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Alva residents worry over new housing plan’s strain on Fort Myers sewage

Alva residents worry over new housing plan’s strain on Fort Myers sewage

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 16, 2025 | Bacteria Monitoring, Planning, Policy, Press

Originally published on WINK News by Claire Galt on June 12, 2025 Lee County is experiencing rapid growth, which raises concerns about infrastructure and environmental impacts. Commissioners recently approved Neal Communities’ plan to build nearly 1,100 homes on...
Fort Myers faces sewage problems, new fix deadline extended to 2032

Fort Myers faces sewage problems, new fix deadline extended to 2032

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 4, 2025 | Bacteria Monitoring, Planning, Policy, Press

Originally published on WINK News by Claire Galt on June 2, 2025 In 2021, the state ordered Fort Myers to eliminate discharges and improve infrastructure by 2028. The city has now negotiated a new deadline of 2032. John Cassani, Calusa Waterkeeper emeritus, expressed...
Calusa Waterkeeper (CWK) Statement on Amended Consent Order Between City of Fort Myers and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)

Calusa Waterkeeper (CWK) Statement on Amended Consent Order Between City of Fort Myers and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)

by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 28, 2025 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured

Calusa Waterkeeper has spent years advocating about high bacteria levels in local waters Manuel’s Branch and Billy’s Creek. Florida Department of Environmental Protection has bent over backwards for the City of Fort Myers, and recently extended their 2021...
Calusa Waterkeeper sounds the alarm for harmful bacteria in Manuel’s Branch

Calusa Waterkeeper sounds the alarm for harmful bacteria in Manuel’s Branch

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Apr 23, 2025 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing

Originally published on Fox 4 by Andrew Shipley on April 23, 2025 Have you ever wondered what is in our waterways? And I am not talking about plants or animals, but instead bacteria. Fox 4 Meteorologist Andrew Shipley joined Calusa Waterkeeper who has been testing our...
Dangerous levels of fecal bacteria found in Lee County waterways

Dangerous levels of fecal bacteria found in Lee County waterways

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 23, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing

Originally published on Fox 4 by Anvar Ruziev on November 23, 2024 A recent report from the Calusa Waterkeeper highlights alarming levels of fecal bacteria in many Lee County waterways. Among the locations tested, Manuel Branch, a canal that runs near Cleveland Avenue...
There’s Something in the Water

There’s Something in the Water

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 18, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press

Originally published by Bob Moro in the Nautical Mile on November 18, 2024 I know I speak for everyone at The Nautical Mile when I express my heartfelt sympathy for all in our community who have been battered by a succession of storms unprecedented in our history. I...
Red tide showing up offshore, fecal indicator bacteria counts high after hurricanes

Red tide showing up offshore, fecal indicator bacteria counts high after hurricanes

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 31, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing

Originally published in the News-Press by Chad Gillis on October 31, 2024 It’s a water quality double whammy. Southwest Florida waters are stained and potentially toxic as a red tide bloom rages offshore while freshwater bacteria levels are well above what the...
Fecal bacteria could still be high in creeks, rivers after Helene.

Fecal bacteria could still be high in creeks, rivers after Helene.

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 7, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing

Originally published in the News-Press by Chad Gillis on October 7, 2024 Chuck Avery grabbed a small glass jar and lid, attached it to the end of a pole and walked down the boat ramp at Koreshan State Historic Site in Estero. He scoops up water, three times, and dumps...
Calusa Waterkeeper to highlight ongoing severe fecal bacteria presence at Manuel’s Branch creek

Calusa Waterkeeper to highlight ongoing severe fecal bacteria presence at Manuel’s Branch creek

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 11, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press, Water Testing

Originally published on WGCU by Tom Bayles on September 11, 2024 “We test water bodies throughout our jurisdiction and that has been one area that routinely comes back extremely high,” said Connie Ramos-Williams, the director of Calusa Waterkeeper. “When we see things...
Calusa Waterkeeper To Host Manuel’s Branch Neighborhood Water Quality & Human Health Event

Calusa Waterkeeper To Host Manuel’s Branch Neighborhood Water Quality & Human Health Event

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 10, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Events, Featured, Policy, Water Testing

In an effort to keep children and families informed of troubled waters in Manuel’s Branch and other local waterbodies, Calusa Waterkeeper is hosting a Water Quality & Human Health Public Meeting on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. The event will...
Fecal bacteria continues to be found in extremely high levels in Lee County waters

Fecal bacteria continues to be found in extremely high levels in Lee County waters

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 22, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing

Originally published on Fox4 by Andrew Shipley on August 22, 2024 Water is so important to us in Southwest Florida. Water not only feeds our economy, but it also gives us recreation. But what is in our water? Every month the Calusa Waterkeeper tests our water for...
What’s the state of our water? Answers come from stakeholders at chamber event

What’s the state of our water? Answers come from stakeholders at chamber event

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 22, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing

Originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on August 22, 2024 Once a taken-for-granted bankable asset, Southwest Florida’s degraded water quality is now a critical, contentious topic.. Water issues here have people scrambling for...
Cypress Bend community appears to be leaking sewage to Estero River

Cypress Bend community appears to be leaking sewage to Estero River

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 26, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press, Water Testing

‘Levels this high usually indicate sewage.’ Estero neighborhood grabbles with water problem Originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Chad Gillis on July 25, 2024 The Estero River is a designated Outstanding Florida Waterway with the highest...
Fort Myers asks state to extend deadline for water pollution fixes

Fort Myers asks state to extend deadline for water pollution fixes

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 21, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing

Ordered by Florida to clean up its act, Fort Myers works to fix its water pollution problem Originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on July 21, 2024 With swelling demand straining its antique wastewater infrastructure, it’s no wonder...
Calusa Waterkeeper To Host Manuel’s Branch Neighborhood Water Quality & Human Health Event

Manuel’s Branch plagued by alarming contamination levels

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 8, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing

Creek runs along Fort Myers landmarks where children, families gather and play Op-Ed originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Codty Pierce on July 7, 2024 As the Calusa Waterkeeper, it is my duty and that of our organization to protect and restore our...
Floridians face continuing risk of swimming in contaminated waters due to veto

Floridians face continuing risk of swimming in contaminated waters due to veto

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 3, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Policy, Water Testing

Originally published in the Invading Sea by John Cassani, Calusa Waterkeeper Emeritus on July 1, 2024 Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed the Safe Waterways Act, which was passed unanimously by the Florida Legislature Florida public health policy took a blow recently when Gov....
Action Alert: Ask Governor to Approve the Safe Waterways Act

Action Alert: Ask Governor to Approve the Safe Waterways Act

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 26, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Policy, Water Testing

The Safe Waterways Act Needs Your 9th Inning Support! After years of advocating for improvements to public health notifications in the state of Florida, HB 165 finally passed the FL House and Senate earlier this year. But now Calusa Waterkeeper has learned this...
The Safe Waterways Act is Poised for a Senate Vote

The Safe Waterways Act is Poised for a Senate Vote

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 6, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Policy

We’re excited to share that the Safe Waterways Act has been added to the Florida Senate’s Special Order Calendar for tomorrow, March 7, 2024! Background: Persistence in Tallahassee In 2021, Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani started working with Florida...
High Fecal Bacteria at Lee County Beaches Trigger Warnings

High Fecal Bacteria at Lee County Beaches Trigger Warnings

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 29, 2023 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on September 29, 2023 by Amy Bennett Williams Don’t go in the water warns Lee County’s health department: There’s too much fecal bacteria and it might make you sick. According to routine tests Thursday, Bowditch...
Calusa Waterkeeper Issues Area’s Bacteria Sampling Report for June

Calusa Waterkeeper Issues Area’s Bacteria Sampling Report for June

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 7, 2023 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press

Originally published by Pine Island Eagle on June 7, 2023 This month out of the 30 sites throughout the watershed tested by the Calusa Waterkeeper, 23% passed and 77% failed. One of the newest sites continues to unveil high FIB numbers — North Fort Myers Riverbend...
Fecal Bacteria Counts High in Many Protected Rivers & Creeks in Lee County

Fecal Bacteria Counts High in Many Protected Rivers & Creeks in Lee County

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 3, 2023 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on February 3, 2023 by Chad Gillis Some tributaries flowing into the Caloosahatchee River and Estero Bay are polluted with fecal coliform bacteria, with counts going well above criteria used to determine whether or not a beach is...
Experts Warn of Contaminated Water at Lee County Beaches

Experts Warn of Contaminated Water at Lee County Beaches

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 27, 2023 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press

Originally published by NBC-2 News on January 27, 2023 Southwest Florida water experts are warning beachgoers, boaters, and the like – go in at your own risk. Calusa Waterkeeper and the Department of Health samplings show how even at beaches like Lynn Hall Beach Park,...
New Bacteria Sampling Results Released

New Bacteria Sampling Results Released

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 24, 2023 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured

January bacteria sampling results are in! We added several exciting new locations this month. We encourage you to check out the results for Bunche Beach, Hendry Creek, Mullock Creek, Spring Creek, and Estero River. Plus, take a look at Pine Island: the results were...
Swimmers ignore warnings of fecal bacteria from the Florida Department of Health at area beaches

Swimmers ignore warnings of fecal bacteria from the Florida Department of Health at area beaches

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 19, 2022 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on July 19, 2022 by Amy Bennett Williams The bad news: Sometimes there are unsafe levels of poop at the region’s beaches. The good news: It’s no secret. That means would-be recreators can arm themselves with knowledge...
Proposed Law Would Warn of Poop-polluted Waters Where People Boat, Wade and Fish

Proposed Law Would Warn of Poop-polluted Waters Where People Boat, Wade and Fish

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 27, 2021 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on October 27, 2021 by Amy Bennett Williams Are you splashing in poopy water if you roll your kayak in the Imperial River, take a tumble from––— your paddleboard into Whiskey Creek or wade in to untangle a bream snagged around a...
Florida Legislators Introduce Safe Waterways Act

Florida Legislators Introduce Safe Waterways Act

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 26, 2021 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press

Calusa Waterkeeper Supports SB 604 / HB 393 to Provide Broader and Consistent Public Notification of Fecal Contaminated Waterways Residents and tourists come to Florida’s iconic waters for recreation and enjoyment, but unfortunately many state waterways have become...
Report Shines Spotlight on Southwest Florida’s Water Issues

Report Shines Spotlight on Southwest Florida’s Water Issues

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 25, 2021 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press, Stormwater

Report Shines Spotlight on Southwest Florida’s Water Issues Originally published by WINK News on October 25, 2021 A state report shows trouble in Southwest Florida’s water. Scientists warn that areas of our water are polluted with nutrients and bacteria. While the...
Pollution Verified in Most of Southwest Florida Area’s Prized Water Bodies

Pollution Verified in Most of Southwest Florida Area’s Prized Water Bodies

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 24, 2021 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Stormwater

Originally published by The News-Press on October 24, 2021 by Amy Bennett Williams What’s been long suspected now is official: Southwest Florida’s most cherished waters are in trouble. From Charlotte Harbor south to San Carlos Bay, a draft state report shows...
Floridians Have the Right to Know if Public Waters they Recreate in are Safe from Contamination

Floridians Have the Right to Know if Public Waters they Recreate in are Safe from Contamination

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 10, 2021 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Policy

Fecal bacteria contamination in Florida waters is widespread. In coastal estuaries 1,171,692 acres are determined impaired by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and 9,262 miles of Florida’s streams and rivers are impaired for fecal...
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 21

Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 21

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Dec 16, 2020 | Bacteria Monitoring, Water Testing

Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 21 This week, Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani, informs us of Lake Okeechobee and the ongoing releases from the Army Corps of Engineers into the Caloosahatchee. There has also been a recent spike in red tide along the Gulf of...
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