by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 18, 2026 | C43 Reservoir, Featured, Policy, Press
Originally published on Gulf Coast News by Evan Dean on February 18, 2026 The C-43 is designed to capture runoff and water releases from Lake Okeechobee during the rainy season, clean the water while it’s being stored and then release it down the Caloosahatchee River...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 30, 2025 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press
Originally published by VoteWater on October 30, 2025 According to a story in the June 16, 2021, Fort Myers News Press under the headline “$750,000 and six tons of algaecide later, toxin warning signs are still up along the Caloosahatchee in Olga,” cyanobacteria...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 17, 2025 | C43 Reservoir, Policy, Press
Originally published in the News-Press by Chad Gillis on October 17, 2025 The 2025-26 dry season may be the exact case for what the reservoir was designed to do, to take the water that was stored during the rainy season and make it available for the estuary during the...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 23, 2025 | Featured, Science
Juvenile Smalltooth Sawfish resting underneath red mangrove canopy – Courtesy NOAA Smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata) are listed as endangered throughout their Atlantic range under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) and as Critically Endangered on the...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 25, 2025 | Featured, Press
Originally published on WINK News by Bridgette Bruchalski on August 25, 2025 The Coast Guard is investigating the sheen, which stretches across this section of the river. Experts warn that even a small leak can have lasting effects. “It stays on the surface...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 25, 2025 | Press
Originally published on WINK News by Sommer Serne and Mariaregina Mendoza on August 25, 2025 An oily sheen appeared on the Caloosahatchee River over the weekend, causing concern among residents in North Fort Myers. Many are worried about a strong diesel smell near the...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 25, 2025 | Events, Press
Originally published on Fox4 by Bella Line on August 25, 2025 A colorful sheen spotted on the Caloosahatchee River has raised concerns about marine life and water safety in the area. FOX 4’s Bella Line spoke with the Calusa Waterkeeper and a business on the...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 18, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press
Originally published by Bob Moro in the Nautical Mile on November 18, 2024 I know I speak for everyone at The Nautical Mile when I express my heartfelt sympathy for all in our community who have been battered by a succession of storms unprecedented in our history. I...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 11, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press, Water Testing
Originally published on WGCU by Tom Bayles on September 11, 2024 “We test water bodies throughout our jurisdiction and that has been one area that routinely comes back extremely high,” said Connie Ramos-Williams, the director of Calusa Waterkeeper. “When we see things...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 25, 2024 | Events, Press
With more than 1,000 sq. miles of waterways to protect and restore in its work area, Calusa Waterkeeper is excited to announce open enrollment in August for its Fall Ranger Training Academy with Calusa Waterkeeper Captain Codty Pierce. Citizens are invited to become...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 21, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing
Ordered by Florida to clean up its act, Fort Myers works to fix its water pollution problem Originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on July 21, 2024 With swelling demand straining its antique wastewater infrastructure, it’s no wonder...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 15, 2024 | Press
Why the Right to Clean Water is needed Op-Ed originally published in the Sanibel Captiva Island Reporter by Mary Kay Kralapp on July 15, 2024 Recently, Calusa Waterkeeper Codty Pierce released an editorial about the plight of the Manual’s Branch in downtown Fort...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 12, 2024 | Events, Press
Educational, interactive, and fun way to champion the fight for clean water Calusa Waterkeeper invites you to sign up for its highly anticipated Vertical Oyster Garden (VOG) Workshop scheduled for July 27 from 2 to 3:30 PM at the Historic Iona House at the Calusa...
by Jason Pim | Jul 11, 2024 | Events, Press
Breweries unite in the fight for clean water during National Water Quality Month in support of Calusa Waterkeeper Calusa Waterkeeper is thrilled to announce the launch of its inaugural Taps Flow for H2O event series to celebrate Water Quality Awareness Month in...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 10, 2024 | Lake Okeechobee, Press
Originally published on Fox4 by Andrew Shipley on July 10, 2024 According to NOAA, algae blooms cover nearly 460 square miles of Lake Okeechobee. Another summer, another blue-green algae bloom. Lake Okeechobee is once again covered with hundreds of square miles of...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 8, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing
Creek runs along Fort Myers landmarks where children, families gather and play Op-Ed originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Codty Pierce on July 7, 2024 As the Calusa Waterkeeper, it is my duty and that of our organization to protect and restore our...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 4, 2024 | Press
Originally published by Bob Moro in the Nautical Mile Beach Talk Radio on June 1, 2024 There’s no doubt all of Nautical Mile’s readership are concerned about the quality of our waterways here in southwest Florida. The problems are complex: Unprecedented development...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 30, 2024 | Featured, Press
Originally published by Fort Myers News-Press by Chad Gillis on May 30, 2024 Bloom conditions and the presence of fecal coliform is only reported by the Florida Department of Health in Lee County when it occurs at places like Bonita Beach or Fort Myers Beach....
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Apr 5, 2024 | Lake Okeechobee, Press
Originally published by The News-Press and written by Chad Gillis on April 5, 2024 “Along the entire river, flows have reduced dramatically and so what we’re looking for is providing beneficial flows to reduce the potential for algae blooms,” Bell...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 24, 2024 | Featured, Press, Water Testing
Originally published by Fort Myers News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on March 24, 2024 Codty Pierce pulls on one black glove (waste not, want not) then dips a lightbulb changing pole-turned-water sampler into the mangrove-lined canal. Once the small glass jar in its...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 22, 2024 | Press
Originally published by Beach Talk Radio on March 22, 2024 Southwest Florida Environmental nonprofit Calusa Waterkeeper has hired Connie Ramos-Williams as its new Executive Director. Ramos-Williams will work with Waterkeeper Codty Pierce to safeguard the region’s...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 19, 2024 | Featured, Press
(Fort Myers, FL– March 19, 2024) – Calusa Waterkeeper, a leading environmental nonprofit organization committed to preserving and restoring the waterways in Southwest Florida, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Connie Ramos-Williams as its new Executive...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 5, 2024 | Press
Originally published by WGCU and written by Tom Bayles on March 5, 2024 Back in 2018, Connie Ramos-Williams was driving over the old Sanibel Bridge when she saw the depth and breadth of that year’s blue-green algae outbreak. The nasty green goo was everywhere,...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 4, 2024 | Featured, Lake Okeechobee, Press
Originally published by The News-Press and written by Chad Gillis on March 4, 2024 Lake Okeechobee waters continue to blast out of the W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam, and coastal Southwest Florida waters are starting to look like chocolate milk. Aerial images from...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 4, 2024 | Lake Okeechobee, Press
Originally published by WINK News and written by Annalise Iraola on March 4, 2024 A week ago, the Calusa Waterkeeper took a picture off the coast of Sanibel. Dark brown, it’s a harsh contrast between the beautiful blue gulf waters. On February 17, the Army Corps of...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 22, 2024 | Events, Featured
Guest speaker is TV host, conservationist, and fishing guide Captain Benny Blanco. Cape Coral, FL – February 22, 2024 – Calusa Waterkeeper, a prominent environmental advocacy organization committed to preserving and protecting the water resources of the...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 14, 2024 | Featured, Press
Originally published by The News-Press and written by Chad Gillis on February 14, 2024 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Saturday will begin large-scale Lake Okeechobee releases to the Caloosahatchee River due to high lake levels and continued El Nino conditions....
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 17, 2024 | Featured, Press
Originally published by Pine Island Eagle on January 17, 2024 Calusa Waterkeeper Emeritus John Cassani was invited to give a presentation on the Basin Management Plan at the January meeting of the Greater Pine Island Civic Association. Cassani began by saying it has...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 16, 2024 | Press
Originally published by The News-Press and written by Amy Bennett Williams on January 16, 2024 The hits would look like this: $5.2 billion to the area economy, 43,000 jobs lost, $17.8 billion in property values and $460 million in fishing revenue. That’s the beatdown...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Dec 21, 2023 | Featured, Press
How Much Nitrogen Pollution is on Our Waterways? Originally published by FOX4 News on December 21, 2023 While people love living along the canals in Cape Coral, recently the question was raised, “how much nutrient pollution is actually getting into these canals?”...
