Calusa Waterkeeper
In the News
Battle Over Water and Public Health Returns to Florida Lawmakers
After the last prolonged outbreak of red tide and blue-green algae, it seemed every politician vowed to “do something.” The spin from the last session was that the Florida Legislature produced “the most Everglades-friendly budget in Florida history.”
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 9
On Episode 9 of Words from the Waterkeeper, John is joined by volunteer ranger and avid angler Don Lees for a Pine Island Sound fishing report. John addresses the red tide reports in Collier County and shares upcoming dates for Troubled Water documentary screenings in Naples.
Army Corps Releasing Lake Okeechobee Water to Help Caloosahatchee Estuary During Dry Times
The U.S. ACOE is releasing Lake Okeechobee water to the Caloosahatchee River again, but these discharges are expected to help the river and estuary. An extremely dry September caused SWFL to end up several inches below normal for precipitation. The dry spell caused the Army Corps to start releases.
High Levels of Fecal Bacteria on Pine Island Beach
A new report was released about a popular beach spot on Pine Island contains high levels of fecal bacteria. The levels are so high, it’s almost nine times the health department’s threshold for closing a beach. Calusa Waterkeepers said this can be dangerous and raises some health concerns.
Is There Water Contamination in Florida? Public Has the Right to Know
The growing but little-known water quality and public health problem that won’t seem to go away is that fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) contamination has become widespread in Florida and even in some of the state’s most iconic waterways. Contamination levels present a significant public health risk.
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 8
In Episode 8 of Words from the Waterkeeper, John is joined on the beach by water ranger Bradley Quandt for a SWFL fishing report on spawning snook and the resurgence of baitfish populations. John also provides the latest water readings on background levels of red tide offshore.
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 7
In Episode 7 of Words from the Waterkeeper, John Cassani is joined by long-time Calusa Waterkeeper Ranger Jason Pim as they discuss the Four Mile Cove in Cape Coral. John provides updates on the microcystis bloom in Lake Okeechobee and red tide forecasts.
Six Questions for Calusa Waterkeeper Executive Director, K.C. Schulberg
Periodically, The Island Sand Paper asks a community leader “6 Questions.” In this edition, K.C. Schulberg, Executive Director for Calusa Waterkeeper, discusses their new film, “Troubled Waters,” and our area’s water quality.
Postponed: Human Health will Head up the Agenda at Next Blue-green Algae Task Force Meeting
When Florida’s blue-green algae task force meets next, public health will be first on the agenda. Hurricane Dorian postponed the scientists’ meeting which was to have been the fourth since Gov. Ron DeSantis reactivated the six-member group, which includes FGCU Professor Mike Parsons.
Brown Water: Natural Tannins or Sign of Looming Red Tide?
Tannin-stained waters are blasting out of some Southwest Florida passes as rain water continues to wash off the watershed and into the Gulf of Mexico. Water quality scientists and others worry nutrients in that water could eventually feed a red tide bloom that’s already on the horizon.
Save Our Water 2019: Hundreds Gather to Hear Gov. DeSantis & Experts Talk Water Quality
Gov. Ron DeSantis was at the top of a long list of impressive speakers, including Lt. Col. Jennifer Reynolds from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Noah Valenstein from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection during the third annual Save our Water Summit.
Army Corps Other Agencies will Meet in Clewiston to Discuss Future Okeechobee Releases
The future of Lake Okeechobee releases will be guided by a group that’s meeting for the first time in Clewiston. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the lead federal agency involved with the project, which includes developing new release protocols for the big Lake.