Calusa Waterkeeper
In the News
Floridians Have the Right to Know if Public Waters they Recreate in are Safe from Contamination
The current Florida Department of Health (FDOH) policy at the county level is inconsistent. The only waters routinely monitored are the coastal beaches. It’s rare when signage warning of fecal bacteria is implemented, often at the discretion of local politicians who have no training in public health.
John Cassani Speaks at the Sanibel Rotary
Calusa Waterkeeper, John Cassani describes the effects of the cyanobacteria that is in the waters, causing harm to our waterways, the life within the water and the health effects to people who live and work on or around the water.
Feedback for the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM)
Calusa Waterkeeper has been following the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual process since it began in 2018/19. The organization and many of our members have submitted public comments throughout the process over the years. Calusa Waterkeeper has had concerns...
Kissimmee Restoration will Help Curb Harmful Flows & Pollution to Caloosahatchee
Federal water managers celebrated Everglades restoration work completed north of Lake Okeechobee that will help curb harmful releases to the Caloosahatchee and its estuary. Restoring natural flows in the Kissimmee River is one of the top restoration priorities in South Florida.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Announces Preferred Alternative for New Lake O Release Schedule
The Corps is planning on implementing a new set of regulations, called the Lake Okeechobee Systems Operating Manual, or LOSOM. We explore the ongoing decision-making process with John Cassani, Calusa Waterkeeper; and James Evans, Environmental Policy Director at SCCF.
SWFL Clean Water Advocates Hear Federal Proposal for Lake Okeechobee Operations
A new plan is up for discussion to help fishing on Lake Okeechobee while also alleviating algal blooms in the state. One of the ultimate goals is to improve the water quality for folks on and around the lake. It’s not one size fits all when it comes to solutions for Lake Okeechobee…
Toxic Algae Poisoning Diagnosed in Matlacha
Sue Dahod, a Calusa Waterkeeper Ranger, teamed up with the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Department to test the water in Matlacha, after complaints from residents who said they were getting sick due to marine toxicity surrounding their homes.
Calusa Waterkeeper Testing New Device to Measure Air Toxins from Blue-Green Algae & Red Tide
A nonprofit dedicated to the protection of our vital water bodies in the region and state is taking matters into its own hands to keep an eye on water and air quality. Calusa Waterkeeper recently set up a device in its test phases to monitor algae toxins in the air at a Cape Coral resident’s property.
Students Paddling Pine Island Sound for Environmental Awareness
High school students Aydin Khan-Bridgers of Naples and Ava Spencer of Raleigh plan to spend a week kayaking around Pine Island Sound to help raise awareness of the deteriorating marine environment while conducting water tests for FGCU’s Dr. James Douglass.
How Much Dangerous Algae Toxin is in the Air?
Calusa Waterkeeper is checking the air for cyanotoxins, produced by microscopic organisms that photosynthesize as plants do, but are indeed bacteria, even though they’re commonly called blue-green algae. Some produce potent toxins that have been linked to grave health problems.
Calusa Waterkeeper Concerned About Impact of Large Storm Plume Seen in Naples Bay
A large plume of storm runoff could be seen from Naples Bay through Gordon Pass. That plume has since dissipated into the Gulf but there remains an underlying issue for water experts. We’re seeing more nutrients in SW FL waters so the question is, could this cause more problems?
Tropical Storm Elsa Could Worsen the Blue-Green Algae Situation in SWFL
New pictures taken over Lake Okeechobee show huge swaths of blue-green algae and Tropical Storm Elsa could make things worse. “Our pilot flew the lake yesterday and there was about a 12 mile stretch of the lake where it was concentrated for sure,” John Cassani, from the Calusa Waterkeeper, said.