Calusa Waterkeeper
In the News
Kayakers Gather to Help Clean up Southwest Florida Waterways
Kayakers set out to pick up more trash in our water to wrap up the Calusa Clean-Up of our Waterways. An idea started by Keep Lee County Beautiful and Calusa Waterkeeper to get you to pick up trash in Lee County, by using #CalusaCleanup and showing what you picked up.
Southwest Florida Under a ‘Code Brown’ Following Rash of Fecal Bacteria Reported in Local Waterways
In the past few weeks, several sites in the Fort Myers area have experienced beach closures and health warnings due to an outbreak of fecal bacteria. Over the Easter holiday weekend, a dead manatee washed ashore near the beach at the Cape Coral Yacht Club.
Week-long ‘The Big Calusa’ Underway
In an effort to reconnect the community to the waterways, Calusa Waterkeeper, a nonprofit clean water advocacy group, has kicked off the inaugural The Big Calusa, a recreational, educational and cultural family friendly week-long festival this week.
Fecal Bacteria is the New Water Crisis in Southwest Florida
There is a new water crisis in Southwest Florida. It is not algae or red tide, but bacteria and fecal matter where we kayak and fish. John Cassani, Calusa Waterkeeper said the test results made public by the Department of Environmental Protection are alarming.
Calusa Waterkeeper Encourages Year-round Cleanups, not Just on Earth Day
A local organization wants to keep the Earth Day clean-ups going. Calusa Waterkeeper, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting some of the largest waterways in Southwest Florida, is kicking off the Big Calusa, a week-long cleanup effort of local waterways.
Estero River Teeming with Bacteria but Lack Warnings for Danger
The Estero River has around 26 times the level of bacteria than the Florida Department of Health said is safe. John Casani, Calusa waterkeeper confirms tests done last week show the Estero River with unhealthy levels of fecal bacteria, according to the FDEP.
Celebrating Earth Day on Location at the Collaboratory
First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the beginning of the modern environmental movement. In downtown Fort Myers at the SWFL Community Foundation’s Collaboratory, WJCT News joins a panel of guests who are each on the front lines, fighting for our environment.
Feds Urged to Speed Up Fix of Lake Okeechobee Toxic Discharges
The Center for Biological Diversity, Calusa Waterkeeper, Bullsugar, Save the Manatee Club and the Sierra Club filed comments today on the Army Corps’ plan to revise its management of Lake Okeechobee. The Corps intends to follow its current plan until at least 2022.
Florida Legislature Must get Serious About Nutrient Pollution in the Water
So far, the Florida legislative session has not adequately addressed the nutrient pollution time bomb that leads to harmful algal blooms (HABs). Great sums of public dollars have been promised and budgeted but without substantive regulatory reform, the problem will only continue and become more expensive.
Oil Drilling Discussion has Trump Supporters Worried
President Trump’s interior department is considering leasing waters in the Gulf of Mexico for oil drilling. Trump supporter Rep. Francis Rooney (R-Naples) is opposed to the plan and says it could derail Trump’s hopes for winning Florida in the 2020 election.
Earth Day Kicks off Week-long Festival of Events & Cleanups
Calusa Waterkeeper has created The Big Calusa, a week-long festival and cleanup. The Big Calusa begins on Earth Day, April 22, with the Calusa Kayakers cleanup party at Millennial Brewing Company in Fort Myers from 5:30-8:30 p.m., featuring musical entertainment, food trucks & vendors.
Chiquita Lock Removal Set for Hearing that Pits Cape Coral Against Conservationists
A water control structure in Cape Coral will be the focus of a hearing this week as environmental and civic groups aim to keep the city from completely removing the Chiquita Lock. The lock was designed to retain freshwater so that it has a period of time to wash through an adjacent mangrove system, which helps clean the water.