Calusa Waterkeeper
In the News
Act Now: Support the Safe Waterways Act
The Safe Waterways Act (SB 604) has yet to be heard in the Florida State Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. Without this committee’s support, we may lose this legislation on fecal pollution. Please call or email today!
Researchers Studying How Blue-Green Algae Toxins Travel
We know that toxins from blue-green algae can make people sick. And, the smell and sight of blue-green algae is something none of us want to deal with again. But now, researchers are trying to figure out how these toxins travel through the air and get into our bodies.
Florida Should Warn Swimmers when there’s Poop in the Water
Currently, the state health department monitors and posts advisories at some coastal beaches and “public swimming areas” under the Healthy Beaches Program, but as the law currently stands, there is no requirement that any state, county or municipal agency warn people before they swim or launch their kayak.
‘Look at the Water for Evidence’: Data Proves Florida Pollution Prevention not Working
Available water sampling data proves – for the first time – that Florida’s flagship program to reduce water pollution isn’t working. And that pollution is contaminating waterways and sparking toxic algal blooms in the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers.
Words from the Waterkeeper Episode 31
For the last Words from the Waterkeeper for 2021, Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani invites friends Dr. Win Everham, an ecology professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, and board president of Calusa Waterkeeper Jim Watkins. They cover water quality in the area,...
What Lies Beneath? Study Aims to Learn What’s in Lake O’s Sediment
A study is underway to find out what’s below the surface of Lake Okeechobee. Think of our water quality and the lake as a puzzle. There are many different pieces that contribute to the big picture. Understanding all those pieces gets us closer to cleaner water.
Fixing the Flow
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ new plan to manage and distribute vast quantities of water coming into and going out of Lake Okeechobee — reducing flows both east and west unless the lake grows too full, and sending more water south — is a significant improvement over the old plan.
Health Department Warns About Cyanobacteria in the Caloosahatchee
Lee County’s health department placed a sign just steps from the water and sent out a press release after samples collected by the FDEP showed algal toxins in the water: “The public should exercise caution in and around Caloosahatchee River – Davis Boat Ramp,” the release read.
Health Alert Issued in Fort Myers Shores for Blue-Green Algae Outbreak in Caloosahatchee
The Florida Department of Health has issued a health alert after finding harmful blue-green algae toxins in the Caloosahatchee River at the Davis Boat Ramp in Fort Myers Shores. The health alert results from a Dec. 1 sample taken from the water in that area.
Guest Opinion: The Conservancy of SWFL: Staying the Course for the Public Good
In 2020, the Conservancy filed a lawsuit against Collier County for approving Rivergrass because the project blatantly flouted the county’s requirements for smart growth design, fiscal neutrality, and minimization of traffic impacts.
Conservancy’s Case Against Rivergrass Village Moves Forward with Outside Support
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has filed documents supporting its appeal to overturn a court decision rejecting the group’s challenge to the development of Rivergrass, a village in eastern Collier County. Calusa Waterkeeper is one of over a dozen other groups filing briefs in support of the Conservancy.
No Blue-Green Algae. No Red Tide. River & Coastal Conditions Looking Better this Fall
Caloosahatchee flows are looking good at a time when algae is absent from the entire system, and other health indicators seem promising as the region transitions into the brunt of the dry season. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is releasing just over 2,000 cubic feet per second at the W.P. Franklin Lock.