Calusa Waterkeeper
In the News
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 14
An update from Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani regarding the cyanobacteria bloom on Lake Okeechobee and other local water quality issues. Thank you to pilots Ralph Arwood and Roy Plackis of LightHawk Conservation Flights.
SB 712: A Watered-Down Bill that Will Not Fix our Water Quality Issues
Governor DeSantis just signed into law SB 712 – the self-proclaimed “Clean Waterways Act” – an ambitious misnomer for a bill that claims to be the solution to our mounting water quality issues, but falls far short of that mark. This bill has been praised by its supporters as one of the most environmentally progressive pieces of legislation in over a decade.
Scientists Mapping Tape Grass in Caloosahatchee in Hopes of Helping Species Recover
A group of local scientists are mapping out critical marine habitats in the Caloosahatchee in hopes that tape grass will flourish here again. SCCF and FGCU secured a $264,000, two-year grant from the U.S. EPA to map tape grass habitat in the fresher portion of the river.
Saharan Dust may Impact Southwest Florida Coastal Waters
A gigantic dust column from Africa’s Sahara Desert has traveled thousands of miles and will eventually settle over the U.S. The dust is so thick it can be seen in satellite images, and once it reaches Southwest Florida, it may impact water quality.
Saharan Dust could Ramp Up Red Tide off our Coast
The Saharan dust headed our way this week could help feed red tide. In a Facebook post, Calusa Waterkeeper recently tested reddish patches three miles off of Big Carlos Pass. The test confirmed marine cyanobacteria Trichodesmium, also known as sea sawdust.
Blue-Green Algae Bloom Covering more than Half of Lake Okeechobee
A blue-green algae bloom has taken over more than half of Lake Okeechobee. Satellite photos show the 720-square-mile lake as being mostly covered with a green sheen. “Based on the satellite imagery it looks like more than half of the lake has a bloom evident, so I’d estimate a 400-square-mile bloom,” said Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani.
Calusa Waterkeeper Celebrating 25th Anniversary
While Calusa Waterkeeper is celebrating its silver anniversary, the organization says it has a long way to go to fulfill its mission of protecting and restoring the Caloosahatchee River from Lake Okeechobee to the coastal waterways.
Current Administration may be Planning for Offshore Drilling After the Election
Multiple sources say the president’s interior staff is planning to allow offshore drilling on the east side of the gulf again. John Cassani with the Calusa Waterkeeper says Southwest Florida wildlife is still suffering and says the potential plan would be like that a step backward.
“The chemicals used to disperse the oil are affecting wildlife,” he said.
Start of Summer Challenges Area Waterways
This first flush, as Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani calls it, carries all the crud that’s built up during the dry season. Accumulated lawn chemicals, vacant lot litter, roadway oil and pet poop all wash off the landscape, sometimes in fish-killing or flow-blocking volume, as several recent examples in both counties, illustrate.
Calusa Waterkeeper Tests for Source of Billy’s Creek Contamination
Fecal bacteria contamination in Billy’s Creek has been a concern for years, and a local group, Calusa Waterkeeper, is working to fix the problem. They hope new testing will help determine where the bacteria is coming from. Billy’s Creek winds from Fort Myers to the Caloosahatchee, but fecal bacteria has been plaguing this waterway for at least two decades.
‘Staggering’ Amount of Fecal Bacteria Found in Billy’s Creek in Fort Myers
John Cassani with Calusa Waterkeeper said the amount of fecal bacteria located in the creek is staggering. “The contamination is extraordinarily high, it’s terrible. It’s been this way for almost two decades.” Records of the fecal bacteria have been kept by Lee County since 2001.
Calusa Waterkeeper to Conduct Source Tracing of Fecal Bacteria in Billy’s Creek
Calusa Waterkeeper will conduct the first phase of a study to determine the source of the fecal bacteria contamination of Billy’s Creek. The testing determines if the nitrogen is from raw domestic sewage, wildlife, septic tanks, treated wastewater or agricultural sources and will be compared to a concurrent study in the Caloosahatchee River.