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...
Dramatic Images Show Lake Okeechobee Releases Meeting Gulf near Sanibel Originally published by WINK News on November 2, 2020 There are new concerns for Southwest Florida water quality. New aerial images show the Lake Okeechobee water discharges reaching the Gulf of...
Federal Judge orders the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to consider toxic algae when releasing water from Lake Okeechobee FORT MYERS, FL. (Oct. 29, 2020) – Calusa Waterkeeper is proud to be involved with a recent win in federal court regarding the management of Lake...
Originally published in The News-Press October 27, 2020 The Cape Coral Community Foundation is pleased to announce the 12 Award Recipients for the fourth annual Excellence in Nonprofit Performance Yearly Awards, also known as the ENPYs. The finest nonprofit...
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 20 This week, John Cassani reminds us of the importance to get out and VOTE! Review our candidate questionnaires for both City of Fort Myers and City of Cape Coral...
As seen in a Naples Daily News Guest Opinion submitted by KC Schulberg, Executitve Director of Calusa Waterkeeper It’s boom time again in Southwest Florida. Home sales have shot up as folks fled the close-quartered Covid-ridden cities up North for the promise of...
As seen in a News-Press Op-Ed submitted by John Cassani, Calusa Waterkeeper Florida has always had problems with water pollution during the modern era. This is not surprising considering the historic rate of population growth and landscape conversion to more intensive...
For many years, Calusa Waterkeeper has been advocating about alarmingly high levels of fecal indicator bacteria in Billy’s Creeks in Fort Myers. Recently our Billy’s Creek committee has engaged in a number of meetings with City of Fort Myers Council and...
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 19 This week, John Cassani informs us that the Army Corps of Engineers recently announced they may have to start discharging Lake Okeechobee water into the Caloosahatchee. Plus, there has been a recent fish kill in Bonita Springs...
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the designation of the Estero Bay tributaries as Outstanding Florida Waters. To commemorate the occasion, Calusa Waterkeeper will present “Saving Estero Bay,” an online benefit to restore Estero Bay’s tributaries. The evening...
Expert Sends Cape Coral Water Sample to be Tested for Blue-Green Algae Originally published by WINK News on Septtember 11, 2020 Neighbors who live nearby the Shaughnessey canal in Cape Coral are concerned now that it might have fallen victim to a blue-green algae...
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 18 This week, John Cassani addresses the ongoing cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in Lake Okeechobee and separate build-ups of nutrients causing Microcystis and Phormidium blooms in Cape Coral freshwater canals. Stay tuned, as we...
Fort Myers Construction Sites Under Investigation Originally published by FOX4 News on Septtember 8, 2020 Two construction sites in downtown Fort Myers are facing scrutiny from the state Department of Environmental Protection and local leaders, after photos and...
Originally published in The News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on August 28, 2020 Green Cape Coral canals have become as predictable as the summer rains, and this year is no exception. But while stagnant city waterways may be nothing new, the health department...
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 17 Join Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani with special guest Professor James Douglass from Florida Gulf Coast University on the Estero Bay tributaries as they talk water quality and...
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 16 Catch up with John Cassani and all things water quality in this episode of Words from the Waterkeeper. Updates on the significant Lake Okeechobee algae bloom along with fecal bacteria contamination in local waterways and...
Originally published by EurekAlert! on July 20, 2020 In 2018, cyanobacteria from nutrient-rich waters in Lake Okeechobee were released down the Caloosahatchee river at the same time that red tides were gathering along the Florida west coast, potentially exposing...
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 15 Calusa Waterkeeper, John Cassani talks water temperatures in the mid to high 90s in back bays which is creating hypoxic conditions. Plus, an update on the Lake Okeechobee cyanobacteria bloom, and a massive trichodesmium bloom...
Florida Waterkeepers Urge State Task Force to Take Action After massive and recurring blue-green algae blooms in Florida waters that resulted in multiple “states of emergency” issued by then-Governor Rick Scott in 2016 and 2018, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH)...
The entire Calusa Waterkeeper team is proud to present this special Commemorative Anniversary Issue magazine, recognizing our 25-year history, starting as Caloosahatchee River Citizens Association – Riverwatch (CRCA) in 1995. This expanded souvenir newsletter is...
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 14 An update from Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani regarding the cyanobacteria bloom on Lake Okeechobee and other local water quality issues. Thank you to pilots Ralph Arwood and Roy Plackis of LightHawk Conservation...
SB 712: A Watered-Down Bill that Will Not Fix our Water Quality Issues Governor DeSantis just signed into law SB 712 – the self-proclaimed “Clean Waterways Act” – an ambitious misnomer for a bill that claims to be the solution to our mounting water quality...
Originally published in The News-Press by Chad Gillis on June 19, 2020 A blue-green algae bloom has taken over more than half of Lake Okeechobee, the liquid heart of the historic Everglades. Satellite photos show the 720-square-mile lake as being mostly covered with a...
‘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...
In lieu of holding a general membership meeting in April 2020 and doing our part to avoid large group gatherings, the Calusa Waterkeeper board proceeded with filling open board positions at our directors meeting in May. We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you...
SWFL clean water non-profit takes stock and looks to the future Springing from humble origins, spawned by a handful of grassroots working men and women stepping up to adopt an orphaned river, Caloosahatchee River Citizens Association – the predecessor to today’s...
Words from the Waterkeeper, Episode 13 In this episode, John updates us on cyanobacteria blooms that have been detected in Lake O and in the Caloosahatchee. The area is seeing macro algae becoming more abundant. Elevated levels of fecal bacteria are responsible for...
Originally published in Florida Weekly on June 3, 2020 Water. From the grand rivers, coastal sounds and bays throughout the region, to the creeks and canals that meander through our neighborhoods, to the glistening Gulf of Mexico, water is in so many ways a crucial...
Originally published in The News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on May 30, 2020 On any given day, Calusa Waterkeeper members might be flying over the Caloosahatchee scanning for algae, sampling its urban tributary creeks for fecal bacteria, crunching water quality...
