by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 26, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press
Originally published by WINK News on July 26, 2023 Water infested with blue-green algae is not safe to swim in, play in or drink because of harmful toxins. Although, far less is known about what’s in the air regarding those same algae outbreaks. Nevertheless, one...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 20, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press
Originally published by The News-Press on July 20, 2023 by Chad Gillis A toxic blue-green algae bloom that’s been drifting around downtown Fort Myers has now spread to other areas, including the Cape Coral Yacht Club. “We do have an (air testing) unit near...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 14, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press
Originally published by The News-Press on July 14, 2023 by Chad Gillis A toxic blue-green algae bloom appears to be strengthening its grip on the Caloosahatchee River, as green slicks of the organisms are visible in downtown Fort Myers. “I’ve been seeing...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 7, 2023 | Featured, Press
Originally published by WINK News on June 7, 2023 WINK News has spoken with many Cape Coral residents to address some pressing questions surrounding bubble curtains, which are aimed at reducing algae entering our canal system from the Caloosahatchee River. Are they...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 7, 2023 | Featured, Press
Originally published by TC Palm on June 7, 2023 by Amy Bennett Williams A week into hurricane season, as concerns over algae blooms mount, Caloosahatchee river-watchers don’t have to worry about Lake O making things worse – at least for the moment. Calusa Waterkeeper...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 2, 2023 | Featured, Press
Originally published by The News-Press on June 2, 2023 by Chad Gillis Lake Okeechobee is more than a foot above its target level at this time of year, and heavy rains have fallen across much of the state in recent days. The big question for the Fort Myers-Cape...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 25, 2023 | Featured, Press
Originally published by Waterkeeper Alliance on May 25, 2023 Today, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in the case of Sackett v. EPA and ruled in favor of the Sacketts and their corporate polluter allies, delivering a major setback to the essential protections...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 24, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Lake Okeechobee, Press
Originally published by Fox Weather on May 24, 2023 by Andrew Wulfeck Residents and visitors to parts of the Sunshine State’s largest lake are being urged to exercise caution after harmful blue-green algae was recently detected by the Palm Beach County Health...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 12, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press
Originally published by WINK News on May 12, 2023 Algae swirling in the Gulf Coast is bringing a smelly odor to the air. It’s happening around the waters of Matlacha. “It’s almost a matted, matted surface that resembles a mud flat, but the colors are quite vibrant....
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 2, 2023 | C43 Reservoir, Featured, Press
Originally published by The News-Press on May 02, 2023 by Amy Bennett Williams Construction of the C-43 reservoir is on hold after the South Florida Water Management District fired the contractor for the half-billion-dollar-plus job. The district announced the...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Apr 11, 2023 | Featured, Press
Originally published by WINK News on April 11, 2023 The color of some of the mangroves from above? Grey – like the mood as we note the coastline’s defenses are weakened. The color of the sky this day, also grey. The new Calusa Waterkeeper, Captain Codty Pierce noted...
by Robin Serne | Mar 15, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Policy, Stormwater
For the last several weeks, red tide has brought intense respiratory irritation to beachgoers, hundreds of thousands of dead fish, and several dead sea turtles and dolphin to our beaches. At this moment, we can be thankful that the red tide concentrations appear to be...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 13, 2023 | Events, Featured
Originally published by WGCU News on March 13, 2023 We get a preview of the upcoming 2023 Southwest Florida Climate Summit, which is this Wednesday and Thursday, March 15 and 16, at the Collaboratory in downtown Fort Myers. It’s hosted and presented by the Coastal...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 10, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press
Originally published by TODAY on March 10, 2023. Spring breakers are flocking to Florida in hopes of enjoying clear water and white sand beaches, but many are instead discovering red tide during their vacations. The micro-organism that causes red tide has impacted...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 16, 2023 | Featured
Pierce comes aboard after the recent retirement of John Cassani The Calusa Waterkeeper (CWK) board of directors is excited to announce the selection of Captain Codty Pierce as the next Calusa Waterkeeper. Codty is a native of Lee County and lifelong outdoorsman,...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 13, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press
Originally published by WINK News on February 13, 2023 Red tide is a complex water issue, and scientists who study it are surveying the conditions that can trigger blooms—sunlight, water temperature, salinity, wind direction, and speed—to figure out how to mitigate...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 1, 2023 | Featured, Press
Originally published by The News-Press on February 1, 2023 by Amy Bennett Williams The biggest environmental restoration project in the history of the planet just got a report card. All in all, things are on track. No failing grades, but no raves either. There are...
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 | Jan 16, 2023 | Featured, Policy
Guest Editorial originally published by The Invading Sea – an arm of Florida Climate Reporting Network on January 16, 2023 and written by John Cassani, retired Calusa Waterkeeper It is becoming obvious that Florida’s water restoration programs cannot keep pace...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 11, 2023 | Featured, Press
Originally published by Florida Weekly on January 11, 2023 Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani steps back from a role in which he has gathered a team of 100 to monitor the Caloosahatchee River. After more than six years Cassani has finished a marathon of sorts – at...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 29, 2022 | Featured
If Water Is Vital For All Forms of Life and the Centerpiece of Existence, Let’s Defend It! For years, my battle cry and passion has always been for clean drinkable, fishable, and swimmable water. I’ve watched our waterways and estuaries deteriorate as more...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 24, 2022 | Featured
We thank You for being a part of the Calusa Waterkeeper family, following our accomplishments and investing in our work. On this Giving Thanks Thursday, we need to raise $50,000 to continue our prioritized water and air testing, especially now as dangerous Red Tide...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 22, 2022 | Featured
At this time of year, when we reflect on our many blessings, we can’t help but think of you, our loyal supporters who have given so much to Calusa Waterkeeper. Because of you, we: Collected 177 water samples from 25 sites that tested for fecal bacteria, which could...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 17, 2022 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press
Red Tide Continues to Make its way through Southwest Florida Waterways Originally published by FOX4 News on November 17, 2022 Red tide continues to make its way across southwest Florida waterways. Some areas are not feeling the full effect, though many beaches are...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 17, 2022 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press
Originally published by The News-Press on November 17, 2022 by Chad Gillis Scientists are saying a red tide bloom that’s lingered along the coast for a few weeks is now being fed by nutrients running off the landscape in the wake of Hurricane Ian. Red tide...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 3, 2022 | Featured
It is with heavy, but grateful hearts that the Calusa Waterkeeper Board of Directors announces the retirement of John Cassani as the Calusa Waterkeeper, effective January 1, 2023. John’s service to the Calusa Waterkeeper (CWK) organization and the people of Southwest...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 3, 2022 | Featured, Press
As we honor John’s Cassani’s retirement as Calusa Waterkeeper and his career of service, here are but some highlights of his immense commitment to our environment and community. John was a founding member of Caloosahatchee River Citizens Association (CRCA)...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 25, 2022 | Featured, Press
Originally published by NBC-2 News on October 25, 2022 Many beachgoers are starting to make their return, for some, it’s just looking at the damage, while others are ready to get back in the water. “We’ve gone a few times, yea, it’s been a while since we’ve been able...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 13, 2022 | Featured
All of us in Southwest Florida have been impacted to some degree by Hurricane Ian. The catastrophic damage left in its wake has been life changing. Calusa Waterkeeper is committed to keeping our residents informed about water quality. With that in mind, we are...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 12, 2022 | Featured, Press
Originally published by NBC-2 News on October 12, 2022 There’s no debate that Hurricane Ian was a disaster for Southwest Florida, leaving many homeless and thousands without power. But for right now, an ecological disaster is still unfolding, as pollution pouring into...
