Calusa Waterkeeper
In the News
Letter of Appreciation from City of Stuart
A partial ruling was recently reached by a federal judge on our lawsuit involving the Army Corps’ failure to assess Lake Okeechobee discharges’ impacts on downstream endangered species. In the wake of this recent decision, we received the following letter of appreciation from the Mayor of Stuart, Florida, Michael J. Meier.
Calusa Waterkeeper’s John Cassani Addresses Misleading Information in Billy’s Creek Workshop
During a Fort Myers city council workshop, many vital facts relevant to the concerns of Calusa Waterkeeper and the general public, were conspicuously missing from the City’s presentations. The following letter is Calusa Waterkeeper, John Cassani’s official public response to that meeting.
Estero Bay Film Premiere Part of Calusa Waterkeeper Benefit
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the designation of the Estero Bay tributaries as Outstanding Florida Waters. To commemorate the occasion, Calusa Waterkeeper will present “Saving Estero Bay,” an online benefit to restore Estero Bay’s tributaries.
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 19
John Cassani informs us that the ACOE recently announced they may have to start discharging Lake Okeechobee water into the Caloosahatchee. Plus, there has been a recent fish kill in Bonita Springs and other water quality issues arising in the Fort Myers and Cape Coral areas.
Calusa Waterkeeper Named Finalist in Cape Coral Community Foundation Awards
On Tuesday, Oct. 20, the Cape Coral Community Foundation will host the 4th annual ENPY Awards – Excellence in Nonprofit Performance Yearly awards ceremony. Calusa Waterkeeper has been named a finalist in the Nonprofit Organization of the Year category.
Lake O Releases to Caloosahatchee Expected soon due to Water Level
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is worried about how quickly the level of Lake Okeechobee is rising, and a way to fix that is to release the water down the river. Calusa waterkeeper John Cassani said too much freshwater can make the water look dark and divided.
Calusa Waterkeeper To Host “Saving Estero Bay” Online Benefit
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the designation of the Estero Bay tributaries as Outstanding Florida Waters. To commemorate the occasion, Calusa Waterkeeper will present “Saving Estero Bay,” an online benefit to restore Estero Bay’s tributaries.
Fort Myers Sees Caloosahatchee Pollution
Fort Myers officials are countering claims that bacteria is flowing from the Billy’s Creek watershed to the nearby Caloosahatchee. The city public works director led a team of outside consultants to demonstrate how the city filters the water through marshes at either end of Billy’s Creek to prevent contaminants from flowing into the river.
Expert Sends Cape Coral Water Sample to be Tested for Blue-Green Algae
Neighbors who live nearby the Shaughnessey canal in Cape Coral are concerned now that it might have fallen victim to a blue-green algae bloom. Water experts say storms will wash more nutrients into canals like the Shaughnessey. If it’s blue-green algae, it could get worse with all the rain.
Florida Department of Health Begins Issuing Health Advisories About Blue-Green Algae Blooms
The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has been issuing health advisories in response to blue-green algae blooms in three Cape Coral canals. We talk with Calusa Waterkeeper, John Cassani, to discuss this new outreach effort, and get the current state of our local waters.
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 18
John Cassani addresses the ongoing cyanobacteria in Lake Okeechobee and separate build-ups of nutrients causing Microcystis and Phormidium blooms in Cape Coral freshwater canals. Stay tuned, as we need your help asking Governor DeSantis and FDEP for implementing standards on cyanotoxins.
Work Stopped at Two Fort Myers Projects After Storm Runoff Pollutes the Caloosahatchee
Water pollution from two downtown Fort Myers construction sites has halted work for the third time in as many months. A heavy rainstorm sent sheets of silty water into the river, past the floating yellow curtains installed to contain it.