onto the landscape. A lot of that pollution was suspended and flushed toward the coast.
What’s that Smell? Hundreds of dead fish on Matlacha after Debby
As we are starting to experience higher air and water temperatures, and then we talk about a major rain event like Hurricane Debby that happened last week, there was an immense amount of nutrients in stormwater runoff that ends up inside of the estuary.
Calusa Waterkeeper now accepting students for fall ranger academy
Participants who complete the academy will graduate as Rangers, equipped to conduct water and air quality testing as certified citizen scientists. They will also serve as ambassadors of Calusa Waterkeeper, advocating for the clean water movement in our community.
Health Dept. cautions against making contact with local waterway
State health officials Thursday sent out a blue-green algae caution for several locations along the Caloosahatchee River, and there’s potential for a large-scale bloom on Lake Okeechobee.
Cypress Bend community appears to be leaking sewage to Estero River
A small south Lee County neighborhood is polluting an adjacent property and, eventually, the Estero River with untreated wastewater.
Calusa Waterkeeper Announces Open Enrollment for Fall Ranger Training Academy
Calusa Waterkeeper is excited to announce open enrollment in August for its Fall Ranger Training Academy with Calusa Waterkeeper Captain Codty Pierce. Citizens are invited to become certified Rangers and stewards of our waterways.
Fort Myers asks state to extend deadline for water pollution fixes
Despite the city’s attention to the waterway, there’s been “no real change or improvement” in fecal bacteria levels, Waterkeeper Codty Pierce says.
Why the Right to Clean Water is needed
The only way to bring back health, safety and beauty to our waters is if we, the people, are given a fundamental right to clean and healthy water. That is what the Right to Clean Water’s petition initiative is all about.
Sign Up for Calusa Waterkeeper’s July 27th Vertical Oyster Garden Workshop
Calusa Waterkeeper invites you to sign up for its highly anticipated Vertical Oyster Garden (VOG) Workshop scheduled for July 27 from 2 to 3:30 PM at the Historic Iona House at the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium in Fort Myers.