Originally published by WGCU on May 17, 2021 During the 2021 Annual Florida Legislative Session, state lawmakers passed a pair of bills (HB421 & HB1101) aimed at expanding protections for landowners through the Bert J. Harris, Jr., Private Property Rights...
Originally published by FOX4 News on May 17, 2021 The Calusa Waterkeeper says there is an urgent need for research on the blue-green algae that has been seen on Lake Okeechobee. The non-profit, says previous studies have shown that cancer clusters in people living in...
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...
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...
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...
Virtual Water Quality Summit to Address SWFL Algae Issues Originally published by WINK News on May 10, 2021 A group of water experts is taking its concerns about the state of Southwest Florida’s waterways to lawmakers Monday in the SWFL Virtual Water Summit hosted by...
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...
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...
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 27 This week, John meets with Bonita Springs resident Cope Smoak, an expert on mayan cichlids and one of our wonderful dedicated volunteers keeping a vigilant eye on our local...
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...
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...
Originally released by the Center for Biological Diversity on March 19, 2021 A scientific study published this week concludes that Florida manatees are chronically exposed to glyphosate because of application of the pesticide to sugarcane and aquatic weeds. The study...
An Op-Ed written by John Cassani and originally published in The News-Press on March 10, 2021 For generations, Floridians have worshiped Florida’s iconic waters. They are likely the reason many people came to Florida, to swim, fish, paddle, ski, dive and enjoy all...
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 25 This week, John Cassani brings on local advocate, Cat Chase, to talk about phosphate mining and radioactive phosphogypsum toxic waste. Calusa Waterkeeper, among many other groups locally and across the nation, legally petitioned...
One Million Gallons of Untreated Wastewater Spilled in Charlotte County Originally published by WINK News on March 2, 2021 A million gallons of untreated wastewater spilled in a Southwest Florida county, in the middle of crews working to improve the area’s sewage...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Group Calls for More Signs to Indicate What’s in Local Waterways Originally published by FOX4 News on January 29, 2021 One benefit to living in Southwest Florida is the opportunity to enjoy life on or near the water. While we often think of beaches when we think...
Originally published in Florida Insider by William P. on January 15, 2021 It’s back and smellier than ever. Dead fish are washing up along southwest Florida beaches bringing up major concerns for scientists, residents, and tourists along the Gulf Coast waters. As...
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 23 This week, John discusses the red tide that we are still encountering in the Gulf and how it is impacting our wildlife and beaches. If you encounter a fish kill please report it to FWC fish kill hotline: 800-636-0511 If you...
Originally published in Florida Weekly by Roger Williams on January 13, 2021 It’s almost like the good-old-days, back in 2018. FWC maps — that’s the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which pays attention to things that decimate the environment — are...
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...
Originally published by WLRN 91.3 FM by Jenny Staletovich on January 8, 2021 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to cut back on discharges from Lake Okeechobee beginning this weekend, ending months of polluted releases to the St. Lucie Estuary and returning to more...
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 22 For the final episode of 2020, Calusa Waterkeeper, John Cassani takes the time to thank all those that help make Calusa Waterkeeper possible. This couldn’t happen without the generous support from all of you. Thank...
Fort Myers Leaders & Environmental Groups Collaborate for Billy’s Creek Clean-up Originally published by FOX4 News on Decemeber 14, 2020 The contaminated water in Billy’s Creek today, is not the same water Councilman Johnny Streets remembers seeing as a...
Originally published by NBC-2 News on December 4, 2020 A non-profit organization dedicated to protecting waterways in Lee County took pictures of shorelines yesterday, Dec. 2 to show the effect of recent water releases from Lake Okeechobee. Earlier this week,...
Originally published by NBC-2 News on November 13, 2020 There is brown water working its way into the Caloosahatchee River. It’s happening next to two construction sites off West First Street in Downtown Fort Myers. James Douglass with Florida Gulf Coast University’s...
As seen in a News-Press Op-Ed submitted by John Cassani, Calusa Waterkeeper The importance and overwhelming support for the “Right To Clean Water” Charter Amendment passed by Orange County voters on November 3, should not be underestimated. The ballot question, linked...
