Calusa Waterkeeper
In the News
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.
Red Tide & Blue-Green Algae that Ravaged Region in 2018 not Detected in Gulf or Caloosahatchee
Toxic red tide and blue-green algae outbreaks last year killed millions of pounds of sea life in the Gulf of Mexico and turned much of the Caloosahatchee River into a pea soup of cyanobacteria. Today, both the Gulf and river are clear of any blooms or outbreaks.
Alarming Bacteria Sampling Results from Billy’s Creek
Bacteria sampling results from Billy’s Creek show serious contamination, especially in the upper reaches. The result from station BC-9, near Ortiz Avenue is the highest we have seen since sampling began: 172 times the EPA Beach Action Value of 70 MPN.
Quick Start for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
Jason Pim, small business owner, Calusa Waterkeeper ranger and commodore of the CMCS sailing club on the Caloosahatchee River: “Gov. DeSantis has come out strong on water quality, so it’s left some environmentalists asking, ‘Who is this guy?’
Florida Delegation Urges Trump to Increase Everglades Funding
Both of Florida’s Republican U.S. Senators say President Trump’s budget doesn’t include enough money for Everglades restoration. The initial budget proposal by the president includes $63 million for Everglades restoration in fiscal year 2020. Florida’s congressional delegation was hoping for $200 million.
Judge Dismisses Caloosahatchee Stakeholders’ Petition
“Once again, the Caloosahatchee estuary is going to get the short end of the stick,” Cassani said. “I mean, we’ve been at this for 18 years … With the empirical evidence presented, it’s maddening that the administrative law judge would not see the shortfall in what the district had revised the rules to.”