

Donate



Report Pollution

Calusa Waterkeeper 30 Year Logo
  • About Us
  • Impact Programs
  • Learn The Issues
  • Education & Resources
  • News & Events
  • Join & Support Us
About Calusa Waterkeeper

Organization

A thumbnail photo of the Calusa Waterkeeper Board Members

Board & Team

Waterkeeper Alliance

Waterkeeper Alliance

Calusa_Waterkeeper_Organization

Contact Us

Water_Quality_Testing_Ft_Myers_Florida

Water & Air Testing

Clean Water Advocacy

Advocacy & Action

Calusa Waterkeeper Rangers

Ranger Program

Water Quality Documentaries

Documentary Film Series

Community_Collaboration

Community Collaboration

Harmful Algal Bloom

Harmful Algal Blooms

Lake O discharges

Lake Okeechobee Discharges

Bacteria Monitoring

Bacteria Monitoring

stormwater Estero Bay

Stormwater Management

More:

C-43 Reservoir

Caloosahatchee Oxbows

Cape Coral Spreader Canals

Florida Water Quality Status

Water Quality Status

Protect Your Piece of Paradise

Clean Water Tips Flier

Southwest Florida Water Quality Trends

SWFL Water Quality Trends

resource center

Resource Center

More:

Schedule a Speaker

Joe Cavanaugh being interviewed

In the News

Newsletter

Email Newsletter & Alerts

Calusa Waterkeeper Videos

Videos

A thumbnail photo at a Calusa Waterkepeer event

Event Calendar

More:

Media Request

Membership

Membership

Volunteer

Become a Volunteer

Sponsorship Opportunities Lee County

Sponsorship Opportunities

Water_Quality_Report

Give Today

Video: Massive Red Tide Bloom Takes Over SWFL

Video: Massive Red Tide Bloom Takes Over SWFL

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 16, 2025 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published in the WGCU News on February 16, 2025 The normal blue and green waters of The Gulf have been stained a burnt orange thanks to a massive bloom of Red Tide. The imminent cause is unknown, but environmental and human factors are believed to be part...
Red tide raging in Gulf as cell counts hit 20 million cells per liter off Sanibel

Red tide raging in Gulf as cell counts hit 20 million cells per liter off Sanibel

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 6, 2025 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published in the News-Press by Chad Gillis on February 5, 2025 The bloom has at times stretches from Tampa Bay to the Florida Keys. “Over 20 million a cells per liter off Sanibel, and that’s the high kill-zone level,” said Calusa...
100-square-mile red tide bloom lurks off Southwest Florida coast

100-square-mile red tide bloom lurks off Southwest Florida coast

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 28, 2025 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published on NBC-2 by Ryan Arbogast on January 28, 2025 A large-scale red tide bloom, roughly 100 square miles in size, is floating in the Gulf of Mexico about 25 miles off the Southwest Florida coastline, stretching from Charlotte Harbor to beyond Marco...
Cold fronts keeping red tide offshore for now

Cold fronts keeping red tide offshore for now

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 8, 2025 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by Andrew Shipley on Fox4 on January 8, 2025 Red tide has been blooming off our coastline for nearly four months now, but we haven’t seen those major impacts one typically associates with the blooms. “We are seeing it rise in severity, then...
Red tide make for dead mullet

Red tide make for dead mullet

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 2, 2025 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by Boca Beacon on January 2, 2025 The island had a large number of dead mullet up and down the beach over t he New Year, the result of a possible red tide outbreak offshore. “This is an unfortunate persistent presence of Red Tide since the...
BLOWN AWAY: East winds keep red tide off our shores – for now

BLOWN AWAY: East winds keep red tide off our shores – for now

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Dec 21, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published on Fox4 by Austin Schargorodski on December 21, 2024 Calusa Waterkeeper put out a red tide update, saying this season’s unpredictable weather is actually giving our coastline some relief. The organization said strong east winds have kept the...
Toxic red tide still being found offshore of Lee County, Collier

Toxic red tide still being found offshore of Lee County, Collier

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Dec 18, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published in the News-Press by Chad Gillis on December 19, 2024 Offshore winds have kept the bloom mostly away from local beaches and out in the open Gulf of Mexico. “There hasn’t been much visibly, mostly because of the wind,” said Calusa...
Winds help keep red tide at bay

Winds help keep red tide at bay

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 28, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published on Boca Beacon by Anna Ridilla on November 28, 2024 Experts are still watching red tide, but with winds, and cooler weather, the area may escape a bad season. The Calusa Waterkeeper has been seeing fluctuating results for red tide amounts, said...
Calusa Waterkeeper Featured in HAB Special Report by Ocean Grants

Calusa Waterkeeper Featured in HAB Special Report by Ocean Grants

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 18, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by Ocean Grants on November 18, 2024 Harmful algal blooms have been at the center of Calusa Waterkeeper’s science-based advocacy initiatives exploring the impacts of water quality on human health, our economy, and quality of life. Originally...
The Tropics and Red Tide; what happens if or when they interact?

The Tropics and Red Tide; what happens if or when they interact?

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 4, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published on WINK News by Elizabeth Biro on November 4, 2024 A storm is churning and on track to make its way into the Gulf of Mexico. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission red tide map shows background to low concentrations of it offshore...
New release plans for Lake O may reduce red tide in Gulf

New release plans for Lake O may reduce red tide in Gulf

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 9, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published in Gulfshore Business by John Guerra on September 9, 2024 Under LOSOM, if there’s an active red tide in the Gulf and blue-green algae in the lake, the Army Corps can decide against releasing water from the 730-square-mile freshwater lake until...
Fish kill in Matlacha over, waters cleared weeks after Tropical Storm Debby

Fish kill in Matlacha over, waters cleared weeks after Tropical Storm Debby

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 30, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Stormwater

Originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Chad Gillis on August 30, 2024 The waters in Matlacha Pass have cleared after post-Debby conditions caused a fish kill there. Tropical Storm Debby dropped several inches of rain across the region, and a lot of that...
Will we see Lake Okeechobee discharges this year to the Caloosahatchee? What to know

Will we see Lake Okeechobee discharges this year to the Caloosahatchee? What to know

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 26, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Chad Gillis on August 26, 2024 Calusa Waterkeeper Codty Pierce said only time will tell how well LOSOM works for the Caloosahatchee River. “We have yet to see how things are going to react,” Pierce said....
Putting Our Local Water Quality Into Perspective

Putting Our Local Water Quality Into Perspective

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 23, 2024 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Matlacha Pass Water Quality, Stormwater, Water Testing

Recently, I was asked to speak on The Chamber of Southwest Florida’s water quality panel. The host, Peter Busch of NBC-2, asked each panelist to rate the current state of our water quality on a scale of 1-10. The responses from those directly responsible for...
Fish kill in Matlacha over, waters cleared weeks after Tropical Storm Debby

Expert: Matlacha fish kills show what pollution, low oxygen levels can do to marine life

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 15, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Stormwater

Originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Chad Gillis on August 15, 2024 There’s a fish kill going on in Matlacha Pass, and some water experts think it’s due to a lack of oxygen in the water. Warm waters, the idea goes, have lowered oxygen...
New images show shocking water quality conditions in Matlacha Pass

New images show shocking water quality conditions in Matlacha Pass

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 15, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Stormwater

Originally published on NBC-2 by Rachel Whelan on August 15, 2024 New images from a local environmental organization are showing shocking water quality conditions off our coast. Calusa Waterkeeper Codty Pierce is documenting our water conditions in the wake of...
Hurricane Debby left poor water quality and fish kills along SWFL coast

Hurricane Debby left poor water quality and fish kills along SWFL coast

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 14, 2024 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Stormwater

Originally published on Fox4 by Andrew Shipley on August 14, 2024 A little over a week ago, Hurricane Debby dumped millions of gallons of water across Southwest Florida. Now question is what is in that water and what is it doing to our environment as it pushes out...
Tropical Storm Debby ecological impacts mount

Tropical Storm Debby ecological impacts mount

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 14, 2024 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Stormwater

Originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Chad Gillis on August 13, 2024 Tropical Storm Debby played out similar to National Weather Service forecasts for Southwest Florida with impacts to homes, businesses, roads and cars. And although nature has evolved...
What’s that Smell? Hundreds of dead fish on Matlacha after Debby

What’s that Smell? Hundreds of dead fish on Matlacha after Debby

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 13, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Water Testing

Originally published on Fox4 by Domingo Murray on August 13, 2024 “We’ve had dead fish at the shoreline, many times, not a whole lot… about a dozen times in 30 years,” he said. Tuesday morning Talbott called FOX4 about the issue, so we reached...
Health Dept. cautions against making contact with local waterway

Health Dept. cautions against making contact with local waterway

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 26, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published in the News-Press by Chad Gillis on July 26, 2024 Heavy rains bring nutrient inputs from Lake Okeechobee, the upper Caloosahatchee watershed (which is largely agriculture) and urbanized areas like Fort Myers and Cape Coral. The nutrients can feed...
Summer is here and so is the blue-green algae

Summer is here and so is the blue-green algae

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 21, 2024 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published on Fox-4 by Bella Line on June 21, 2024 The temperature is heating up in the air, and the water. We know that blue-green algae is something we deal with in the summer, but Calusa Waterkeeper volunteers tell me it’s early in the season for...
Calusa Waterkeeper Petitions EPA for Cyanotoxin Standards in Florida

Calusa Waterkeeper Petitions EPA for Cyanotoxin Standards in Florida

by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 30, 2024 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Lake Okeechobee, Policy, Press

Calusa Waterkeeper is among five conservation organizations and the City of Stuart, Florida to petition the Environmental Protection Agency to set limits on the dangerous algae bloom toxins that now routinely threaten the health of Floridians and wildlife. It has now...
Health Dept. cautions against making contact with local waterway

Blue-Green Algae Toxins are a Human Health Risk

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 17, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

A recent News-Press article (“Well-known FGCU professor accused of downplaying blue-green algae by water advocate”) overlooks the principal barrier to public understanding of Florida’s persistent blue-green algae – the calibration of exposure to risk....
Shades of Blue Water Turning Green

Shades of Blue Water Turning Green

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 10, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by Florida Weekly on August 10, 2023 and written by Roger Williams. When Susan Bennett, born and raised in Fort Myers, stared into the Caloosahatchee River seven stories below the balcony of her downtown home one recent morning, the potentially...
Testing Relationship Between Algae Outbreaks and Health Concerns

Testing Relationship Between Algae Outbreaks and Health Concerns

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...
New Tech Studying Blue-Green Algae in SWFL

New Tech Studying Blue-Green Algae in SWFL

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 21, 2023 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by WINK News on July 21, 2023 Water releases aren’t expected anytime soon directly from Lake Okeechobee, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. Nevertheless, blue-green algal blooms are present on the lake, in the Caloosahatchee and along...
ADAM Testing Equipment Deployed as Blue-Green Algae Bloom Spreads to Cape Coral

ADAM Testing Equipment Deployed as Blue-Green Algae Bloom Spreads to Cape Coral

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...
Toxic Blue-Green Algae Thickening in Caloosahatchee

Toxic Blue-Green Algae Thickening in Caloosahatchee

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...
Blue-Green Algae near Downtown Fort Myers in Caloosahatchee River

Blue-Green Algae near Downtown Fort Myers in Caloosahatchee River

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 23, 2023 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on June 23, 2023 by Chad Gillis Health official confirmed Friday that a blue-green algae outbreak in the Caloosahatchee River is toxic to humans and animals. “A bloom occurs when rapid growth of algae leads to an...
Blue-Green Algae Blooms Spotted from Lake O to Fort Myers Shores

Blue-Green Algae Blooms Spotted from Lake O to Fort Myers Shores

by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 26, 2023 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press

Blue-Green Algae Blooms Spotted from Lake O to Fort Myers Shores Originally published by FOX4 News on May 26, 2023 Once again, Lake Okeechobee is covered with blue-green algae blooms. According to NOAA, algal blooms covered about 260 square miles on the ake,...
« Older Entries

Search News Posts

Recent News

  • Tarpon Fly Fishing Invitational Casts for Conservation and Community Support
  • Calusa Waterkeeper appoints new Waterkeeper
  • Joe Cavanaugh Named New Calusa Waterkeeper, Continuing Non-Profit’s Legacy of Advocacy and Stewardship of Southwest Florida’s Waters
  • Calusa Waterkeeper sounds the alarm for harmful bacteria in Manuel’s Branch
  • Gov. DeSantis: Caloosahatchee River reservoir will be ready to divert Lake O water by summer

News Categories

  • Bacteria Monitoring (39)
  • C43 Reservoir (6)
  • Cape Coral Spreader Canals (20)
  • CWK Rangers (9)
  • Events (37)
  • Featured (297)
  • Harmful Algal Blooms (79)
  • Lake Okeechobee (40)
  • Litigation (14)
  • Matlacha Pass Water Quality (3)
  • Planning (15)
  • Policy (33)
  • Press (543)
  • Science (21)
  • Stormwater (39)
  • Uncategorized (5)
  • Water Testing (34)

Resource Center

  • Advocate Links
  • Agency Links
  • HAB Research
  • Public Advocacy
  • Ranger Library
  • Water Monitoring

CALUSA WATERKEEPER MISSION

To Protect and Restore the Caloosahatchee River from Lake Okeechobee to the Coastal Waters.
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
WKA-Member-White

Calusa Waterkeeper
P.O. Box 1165
Ft. Myers, FL 33902



[email protected]



239-899-1440

candid-seal-platinum-2024
© 2025 Calusa Waterkeeper, Inc., All Rights Reserved | Site Credits