Calusa Waterkeeper
In the News
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 13
In this episode, John updates us on cyanobacteria blooms that have been detected in Lake O and in the Caloosahatchee. The area is seeing macro algae becoming more abundant. Elevated levels of fecal bacteria are responsible for shellfish closures.
Runoff from Construction Sites Enter Caloosahatchee River
Construction runoff has been getting into the Caloosahatchee River recently and residents and professionals alike have noticed murky patches. John Cassani, with the Calusa Waterkeeper, says, “Well, this is a very significant construction site sediment runoff.”
Calusa Waterkeeper Protects Region’s Vital Marine Resources
Water. From the grand rivers, coastal sounds and bays throughout the region, to the creeks and canals that meander through our neighborhoods, to the glistening Gulf of Mexico, water is in so many ways a crucial lifeblood for Southwest Florida.
States, Groups Challenge Feds over Reducing Wetlands Protection
More than a dozen states and several environmental groups are hoping a California judge will soon stop a move to open half the nation’s wetlands and streams to potential development and pollution. The changes, called the Navigable Waters Protection Rule, are due to go into effect on June 22.
How to Save a River at Risk? Calusa Waterkeeper Looks back at 25 Years of Working for the Watershed
On any given day, Calusa Waterkeeper members might be flying over the Caloosahatchee scanning for algae, sampling its urban tributary creeks for fecal bacteria, crunching water quality numbers or screening a documentary about the river’s health.
Experts Watching Area of Lake Okeechobee for Blue-Green Algae
Right now, there’s an area in Lake Okeechobee that experts are watching. What we wanted to know is if they think it’s something to be concerned about. An NOAA satellite map depicts bacteria concentrations in Lake Okeechobee with the bluish-green portion being an area of concern.
Everglades Restoration Project may be Delayed
A delay may be on the way after the US Army Corps of Engineers announced they want to “new start” the EAA reservoir. That project will capture and hold water from Lake Okeechobee and send it through cleaning marshes on its way south through the Everglades.
University Researchers Working to Pinpoint how Toxic Algae Blooms Affect the Human Body
Researchers are studying how toxic algae works its way through the human body and they continue to set their sights on Southwest Florida. Mike Parsons, a FGCU professor and Blue-Green Algae Task Force member, and Adam Schaefer of FAU installed the second round of air quality sensors in Cape Coral.
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 12
On this Words From the Waterkeeper, John updates us on the uptick of cyanobacteria in Lake Okeechobee and surrounding areas along with a lot of macro algae building up. Plus, we’re still seeing high salinity levels in the upper estuary of the Caloosahatchee.
Caloosahatchee to Get More Water from Lake Okeechobee as Rainy Season Approaches
For more than a month, the Caloosahatchee has been in trouble, after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cut flows to the river from Lake Okeechobee in April, following the driest March on record. But now, with the federal agency releasing more freshwater from the lake to the Gulf of Mexico, the thirsty, salty river will get some relief.
Blue Green Algae Spotted Along SWFL Beaches
A form of blue-green algae is appearing along Southwest Florida beaches. While it’s not red-tide, some researches have concerns. A sight Calusa Waterkeeper, John Cassani says, is not uncommon this time of year. “Climate change, all the extremes we’re seeing, rainfall, and temperatures, has kind of brought this issue out of the box a little bit.”
Is the Region in for Another Bad Algae Season? Scientists Monitor Blooms, Temperatures, Drought
With the height of algae season still months away, warm weather water woes are already starting to make their presence felt in Southwest Florida. Recent weeks have seen an increase in events “signaling an imbalance” in the region’s natural systems, as Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani describes it.