Originally published by The News-Press on August 8, 2022 by Chad Gillis More than four years have passed since a devastating and deadly red tide ravaged Southwest Florida, killing off millions of tons of marine life and shutting down the local tourism industry. And...
Words from the Waterkeeper – Episode 35 Updates on local water quality in the region from Lake Okeechobee through the Caloosahatchee to the coastal waters. Please consider supporting our ongoing air & water sampling by donating at...
Originally published by The News-Press on August 5, 2022 by Amy Bennett Williams It was a day of sharp questions and soul-searching as Florida’s Blue-Green Algae Task Force met Thursday for the first time since February. The official theme was a mouthful (stay with...
Originally published by The News-Press on August 1, 2022 by Chad Gillis A blue-green algae bloom is festering again this summer on Lake Okeechobee, the de facto headwaters of the Caloosahatchee River. But lake levels are low, and experts say there is little to no...
Lake Okeechobee sees 240 Square Miles of Blue-Green Algae Originally published by FOX4 News on June 24, 2022 Lake Okeechobee is seeing about 240 square miles of Blue-Green Algae on the north, west, and south shores. That is about a 30% increase over the last two...
Originally published by The News-Press on June 23, 2022 by Chad Gillis A minor algae bloom is lingering along the western rim of Lake Okeechobee, but the Caloosahatchee River looks relatively healthy and experts don’t expect to see a devastating blue-green algae...
Originally published by NBC-2 News on June 16, 2022 Blue-green algae has been found in at least 5 different canals in southeast Cape Coral. The Calusa Waterkeeper, John Cassani, said stormwater runoff and warmer waters are likely to blame. He advises nearby residents...
Cape Coral sees Blue-Green Algae pop up in Multiple Canals Originally published by WINK News on June 16, 2022 Blue-green algae have once again been found in Cape Coral canals. Connie Rokicak spotted some blue-green algae specks floating in the water behind her home,...
Originally published by The Pine Island Eagle on June 15, 2022 by Paulette LeBlanc Calusa Waterkeeper ranger Sue Dahod has begun a new task force that will meet monthly to discuss local water conditions, changes in water quality and any harmful bacteria detected...
Originally published by The News-Press on June 15, 2022 by Amy Bennett Williams A month into the summer rainy season, the signs have begun appearing at popular Southwest Florida waterways. Sporting red or yellow tops depending on threat level, they warn would-be...
After pioneering a new monitoring device and releasing initial results, Calusa Waterkeeper board member Manuel Aparicio IV, PhD, will be presenting a workshop, “Airborne HAB Monitoring” about this ground-breaking research at the Waterkeeper Alliance Global Conference...
Words from the Waterkeeper Episode 34 Join Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani for recent water quality updates in the region from Lake Okeechobee to the coastal...
Blue-Green Algae in a Southwest Florida Canal Originally published by WINK News on May 13, 2022 Pictures of blue-green algae get exposed in a Southwest Florida canal. The cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, had lingering effects on the water after washing...
Calusa Waterkeeper Ranger, Sue Dahod lends her time and educational background to keep an eye on water conditions throughout Matlacha Pass from both Pine Island and the shores of Matlacha. Calusa Waterkeeper brings you these updates from her observations. We encourage...
Originally published by Florida Weekly on May 4, 2022 He’s won this Florida Weekly award before, and if we’re lucky he’ll win it again rather than retiring: John Cassani, our Calusa Waterkeeper. Mr. Cassani is like the Marine Corps: He’s the single most effective...
Research Finds Airborne Toxins in Southwest Florida Originally published by WINK News on May 3, 2022 There’s new information about airborne toxins in Southwest Florida as research expands. Concerns are growing about the impact on the community and the air we breathe....
Originally published by The News-Press on May 2, 2022 by Amy Bennett Williams The good news: A first-of-its-kind field study of Southwest Florida air and water didn’t find widespread cyanobacteria toxins – mostly. The bad news: It did find several neurotoxins as well...
Calusa Waterkeeper and Wyoming-based Brain Chemistry Labs collaborate on ground breaking device to research airborne toxins from harmful algal blooms Using the most sensitive technology available for detecting harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins, the Calusa Waterkeeper...
Originally published by The News-Press on April 29, 2022 by Amy Bennett Williams When legislation that would have let developers destroy seagrass in exchange for mitigation credits died with Florida’s 2022 session last month, many environmental advocates were...
Originally published by The News-Press on April 22, 2022 by Amy Bennett Williams Free speech, religion, assembly, work: Many Floridians know those rights are guarantees by their federal and state constitutions. But the right to clean water? Nowhere to be found. A...
Calusa Waterkeeper Finds High Levels of Bacteria in Billy’s Creek Originally published by WINK News on April 20, 2022 A creek isn’t clearing up after years of problems. The Calusa Waterkeeper says there’s a high level of contamination in Billy Creek. The place...
Originally published by The News-Press on April 20, 2022 by Amy Bennett Williams A legal petition filed by neighbors concerned about mangrove removal in the Siesta Isles development was dismissed Tuesday. Petitioners say they’re already planning another round....
Originally published by The News-Press on April 15, 2022 by Amy Bennett Williams Just as it took decades before smoking was recognized as a cancer trigger, it’s taken until recently for science to firmly link nitrogen pollution to the persistence of red tide. But a...
Florida Lawmaker Wants to Stop Lake Okeechobee Water Releases Originally published by WINK News on April 13, 2022 A Southwest Florida lawmaker working to stop harmful discharges that cause blue-green algae in our canals. They want Lake Okeechobee to operate without...
Originally published by The News-Press on April 1, 2022 by Amy Bennett Williams As an on-again, off-again project near San Carlos Island moves into its next phase, neighbors are crying foul, and the state environmental agency is promising an inspector’s visit....
Calusa Waterkeeper on what to know about Macroalgae at Matlacha Originally published by WINK News on March 31, 2022 A stench is coming from algae in one part of Southwest Florida. And now, that smell is affecting businesses and fishing. The Calusa Waterkeeper is...
Calusa Waterkeeper on What to Know About Macroalgae at Matlacha Originally published by WINK News on March 31, 2022 A stench is coming from algae in one part of Southwest Florida. And now, that smell is affecting businesses and fishing. The Calusa Waterkeeper is...
Originally published by TC Palm on March 30, 2022 by Ed Killer Four South Florida environmental nonprofits sent Gov. Ron DeSantis a letter Wednesday urging him to veto a controversial Lake Okeechobee water supply bill. Opponents say SB 2508 contains an unnecessary...
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 33 John Cassani brings us up to speed on the latest water quality issues in our region including the monitoring of tapegrass renewal exclosures and the efforts of local organizations to restore this important marine vegetation in...
Originally published by The News-Press on March 27, 2027 by Chad Gillis Gulf of Mexico and Lake Okeechobee water temperatures are warm for this time of year, which would be expected during a La Niña winter-spring that’s brought little relief from the heat. And...
