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What are all the discharges about? The latest on Lake O

What are all the discharges about? The latest on Lake O

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 27, 2024 | Lake Okeechobee, Policy, Press

Originally published in the News-Press by Chad Gillis on November 27, 2024 River advocates are concerned that too much fresh water could spoil the delicate estuary, which depends on the lake for fresh water during the dry season. The overall measurement for flows in...
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...
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....
Lake Okeechobee once again covered with Blue-Green Algae

Lake Okeechobee once again covered with Blue-Green Algae

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 10, 2024 | Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published on Fox4 by Andrew Shipley on July 10, 2024 According to NOAA, algae blooms cover nearly 460 square miles of Lake Okeechobee. Another summer, another blue-green algae bloom. Lake Okeechobee is once again covered with hundreds of square miles of...
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...
Army Corps resuming releases of polluted Lake Okeechobee water down the Caloosahatchee

Army Corps resuming releases of polluted Lake Okeechobee water down the Caloosahatchee

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Apr 5, 2024 | Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published by The News-Press and written by Chad Gillis on April 5, 2024 “Along the entire river, flows have reduced dramatically and so what we’re looking for is providing beneficial flows to reduce the potential for algae blooms,” Bell...
Brown water near the coast: Lake O releases ongoing, could last until May

Brown water near the coast: Lake O releases ongoing, could last until May

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 4, 2024 | Featured, Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published by The News-Press and written by Chad Gillis on March 4, 2024 Lake Okeechobee waters continue to blast out of the W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam, and coastal Southwest Florida waters are starting to look like chocolate milk. Aerial images from...
Water color changes due to Lake Okeechobee releases

Water color changes due to Lake Okeechobee releases

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 4, 2024 | Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published by WINK News and written by Annalise Iraola on March 4, 2024 A week ago, the Calusa Waterkeeper took a picture off the coast of Sanibel. Dark brown, it’s a harsh contrast between the beautiful blue gulf waters. On February 17, the Army Corps of...
Lake O Water is Tainted and can Pollute the Caloosahatchee Estuary

Lake O Water is Tainted and can Pollute the Caloosahatchee Estuary

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 28, 2023 | Featured, Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on July 28, 2023 by Chad Gillis Calusa Waterkeeper Codty Pierce says even small amounts of Lake Okeechobee water will infect the Caloosahatchee River with toxic blue-green algae blooms. Small amounts of water are coming from the...
Is the Caloosahatchee Heading for an Algae Bloom?

Is the Caloosahatchee Heading for an Algae Bloom?

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

Originally published by The News-Press on May 26, 2023 by Amy Bennett Williams Had they stared into a shaft of sunlight piercing the Caloosahatchee River on Thursday morning, boaters at the Alva dock might have seen spangles, as if the water were dusted with green...
Large Algae Bloom Spotted on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee

Large Algae Bloom Spotted on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee

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...
Lake Okeechobee leveling off after rains from Hurricane Ian but there’s still a threat

Lake Okeechobee leveling off after rains from Hurricane Ian but there’s still a threat

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 3, 2022 | Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on November 3, 2022 by Chad Gillis The Lake Okeechobee drainage system is more likely to see a blue-green algal bloom next spring as a result of Hurricane Ian. Lt. Col. Todd Polk, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said Ian...
Lake Okeechobee Releases to the Caloosahatchee Begin

Lake Okeechobee Releases to the Caloosahatchee Begin

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 28, 2022 | Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published by WINK News on October 28, 2022 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said they will begin releasing Lake Okeechobee discharges into the Caloosahatchee River. This raises concerns in Southwest Florida because the area is still trying to dry out after...
Lake Okeechobee sees 240 Square Miles of Blue-Green Algae

Lake Okeechobee sees 240 Square Miles of Blue-Green Algae

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 24, 2022 | Lake Okeechobee, Press

Lake Okeechobee sees 240 Square Miles of Blue-Green Algae Originally published by FOX4 News on June 24, 2022 Lake Okeechobee is seeing about 240 square miles of Blue-Green Algae on the north, west, and south shores. That is about a 30% increase over the last two...
DeSantis Urged to Veto Lake Okeechobee Water Supply Bill by Four Environmental Nonprofits

DeSantis Urged to Veto Lake Okeechobee Water Supply Bill by Four Environmental Nonprofits

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 30, 2022 | Featured, Lake Okeechobee

Originally published by TC Palm on March 30, 2022 by Ed Killer Four South Florida environmental nonprofits sent Gov. Ron DeSantis a letter Wednesday urging him to veto a controversial Lake Okeechobee water supply bill. Opponents say SB 2508 contains an unnecessary...
Make Your Voice Heard: Oppose SB 2508

Make Your Voice Heard: Oppose SB 2508

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 14, 2022 | Lake Okeechobee, Policy

This Bad Bill Threatens Progress on Lake Okeechobee Management Florida Senate bill 2508 surfaced out of nowhere on Friday, February 4th. The bill was fast-tracked skipping the usual committee stops for public input and heard by the Appropriations Committee on February...
Stop a Last-Minute Bait and Switch with Lake Okeechobee Management

Stop a Last-Minute Bait and Switch with Lake Okeechobee Management

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 26, 2022 | Featured, Lake Okeechobee

After three long years, thousands of modeling runs and countless public input meetings, the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) is nearing completion. And just as we thought the Army Corps was reaching a more equitable plan for most (not all) stakeholder...
‘Look at the Water for Evidence’: Data Proves Florida Pollution Prevention not Working

‘Look at the Water for Evidence’: Data Proves Florida Pollution Prevention not Working

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 5, 2022 | Featured, Lake Okeechobee, Press, Stormwater

Originally published by TC Palm on January 5, 2022. It’s a textbook Florida morning at a ranch just north of Lake Okeechobee. Cattle roam. Herons and egrets hunt for food. Clouds mosey across the sky. But beneath this idyllic scene, a silent byproduct lurks....
Critics ‘Not Totally Sold’ on Army Corps’ New Plan for Lake Okeechobee Releases

Critics ‘Not Totally Sold’ on Army Corps’ New Plan for Lake Okeechobee Releases

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 26, 2021 | Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on October 26, 2021 by Chad Gillis and Amy Bennett Williams Dozens of scientists, environmental groups, elected officials and agency heads met online Tuesday to talk about recent changes to a still controversial plan to govern...
New Lake O Plan Still Drawing Concerns Over Water Quality in Historic Everglades System

New Lake O Plan Still Drawing Concerns Over Water Quality in Historic Everglades System

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 15, 2021 | Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on October 15, 2021 by Chad Gillis A proposed Lake Okeechobee management plan is still drawing concerns from state water managers and the public as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to finalize what’s called the...
Army Corps to Release Modeling Data for New Lake Okeechobee Plan Later this Month

Army Corps to Release Modeling Data for New Lake Okeechobee Plan Later this Month

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 8, 2021 | Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published by The News-Press on October 8, 2021 by Chad Gillis The public will soon get a chance to see models the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been using to formulate a controversial Lake Okeechobee management plan that will be in place for more than a...
Florida Coasts Battle Over Water Releases as Controversial Lake O Plan Nears Completion

Florida Coasts Battle Over Water Releases as Controversial Lake O Plan Nears Completion

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 8, 2021 | Featured, Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published by The News-Press by Chad Gillis and Amy Bennett Williams on October 7, 2021 A new plan to regulate Lake Okeechobee’s water levels and outflows is nearly complete. It’s also a complete mess, or a good plan, or simply flawed, depending...
Sugar lawsuit causes concern among environmental groups who fear EAA reservoir project delays

Sugar lawsuit causes concern among environmental groups who fear EAA reservoir project delays

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 4, 2021 | Featured, Lake Okeechobee, Litigation

Sugar lawsuit causes concern among environmental groups who fear EAA reservoir project delays Originally published by The News-Press on September 4, 2021 by Chad Gillis “I’ve heard the South Florida Water Management District say that the addition of the...
Feedback for the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM)

Feedback for the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM)

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 3, 2021 | Featured, Lake Okeechobee, Planning, Policy

Calusa Waterkeeper has been following the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual process since it began in 2018/19. The organization and many of our members have submitted public comments throughout the process over the years. Calusa Waterkeeper has had concerns...
A Win Against the Army Corps’ Toxic Lake Okeechobee Discharges

A Win Against the Army Corps’ Toxic Lake Okeechobee Discharges

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...
Algae Blooms Triggered by Lake Okeechobee Releases Harm Wildlife and Coastal Communities

Algae Blooms Triggered by Lake Okeechobee Releases Harm Wildlife and Coastal Communities

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 23, 2020 | Lake Okeechobee, Litigation

Conservation groups filed a proposal in federal court today to ensure that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ discharges from Lake Okeechobee don’t harm protected wildlife. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Fort Pierce ordered the parties...
Letter of Appreciation from City of Stuart

Letter of Appreciation from City of Stuart

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 28, 2020 | Lake Okeechobee

A partial ruling was recently reached by a federal judge on our lawsuit involving the Army Corps’ failure to assess Lake Okeechobee discharges’ impacts on downstream endangered species. In the wake of this recent decision, we received the following letter...
Army Corps Releasing Lake Okeechobee Water to Help Caloosahatchee Estuary During Dry Times

Army Corps Releasing Lake Okeechobee Water to Help Caloosahatchee Estuary During Dry Times

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 8, 2019 | Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published in The News-Press by Chad Gillis on October 8, 2019 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is releasing Lake Okeechobee water to the Caloosahatchee River again, but these discharges are expected to help the river and estuary. Lake O releases have been a...
Concerns Moore Haven Lock Released Water Despite Army Corps Reports

Concerns Moore Haven Lock Released Water Despite Army Corps Reports

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 16, 2019 | Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published by FOX4 News on July 15, 2019 John Cassani flew in a small airplane over Moore Haven on Saturday and noticed the Moore Haven lock was open. “The lock was wide open. Which means the water can leave the lake and come into the river directly through...
Army Corps Acknowledges Toxic Algae and Nutrients in Lake O Releases

Army Corps Acknowledges Toxic Algae and Nutrients in Lake O Releases

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 12, 2019 | Featured, Lake Okeechobee, Press

Originally published in The News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on July 12, 2019 Earlier this week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers acknowledged it has released water from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers that has contained toxic...
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