Calusa Waterkeeper
In the News
What are all the discharges about? The latest on Lake O
The federal agency charged with managing Lake Okeechobee levels is considering larger scale water releases to the Caloosahatchee River in hopes of helping thousands of acres of lost submerged grasses recover.
Dangerous levels of fecal bacteria found in Lee County waterways
A recent report from the Calusa Waterkeeper highlights alarming levels of fecal bacteria in many Lee County waterways.
Calusa Waterkeeper Featured in HAB Special Report by Ocean Grants
Harmful algal blooms have been at the center of Calusa Waterkeeper’s science-based advocacy initiatives exploring the impacts of water quality on human health, our economy, and quality of life.
There’s Something in the Water
Manuel’s Branch, arguably the most contaminated of the Great Calusa waterways in Lee County, runs across the city of Fort Myers, right behind Fort Myers High School and on past Thomas Edison and Henry Ford’s former homes before emptying into the Caloosahatchee.
The Tropics and Red Tide; what happens if or when they interact?
A storm is churning and on track to make its way into the Gulf of Mexico. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission red tide map shows background to low concentrations of it offshore of Southwest Florida. How will one affect the other?
Calusa Waterkeeper Wins 2nd Place in the National Nonprofit of the Year Cox Conserves Heroes Awards Competition
Calusa Waterkeeper, a passionate champion for clean water in Southwest Florida for nearly three decades, is honored to be recognized as the 2024 Cox Conserves Heroes 2nd Place Nonprofit of the Year Winner.
Red tide showing up offshore, fecal indicator bacteria counts high after hurricanes
“We didn’t have a single site that passed the swimming beaches threshold of 70, so my main takeaway is there is a clear indication that we have a problem,” Pierce said. “We’re a first-world country living with third-world water quality problems.”
Calusa Nature Center and Calusa Waterkeeper Team Up
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium and Calusa Waterkeeper are excited to announce a new partnership that will enrich the community and enhance our shared commitment to environmental stewardship.
Fecal bacteria could still be high in creeks, rivers after Helene.
Avery is part of a small army of volunteers who scour Lee County creeks and rivers in hopes of better understanding pollution in the various watersheds, and they’ve been out in droves over the past week trying to capture a snapshot of local water quality after Hurricane Helene stirred local waters and flooded island communities.
Find Out What’s in Estero Bay at the October State of Our Water Meeting
The Estero Bay Basin located within Calusa Waterkeeper’s 1000 sq. mile jurisdiction, is the topic of Calusa Waterkeeper’s State of Our Water quarterly meeting held on Saturday, October 12, 2024, from 9:30 to noon at Fort Myers Regional Library.
Calusa Waterkeeper to highlight ongoing severe fecal bacteria presence at Manuel’s Branch creek
Calusa Waterkeeper sampled water in Manuel’s Branch last month and found the level of Enterococcus measured 21 times higher than the Florida Department of Health’s safety level and 44 times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency’s limit.
Calusa Waterkeeper To Host Manuel’s Branch Neighborhood Water Quality & Human Health Event
In an effort to keep children and families informed of troubled waters in Manuel’s Branch and other local waterbodies, Calusa Waterkeeper is hosting a Water Quality & Human Health Public Meeting on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM.