Calusa Waterkeeper
In the News
Science Officer Appointment Gets Support
With water quality at the forefront of the issues to which Gov. Ron DeSantis has pledged remedy, actions this week continue to follow promises made along the campaign trail with the appointment of the first-ever State of Florida Chief Science Officer, Dr. Thomas K. Frazer.
The Big Calusa Festival Begins on Earth Day
Originally published in Gulfshore Business on April 3, 2019 Calusa Waterkeeper has created The Big Calusa, a family-friendly, recreational, educational and cultural week-long festival and clean-up to reconnect the community in a positive way with local waterways. The...
Eden Oaks Development Update
The ill-conceived Eden Oaks development moves forward with a Lee County zoning hearing scheduled for April 23rd. Calusa Waterkeeper has opposed this development located in mangrove wetlands along Shell Point Boulevard in South Fort Myers.
Rooney Asks CDC to Share Knowledge on Toxic Algae Bloom Health Effects
U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney is pressing the CDC to share what it knows about the short- and long-term health effects of the toxic algae that befouled Southwest Florida last year. The congressman’s efforts were welcome news to Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani.
The Big Calusa festival to showcase SWFL’s water
Southwest Florida’s water is worth fighting for – and celebrating. So Calusa Waterkeeper has created The Big Calusa: a family-friendly, recreational, educational and cultural week-long festival and clean-up to reconnect our community in a positive way with all we love about our waterways.
ACTION NEEDED: Support These Two Stormwater Bills
Ask your senators to support the revision language in SB 1344 and that additional language be included that applies the new criteria to all relevant waters of the state, not just for impaired waters. SB 1344 will be reviewed by the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
President Trump arrives in Florida to visit Lake Okeechobee and Herbert Hoover Dike
President Donald Trump toured both the Herbert Hoover Dike and the Lake Okeechobee, where he was able to see areas where blue-green algae has already begun to develop. Recent tests show pockets of algae in the Caloosahatchee on its way toward Fort Myers.
Waterkeepers Florida Legislative Notes
Florida’s 2019 Legislative Session is moving fast. Florida Waterkeepers provides a synopsis of bills related to water quality and policy and their stance on each including reasoning and action items.
Officials Ready Mullock Creek to Drain Floodwaters, but at what Cost to the Environment?
Mullock Creek in south Lee County flows to Estero Bay and is part of the Outstanding Florida Waters program, named by state statute to be “worthy of special protection because of their natural attributes.” The creek is being cleared of vegetation following disastrous flooding in 2017.
Researchers Find Blue-green Algae Toxin in Dolphins that also have Brain Disease
A toxic blue-green algae that choked the Fort Myers-Cape Coral area last summer has shown up in dolphins with brain disease. Researchers tested 14 stranded dolphins and all but one of the dolphins tested positive for the cyanobacterial neurotoxin known as BMAA as well as brain disease.
New Study Shows Alzheimer’s-like Brain Disease in Dead Florida Dolphins
Toxic blue-green algae hit SWFL hard in 2018. Dolphins washed up on our shores by the dozen. Newly released research by scientists at the University of Miami found dead dolphins poisoned by blue-green algae showed signs of Alzheimer’s-like brain disease.
Enterococci Bacteria Results from Multiple Lee County Sites
Enterococci bacteria results from additional inland Lee County sites taken on 3-16-19.