by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 4, 2021 | Featured
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 29, 2021 | Featured, Press
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 14, 2021 | Featured
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 13, 2021 | Featured, Press
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 8, 2021 | Featured, Press
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Dec 30, 2020 | Featured
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Dec 14, 2020 | Featured, Press
Possible Red Tide Exposure Warning Prompted for Bonita Beach Park Originally published by WINK News on December 14, 2020 Monday, Florida Department of Health in Lee County sent a health alert advising red tide blooms could be present along the coast near Bonita Beach...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Dec 14, 2020 | Featured, Press
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Dec 11, 2020 | Featured, Press
Originally published in The News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on December 11, 2020 It may not be killing fish or burning human throats yet, but red tide is lurking along Southwest Florida’s shoreline. Scientists sampling water for Karenia brevis, the microscopic...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 13, 2020 | Featured, Press, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 13, 2020 | Featured, Press
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 2, 2020 | Featured, Press, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 29, 2020 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Lake Okeechobee, Litigation, Press, Uncategorized
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 27, 2020 | Featured, Press
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 27, 2020 | Featured
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...
by KC Schulberg | Oct 16, 2020 | Featured, Press
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 7, 2020 | Featured, Press
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 25, 2020 | Featured, Planning
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 22, 2020 | Featured
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 16, 2020 | Events, Featured
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 12, 2020 | Featured, Press
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 10, 2020 | Featured
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 9, 2020 | Featured, Press
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 28, 2020 | Featured, Press
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 31, 2020 | Featured
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 23, 2020 | Featured
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 20, 2020 | Featured, Press
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 13, 2020 | Featured, Science
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 13, 2020 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms
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)...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 2, 2020 | Featured
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...
