by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 11, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, 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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 8, 2020 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press
Calusa Waterkeeper and City of Fort Myers find Differing Fecal Bacteria Data Originally published by WINK News on Septtember 8, 2020 Efforts to clean up Billy’s Creek are getting a boost. The City of Fort Myers and Calusa Waterkeeper are working together...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 10, 2020 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press
Calusa Waterkeeper Tests for Source of Billy’s Creek Contamination Originally published by WINK News on June 10, 2020 Fecal bacteria contamination in Billy’s Creek has been a concern for years, and a local group, Calusa Waterkeeper, is working to fix the problem. They...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 10, 2020 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press
‘Staggering’ Amount of Fecal Bacteria Found in Billy’s Creek in Fort Myers Originally published by NBC-2 News on June 10, 2020 “What’s in the water? That’s the question members of Calusa Waterkeeper set out to answer Wednesday...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 9, 2020 | Bacteria Monitoring, Science
Water Quality Testing Aims to Help Protect Community On Wednesday, June 10, Calusa Waterkeeper will conduct the first phase of a study to determine the source of the fecal bacteria contamination of Billy’s Creek. Fecal contamination has been a significant health risk...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 22, 2020 | Bacteria Monitoring, Water Testing
Poor results at every station on Billy’s Creek this month. Extremely high contamination at the Ortiz and Ortiz Circle stations as is almost always the case. Thanks to retired engineers and CWK Rangers Chris and Ed Shinouskis for their help in collecting and...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Dec 19, 2019 | Bacteria Monitoring, Water Testing
Calusa Waterkeeper sampling results for enterococci bacteria at Billy’s Creek in Ft. Myers on 12-15-19. Serious contamination persists. The dredging this year did not mitigate the bacterial contamination.
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 26, 2019 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press
Originally published by WINK News on June 26, 2019 Waterways are contaminated with fecal matter, including creeks and rivers that are in some neighbors backyards. Anna Vasquez lives right on Billy’s Creek. She worries about people who consume fish and get into the...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 11, 2019 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press
Originally published in The News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on June 11, 2019 Jevontae Jones knows Billy’s Creek isn’t clean, but on a June afternoon, that’s not enough to stop him from tossing a shrimp-baited line into its dark waters in hopes of hooking dinner....
