by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 17, 2021 | Press
Originally published by The News-Press on June 17, 2021 by Chad Gillis A chunk of land in Glades County that was purchased for $37 million in 2007 is being used for water quality treatment testing and will eventually be the site of a nitrogen-removal facility. But...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 8, 2021 | Featured, Press
Worries About Algae Treatment After Dead Fish and Crabs Found near Franklin Lock Originally published by WINK News on June 7, 2021 Some viewers have reported seeing dead fish and crabs in and around the water at Franklin Lock. WINK News sent a crew to Franklin Lock to...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 4, 2021 | Featured, Press
Originally published by The News-Press on June 4, 2021 by Amy Bennett Williams As an Israeli flag fluttered under Old Glory, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stood on a Caloosahatcte River shoreline far less foul than it was the week before. He’d traveled to the W.P....
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 24, 2021 | Press
Originally published by The News-Press on May 24, 2021 by Amy Bennett Williams As Lee County commissioners plead with the feds to protect the Caloosahatchee and its estuary from excessive Lake Okeechobee releases, health officials are cautioning people to stay away...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 21, 2021 | Press
Originally published by ABC-7 News on May 21, 2021 The algae situation in Southwest Florida is getting worse as a bloom decays in the Caloosahatchee River. Algae first appeared in Lake Okeechobee, then at Franklin lock, the Alva Boat Ramp, and now its in Fort Myers at...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 21, 2021 | Press
Engineers Meeting to Discuss Lake O Discharges as Algae Toxins Build Originally published by WINK News on May 21, 2021 The Army Corps of Engineers is meeting at 11:30 a.m. Friday to discuss how many new discharges of water will be released from Lake Okeechobee into...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 19, 2021 | Press
Demand for Action on Blue-Green Algae & Cyanotoxins Increases Originally published by WINK News on May 19, 2021 As blue-green algae builds up against the Franklin Lock on the Caloosahatchee River, everybody knows there’s an issue with the algae. More than a dozen...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 18, 2021 | Press
Originally published by NBC-2 News on May 18, 2021 Blue-green algae is sitting on parts of Lake Okeechobee right now. We’ve also seen the algae streaks in the Caloosahatchee River near Avla and Fort Myers Shores. The lake is about a foot higher than the Army Corps...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 18, 2021 | Press
Blue-Green Algae Concerns Mount on Caloosahatchee Amid Rainy Season Originally published by WINK News on May 18, 2021 Blue-green algae has become a problem recently on the Caloosahatchee River, and it’s taking over some areas of it such as at W.P. Franklin Lock and...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 11, 2021 | Press
Water Groups Plea for Algae Action from Gov. DeSantis as More Blooms Appear in SWFL Waterways Originally published by FOX4 News on May 10, 2021 Water experts from across the state met in a virtual summit to discuss concerns about the current state of Southwest...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 10, 2021 | Press
Originally published by NBC-2 News on May 10, 2021 As the algae situation on Lake Okeechobee continues to worsen, numerous conservationists sent a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis urging him to stop the release of water from the lake to the Caloosahatchee River. The...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Apr 28, 2021 | Press
Researchers Trying to Find Ways to Kill Blue-Green Algae as it Begins to Reappear Originally published by FOX4 News on April 28, 2021 Blue-green algae is showing up again in the Caloosahatchee River. There’s enough of it that the Florida Department of Health has put...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Apr 27, 2021 | Press
Two Algae Health Alerts Issued in Lee County as Community on Watch Originally published by WINK News on April 27, 2021 Two areas in Southwest Florida are being closely monitored as fears of another algae outbreak grow. The Franklin Lock in Olga and the Alva boat ramp...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Apr 26, 2021 | Press
Originally published by ABC-7 News on April 26, 2021 People are finding algae in the Caloosahatchee River near Fort Myers Shores and Alva. The Lee County Health Department sent warnings about the potentially toxic water this week. The county said the Florida...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Apr 22, 2021 | Press
Health Alert and Warning of Blue-Green Algae Issued for Alva Boat Ramp in Lee County Originally published by WINK News on April 22, 2021 The Florida Department of Health in Lee County is issuing a health alert for the Alva Boat Ramp based on reports of algae toxins...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Apr 21, 2021 | Featured, Press
Originally published in The News-Press on April 21, 2021 by Chad Gillis State health officials released a public advisory Wednesday for the upper portion of the Caloosahatchee River estuary, saying the public should not swim there or touch the water. The Florida...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Apr 7, 2021 | Press
Originally published in The News-Press on April 7, 2021 by Chad Gillis Federal water managers slowed releases to both the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers over the weekend in an effort to slow Lake Okeechobee’s recession rate. Average flows to the...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Apr 4, 2021 | Press
Originally published in The News-Press on April 4, 2021 by Chad Gillis Water quality throughout the historic Everglades has become more concerning for many scientists and environmental advocates in recent years as many of Florida’s ailing waterways continue to...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 29, 2021 | Press
Originally published in The News-Press on March 29, 2021 by Amy Bennett Williams Fair is fair. That’s the message Lee County’s commission and all of its mayors hope the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers takes to heart as it makes future decisions about releasing polluted...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 26, 2021 | Featured
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 26 This week’s report talks about water levels of Lake Okeechobee, ongoing red tide blooms and cyanobacteria in the Caloosahatchee. Calusa Waterkeeper, John Cassani, also updates us on the manatee mortality rate, mentioned in...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 20, 2021 | Press
Boaters Volunteer to Clean SWFL Waterways During Clean Water Week Originally published by WINK News on March 20, 2021 It is Clean Water Week and the St. James City Boat Club is joining the Calusa Waterkeeper to help clear debris and test the quality of the water in...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 19, 2021 | Press
Originally published in The News-Press on March 19, 2021 by Chad Gillis Lake Okeechobee is at the center of the historic Everglades, and releases are conducted to the Caloosahatchee River regularly to help lower lake levels. Historically, the Caloosahatchee River was...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 10, 2021 | Press
Originally published in The News-Press by Chad Gillis on March 10, 2021 A state agency charged with managing the region’s waters spent millions of dollars on the Caloosahatchee and other reservoirs as well as smaller projects expected to improve water quality in...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 13, 2021 | Featured, Press
Originally published by The News-Press on February 13, 2021 by Amy Bennett Williams. For decades, the city of Fort Myers has polluted its surrounding waters, often with raw sewage. Now, a reckoning is at hand. After months of investigation and negotiation with the...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 12, 2021 | Press
Originally published by Naples Daily News on February 12, 2021 by Chad Gillis Lake Okeechobee levels are peaking at nearly 15.5 feet above sea level, but the Caloosahatchee River and its estuary are in a sweet spot when it comes to freshwater flows and proper salinity...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 12, 2021 | Featured, Press
Fort Myers City Leaders Seek Answers in DEP Fine Originally published by FOX4 News on February 11, 2021 “I’m tired of kicking this can down the road,” Fort Myers City Councilman Johnny Streets tells FOX 4. The “can” he’s referring to is getting...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 10, 2021 | Featured, Press
Originally published by NBC-2 News on February 10, 2021 The City Of Fort Myers is allegedly facing a fine of more than $500,000 for the “repeated discharge of wastewater” into Billy’s Creek and Caloosahatchee River. Fort Myers Mayor, Kevin Anderson, said that the City...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 9, 2021 | Featured, Press
Originally published by NBC-2 News on February 9, 2021 What can grow up to 10 feet long, weigh 200 pounds and is armored like a tank? The Amazonian river monster, the Arapaima. Over the weekend, a woman walking through Cape Coral’s Jaycee Park came across an enormous...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 4, 2021 | Featured
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 24 Calusa Waterkeeper, John Cassani updates us on manatee mortality rates and how these local creatures are being impacted in our area. Manatee mortality for January 2021 (1-1-21 to 1-29-21) is 176. This equals a rate of 6.1 per...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 1, 2021 | Press, Stormwater
Lake O Releases Being Sent to Caloosahatchee to Avoid Wet Season Problems Originally published by WINK News on February 1, 2021 More water from Lake Okeechobee is scheduled to be sent to the Caloosahatchee River, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to increase...
