by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 16, 2021 | Featured, Press
Originally published by The News-Press on June 16, 2021 by Amy Bennett Williams After a governor’s visit, the hoisting of the Israeli flag and multiple treatments with six tons of algaecide, the water at the W.P. Franklin Lock is still not safe. Cyanobacteria toxins...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 14, 2021 | Press
Matlacha Residents Want Action Taken After Finding Thick Algae and Dead Fish Originally published by WINK News on June 14, 2021 Decaying algae is coming to the surface in the backyards of some Southwest Florida residents; now it’s leading to small dead fish, and...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 14, 2021 | Press
Matlacha Residents Concerned Over Growing Algal Blooms in Canals Originally published by FOX4 News on June 13, 2021 A disturbing sight in Matlacha canals is causing residents to rethink about getting in the water. Dead fish are popping up, floating on top of a brown...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 14, 2021 | Press
Red Tide Reported at Multiple Lee County Beaches Originally published by WINK News on May 14, 2021 Florida Department of Health in Lee County (DOH-Lee) reported Friday red tide blooms near Tarpon Bay Road Beach, Lighthouse Beach, Lynn Hall Beach Park, Lover’s Key...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 14, 2021 | Featured
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 28 Water quality updated from Barron Park in LaBelle. Calusa Waterkeeper, along with several environmental groups asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a State of Emergency for communities impacted by a growing blue-green algae...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 13, 2021 | Featured, Press
Originally published in The News-Press on May 13, 2021 by Amy Bennett Williams Promising incentives and clinical results, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is again seeking volunteers for a study on the health effects of cyanobacteria. The federal agency...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 13, 2021 | Featured, Press
Originally published in The News-Press on May 12, 2021 by Adam Regan Facing a significant threat growing toxic blue-green algae outbreak in the Lake Okeechobee system and a red tide in the Gulf of Mexico, Gov. Ron DeSantis stopped in Fort Myers. Here, he met with...
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 | Featured, Press
Originally published in The News-Press on May 10, 2021 by Chad Gillis Several environmental groups have asked Gov. Ron DeSantis to declare a state of emergency for communities impacted by what appears to be a growing toxic blue-green algae outbreak in the Lake...
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 12, 2021 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Policy
Pictured above: Cyanobacteria blooms on Lake Okeechobee were verified as producing microcystin toxins by FDEP. April 7, 2021 The current bill language has lost or is missing several key recommendations of the Blue-Green Algae Task Force. It’s imperative that the...
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 18, 2021 | Press
Congressman Byron Donalds Files Bill to Keep Federal Government Monitoring Algal Blooms Originally published by WINK News on March 18, 2021 Even during a possible government shutdown, Congressman Byron Donalds wants the federal government to continue monitoring...
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 | Jan 12, 2021 | Press
Red Tide Still Plaguing Southwest Florida Shores Originally published by WINK News on January 12, 2021 Dozens of vultures gathered on Bunche Beach on Tuesday feasting on dead fish that washed up on shore thanks to red tide. But further up the beach, Jerry Lightner, of...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 1, 2021 | Press
Studying How Highest Levels of Red Tide Affect People Along SWFL Coast Originally published by WINK News on January 1, 2021 A recent map shows the highest levels of red tide along Southwest Florida’s coast. But more research needs to be done to know just how it...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 23, 2020 | Lake Okeechobee, Litigation
Conservation groups filed a proposal in federal court today to ensure that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ discharges from Lake Okeechobee don’t harm protected wildlife. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Fort Pierce ordered the parties...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 28, 2020 | Featured, Press
Originally published in The News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on August 28, 2020 Green Cape Coral canals have become as predictable as the summer rains, and this year is no exception. But while stagnant city waterways may be nothing new, the health department...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 27, 2020 | Press
Originally published by FOX4 News on August 26, 2020 Community water activists in Cape Coral are concerned about the growing number of algae blooms in the area. Blue-green algae has been found in Makai Canal, Boris Canal, and Highlander Canal. The Lee County...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 25, 2020 | Press
Originally published in The News-Press by Chad Gillis on August 25, 2020 The Caloosahatchee River and estuary are in pretty good shape this summer, although algae blooms loom inland and along the coast. Lake Okeechobee has been plagued by a blue-green algae bloom this...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 14, 2020 | Harmful Algal Blooms
Originally published in Be the Change, Volume 16 – a magazine produced by Waterkeeper Alliance Florida’s waters are at a tipping point as phosphorus and nitrogen pollution and climate change combine to create a perfect storm for the increasingly frequent...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 23, 2020 | Featured
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 16 Catch up with John Cassani and all things water quality in this episode of Words from the Waterkeeper. Updates on the significant Lake Okeechobee algae bloom along with fecal bacteria contamination in local waterways and...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 22, 2020 | Press, Science
Research Reveals how Red Tide and Blue-Green Algal Blooms could Affect your Health Originally published by WINK News on June 22, 2020 The sights and smells of the 2018 red tide and blue-green algae are hard to forget. Two years later, we’re getting more answers as to...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 21, 2020 | Press, Science
Originally published in The News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on July 21, 2020 Those who lived through 2018’s summer knew Southwest Florida’s water was bad, but a new peer-reviewed scientific study helps clarify how bad. Just published in the journal Neurotoxicity...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 20, 2020 | Featured, Press
Originally published by EurekAlert! on July 20, 2020 In 2018, cyanobacteria from nutrient-rich waters in Lake Okeechobee were released down the Caloosahatchee river at the same time that red tides were gathering along the Florida west coast, potentially exposing...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 13, 2020 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms
Florida Waterkeepers Urge State Task Force to Take Action After massive and recurring blue-green algae blooms in Florida waters that resulted in multiple “states of emergency” issued by then-Governor Rick Scott in 2016 and 2018, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH)...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 9, 2020 | Press
Originally published in The News-Press by Chad Gillis on July 9, 2020 Recent satellite imagery shows a shrinking blue-green algae bloom on Lake Okeechobee, but it’s still too early in the summer to know whether or not a major bloom will manifest this year....
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 3, 2020 | Press
Lack of Oxygen Killing Fish, with Heat Making Matters Worse Originally published in The News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on July 3, 2020 Eels gulping air. Floating mats of bubbly crud. Milky brown tides. As it did a few months ago, foul water again surrounds...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 19, 2020 | Featured, Press
Originally published in The News-Press by Chad Gillis on June 19, 2020 A blue-green algae bloom has taken over more than half of Lake Okeechobee, the liquid heart of the historic Everglades. Satellite photos show the 720-square-mile lake as being mostly covered with a...
