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Video: Massive Red Tide Bloom Takes Over SWFL

Video: Massive Red Tide Bloom Takes Over SWFL

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 16, 2025 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published in the WGCU News on February 16, 2025 The normal blue and green waters of The Gulf have been stained a burnt orange thanks to a massive bloom of Red Tide. The imminent cause is unknown, but environmental and human factors are believed to be part...
Red tide raging in Gulf as cell counts hit 20 million cells per liter off Sanibel

Red tide raging in Gulf as cell counts hit 20 million cells per liter off Sanibel

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 6, 2025 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published in the News-Press by Chad Gillis on February 5, 2025 The bloom has at times stretches from Tampa Bay to the Florida Keys. “Over 20 million a cells per liter off Sanibel, and that’s the high kill-zone level,” said Calusa...
Calusa Waterkeeper Featured in HAB Special Report by Ocean Grants

Calusa Waterkeeper Featured in HAB Special Report by Ocean Grants

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 18, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by Ocean Grants on November 18, 2024 Harmful algal blooms have been at the center of Calusa Waterkeeper’s science-based advocacy initiatives exploring the impacts of water quality on human health, our economy, and quality of life. Originally...
Putting Our Local Water Quality Into Perspective

Putting Our Local Water Quality Into Perspective

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 23, 2024 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Matlacha Pass Water Quality, Stormwater, Water Testing

Recently, I was asked to speak on The Chamber of Southwest Florida’s water quality panel. The host, Peter Busch of NBC-2, asked each panelist to rate the current state of our water quality on a scale of 1-10. The responses from those directly responsible for...
Health Dept. cautions against making contact with local waterway

Health Dept. cautions against making contact with local waterway

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 26, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published in the News-Press by Chad Gillis on July 26, 2024 Heavy rains bring nutrient inputs from Lake Okeechobee, the upper Caloosahatchee watershed (which is largely agriculture) and urbanized areas like Fort Myers and Cape Coral. The nutrients can feed...
Summer is here and so is the blue-green algae

Summer is here and so is the blue-green algae

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 21, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published on Fox-4 by Bella Line on June 21, 2024 The temperature is heating up in the air, and the water. We know that blue-green algae is something we deal with in the summer, but Calusa Waterkeeper volunteers tell me it’s early in the season for...
Health Dept. cautions against making contact with local waterway

Blue-Green Algae Toxins are a Human Health Risk

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 17, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

A recent News-Press article (“Well-known FGCU professor accused of downplaying blue-green algae by water advocate”) overlooks the principal barrier to public understanding of Florida’s persistent blue-green algae – the calibration of exposure to risk....
Shades of Blue Water Turning Green

Shades of Blue Water Turning Green

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 10, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by Florida Weekly on August 10, 2023 and written by Roger Williams. When Susan Bennett, born and raised in Fort Myers, stared into the Caloosahatchee River seven stories below the balcony of her downtown home one recent morning, the potentially...
Cape Coral City Council Approves $300,000 to Fight Algal Blooms

Cape Coral City Council Approves $300,000 to Fight Algal Blooms

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 3, 2023 | Press

Originally published by WINK News on August 3, 2023 The Cape Coral city council has approved $300,000 to be used in the continuing fight against algal blooms. The money will be used to purchase additional bubble curtains and continued water treatments. In multiple...
Lake O Water is Tainted and can Pollute the Caloosahatchee Estuary

Lake O Water is Tainted and can Pollute the Caloosahatchee Estuary

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 28, 2023 | Featured, Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on July 28, 2023 by Chad Gillis Calusa Waterkeeper Codty Pierce says even small amounts of Lake Okeechobee water will infect the Caloosahatchee River with toxic blue-green algae blooms. Small amounts of water are coming from the...
ADAM Testing Equipment Deployed as Blue-Green Algae Bloom Spreads to Cape Coral

ADAM Testing Equipment Deployed as Blue-Green Algae Bloom Spreads to Cape Coral

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 20, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on July 20, 2023 by Chad Gillis A toxic blue-green algae bloom that’s been drifting around downtown Fort Myers has now spread to other areas, including the Cape Coral Yacht Club. “We do have an (air testing) unit near...
Blue-Green Algae near Downtown Fort Myers in Caloosahatchee River

Blue-Green Algae near Downtown Fort Myers in Caloosahatchee River

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 23, 2023 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on June 23, 2023 by Chad Gillis Health official confirmed Friday that a blue-green algae outbreak in the Caloosahatchee River is toxic to humans and animals. “A bloom occurs when rapid growth of algae leads to an...
Large Algae Bloom Spotted on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee

Large Algae Bloom Spotted on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee

by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 24, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published by Fox Weather on May 24, 2023 by Andrew Wulfeck Residents and visitors to parts of the Sunshine State’s largest lake are being urged to exercise caution after harmful blue-green algae was recently detected by the Palm Beach County Health...
Algae Swirling on the Gulf Coast Brings a Stink Near Matlacha

Algae Swirling on the Gulf Coast Brings a Stink Near Matlacha

by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 12, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by WINK News on May 12, 2023 Algae swirling in the Gulf Coast is bringing a smelly odor to the air. It’s happening around the waters of Matlacha. “It’s almost a matted, matted surface that resembles a mud flat, but the colors are quite vibrant....
Red Tide Bloom Waning in Some Spots but Still Prevalent Elsewhere in Gulf

Red Tide Bloom Waning in Some Spots but Still Prevalent Elsewhere in Gulf

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 17, 2023 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on March 17, 2023 by Chad Gillis The latest red tide to blanket Southwest Florida seems to be losing strength in Lee and Collier counties as higher brevetoxin counts have been reported in the Tampa Bay area in recent days....
Florida Visitors Discovering Unpleasant Surprise at Beaches – Red Tide

Florida Visitors Discovering Unpleasant Surprise at Beaches – Red Tide

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 10, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by TODAY on March 10, 2023. Spring breakers are flocking to Florida in hopes of enjoying clear water and white sand beaches, but many are instead discovering red tide during their vacations. The micro-organism that causes red tide has impacted...
Warm Gulf Waters Could Mean Stronger Storms & Algae Blooms

Warm Gulf Waters Could Mean Stronger Storms & Algae Blooms

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 9, 2023 | Press

Originally published by The News-Press on March 9, 2023 by Chad Gillis Gulf of Mexico water temperatures are running on the high side this year, which could trigger anything from afternoon thunderstorms to early animal migrations. Various weather outlets say water...
U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds Retries Bipartisan Bill on Harmful Algal Blooms

U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds Retries Bipartisan Bill on Harmful Algal Blooms

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 20, 2023 | Press

Originally published by The News-Press on February 20, 2023 by Amy Bennett Williams The name is a bit different but the intent is the same in a bipartisan bill reintroduced by Naples U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds this week: help algal bloom-affected communities get...
Red Tide Bloom Gaining Strength in Some Areas

Red Tide Bloom Gaining Strength in Some Areas

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 16, 2023 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on February 16, 2023 by Chad Gillis A red tide bloom along the Southwest Florida coast appears to be spreading in size, according to state records, but some experts say toxic conditions may soon wane. The most recent reports from...
Researchers Measure Water Conditions that Lead to Red Tide in SWFL

Researchers Measure Water Conditions that Lead to Red Tide in SWFL

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 13, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by WINK News on February 13, 2023 Red tide is a complex water issue, and scientists who study it are surveying the conditions that can trigger blooms—sunlight, water temperature, salinity, wind direction, and speed—to figure out how to mitigate...
Red Tide Continues to Make its way through Southwest Florida Waterways

Red Tide Continues to Make its way through Southwest Florida Waterways

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 17, 2022 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Red Tide Continues to Make its way through Southwest Florida Waterways Originally published by FOX4 News on November 17, 2022 Red tide continues to make its way across southwest Florida waterways. Some areas are not feeling the full effect, though many beaches are...
Red Tide Blooms Appearing Along the Southwest Florida Coast

Red Tide Blooms Appearing Along the Southwest Florida Coast

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 17, 2022 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by WINK News on November 21, 2022 Red tide is appearing up and down the Southwest Florida coastline, but is it an issue you should be concerned with? These are pictures of where the cleaner water ends and the red tide begins. The Calusa...
Red Tide Update: State Report Shows Toxic Algae Levels from Sarasota South to Marco Island

Red Tide Update: State Report Shows Toxic Algae Levels from Sarasota South to Marco Island

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 17, 2022 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on November 17, 2022 by Chad Gillis Scientists are saying a red tide bloom that’s lingered along the coast for a few weeks is now being fed by nutrients running off the landscape in the wake of Hurricane Ian. Red tide...
Researching the Effects of a Red Tide Bloom

Researching the Effects of a Red Tide Bloom

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 16, 2022 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by WINK News on November 16, 2022 On Sanibel, you can’t escape the smell of dead fish. And on the shore, you can’t escape the dead fish. “People are familiar with the red tide smell. But that’s from decay, what you really smell, the actual toxins...
Experts Concerned about Long-Term Impacts from Red Tide Algal Blooms in SWFL

Experts Concerned about Long-Term Impacts from Red Tide Algal Blooms in SWFL

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 15, 2022 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by NBC-2 News on November 15, 2022 Since Hurricane Ian, red tide has been blooming across Southwest Florida. Most beaches in SWFL have been closed due to potential debris threats in the water, but The Calusa Waterkeeper reported that blooms are...
Red Tide Bloom Moves into Lee County Waters as Fish Kills Reported in Pine Island Sound

Red Tide Bloom Moves into Lee County Waters as Fish Kills Reported in Pine Island Sound

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 15, 2022 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on November 15, 2022 by Chad Gillis A red tide bloom that’s been lingering off the coast of Sarasota and Charlotte counties has made it to Lee County waters, where fish kills are being reported at some local beaches. Red...
Lake Okeechobee leveling off after rains from Hurricane Ian but there’s still a threat

Lake Okeechobee leveling off after rains from Hurricane Ian but there’s still a threat

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 3, 2022 | Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on November 3, 2022 by Chad Gillis The Lake Okeechobee drainage system is more likely to see a blue-green algal bloom next spring as a result of Hurricane Ian. Lt. Col. Todd Polk, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said Ian...
Lake Okeechobee Releases to the Caloosahatchee Begin

Lake Okeechobee Releases to the Caloosahatchee Begin

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 28, 2022 | Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published by WINK News on October 28, 2022 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said they will begin releasing Lake Okeechobee discharges into the Caloosahatchee River. This raises concerns in Southwest Florida because the area is still trying to dry out after...
Saltwater Pushed up & Freshwater Flooded Down Caloosahatchee During Hurricane Ian Landfall

Saltwater Pushed up & Freshwater Flooded Down Caloosahatchee During Hurricane Ian Landfall

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 15, 2022 | Press

Originally published by The News-Press on October 15, 2021 by Chad Gillis The Caloosahatchee River got a huge flush of saltwater when Hurricane Ian plowed into the Southwest Florida coast. And then a lot of it roared back, along with plenty of freshwater runoff....
Calusa Waterkeeper Looking at Effects of Blue-Green Algae Toxins

Calusa Waterkeeper Looking at Effects of Blue-Green Algae Toxins

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 13, 2022 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Calusa Waterkeeper Looking at Effects of Blue-Green Algae Toxins Originally published by WINK News on September 13, 2022 As blue-green algae blooms grow, so do health concerns. Lee County, the Department of Environmental Protection, and FGCU are all monitoring the...
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