

Donate



Report Pollution

Calusa Waterkeeper
  • 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

Thumbnail of Calusa Waterkeeper Merchandise

Merchandise

Water_Quality_Report

Give Today

Cape Coral developer fined more than $34K for mangrove removal without permits

Cape Coral developer fined more than $34K for mangrove removal without permits

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 27, 2026 | Cape Coral Spreader Canals, Matlacha Pass Water Quality, Planning, Policy, Press, Stormwater

Originally published on Gulf Coast News by Jaylen Baron on August 27, 2026 A Cape Coral developer has been fined more than $34,000 for removing mangroves without permits on the Seven Islands development, a project that has sparked years of debate among residents....
Mangrove Matters: Rising seas, storms and development affect coastal system

Mangrove Matters: Rising seas, storms and development affect coastal system

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 26, 2026 | Featured, Planning, Policy, Press, Science

Originally published on Florida Weekly by Garry Overbey on August 26, 2026 It was supposed to be a simple summer job. A contractor set to work clearing Brazilian pepper, Australian pine and other vegetation from the 47-acre Seven Islands development in Cape Coral....
Scientist at BGSU finds toxins from algal blooms present in air samples

Scientist at BGSU finds toxins from algal blooms present in air samples

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 24, 2026 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Lake Okeechobee, Press, Science

Originally published by BGSU on August 24, 2026: New research by a Bowling Green State University scientist found that harmful algal blooms, the primary issue facing Lake Erie, release toxins into the air that can be inhaled by humans at distances hundreds of miles...
Waterkeepers Florida Position Statement: Protecting Water, Wildlife, and Communities in the Face of Data Center Growth

Waterkeepers Florida Position Statement: Protecting Water, Wildlife, and Communities in the Face of Data Center Growth

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 13, 2026 | Featured, Planning, Policy, Press

As interest in large-scale industrial development of data centers continues to grow across our region,it is critical that local governments take a thoughtful and proactive approach to protecting our surfaceand underground waters, communities, and quality of life. Data...
Water woes: Wells run dry, growth adds pressure as fresh water rushes to sea

Water woes: Wells run dry, growth adds pressure as fresh water rushes to sea

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 12, 2026 | Policy, Press, Stormwater

Originally published in the News-Press by Chad Gillis on August 12, 2026 Cleaning water is much more expensive than keeping pollution out of the water to begin with, said Calusa Waterkeeper Emeritus John Cassani. Years ago, there was an assumption that state and...
Warning signs missed before massive Labelle sewage spill found

Warning signs missed before massive Labelle sewage spill found

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 12, 2026 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press

Originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on August 12, 2026. A month after a mowing tractor sent an estimated 450,000 gallons of sewage flowing toward the Caloosahatchee in LaBelle, the sequence of events has come into sharper focus....
Communities wrestle with hyperscale projects targeting Florida

Communities wrestle with hyperscale projects targeting Florida

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 12, 2026 | Featured, Planning, Policy, Press, Science

Originally published on Florida Weekly by Garry Overbey on August 12, 2026 Government officials aren’t alone in grappling with data centers. Environmental advocacy groups are also troubled by the potential effects. The devil’s in the details,” said Jason Pim, board...
Researchers develop tools to test for airborne blue-green algae toxins in Southwest Florida

Researchers develop tools to test for airborne blue-green algae toxins in Southwest Florida

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 29, 2026 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Lake Okeechobee, Press, Science

Originally published on WGCU Gulf Coast Life on July 28, 2026: Brand new research from the Brain Chemistry Labs in Jackson Hole, Wyoming — in partnership with Calusa Waterkeeper — tested whether these toxins can be aerosolized and travel in the air. The data shows...
New Report Finds Majority of Florida Waterways Fail Water Quality Standards

New Report Finds Majority of Florida Waterways Fail Water Quality Standards

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 28, 2026 | Featured, Policy, Press

Originally published by PEER & Waterkeepers Florida on July 28, 2026 State Pollution Enforcement Actions Remain Near Historic Lows as Population Explodes A new report released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) and Waterkeepers...
ADAM device in Lee County gives researchers a repeatable way to track algae bloom exposures

ADAM device in Lee County gives researchers a repeatable way to track algae bloom exposures

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 24, 2026 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Lake Okeechobee, Press, Science

Originally published on Gulf Coast News on July 24, 2026: A new device called ADAM (Airborne Detection for Algae Monitoring) is helping researchers measure airborne toxins released by algae blooms, with promising results from initial tests along the Caloosahatchee...
Calusa Waterkeeper and Brain Chemistry Labs Publish Peer-Reviewed Research on Airborne Harmful Algal Toxins

Calusa Waterkeeper and Brain Chemistry Labs Publish Peer-Reviewed Research on Airborne Harmful Algal Toxins

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 23, 2026 | Events, Featured, Press, Science

Published in the international journal Toxins, the study documents ADAM, an innovative monitoring system developed in Southwest Florida to better understand airborne exposure to harmful algal toxins. Calusa Waterkeeper and Brain Chemistry Labs have announced the...
Cape Coral, FL development Seven Islands Raises Water Quality Concerns

Cape Coral, FL development Seven Islands Raises Water Quality Concerns

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 20, 2026 | Cape Coral Spreader Canals, Featured, Press, Science

Originally published on Fort Myers News-Press by Vanessa Norris on July 20, 2026 Matlacha Pass is impaired by excessive nutrients and fecal bacteria under the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Impaired Waters Rule. According to John Cassani,...
Florida bloom toxins turn up in air, suggesting inhalation risk beyond shorelines

Florida bloom toxins turn up in air, suggesting inhalation risk beyond shorelines

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 18, 2026 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Lake Okeechobee, Press, Science

Originally published on Phys.org on July 18, 2026 Research on Southwest Florida cyanobacterial blooms shows that the toxins they produce are aerosolized and potentially inhaled by people far from contaminated water bodies. Sometimes known as blue-green algae,...
Labelle’s Massive Sewage Spill Capped Years of Wastewater Troubles

Labelle’s Massive Sewage Spill Capped Years of Wastewater Troubles

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 16, 2026 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press

Originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on July 16, 2026. The 450,000-gallon raw sewage spill that fouled a creek flowing to the Caloosahatchee was not an isolated event. State records show the city’s wastewater system has been...
LaBelle sewage spill sparks environmental and health concerns

LaBelle sewage spill sparks environmental and health concerns

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 13, 2026 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press

Originally published in the Gulf Coast News Fort Myers by Nehilah Grand-Pierre on July 13, 2026. An estimated 450,000 gallons of sewage spilled near LaBelle’s wastewater treatment plant, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, leaving...
Major Sewage Spill Near LaBelle Prompts Environmental Concerns

Major Sewage Spill Near LaBelle Prompts Environmental Concerns

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 11, 2026 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press

Originally published in the News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on July 11, 2026. An estimated 450,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled for more than three days from a LaBelle wastewater pipe into a Hendry County creek that flows into the Caloosahatchee just upstream of...
Calusa Waterkeeper Teams Up with Fort Myers Mighty Mussels for Community Night at the Ballpark

Calusa Waterkeeper Teams Up with Fort Myers Mighty Mussels for Community Night at the Ballpark

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 6, 2026 | Events, Featured, Press

Special event invites fans to enjoy baseball, support clean water, and celebrate community impact in Southwest Florida Calusa Waterkeeper invites the community to join them for a special evening at Hammond Stadium on Saturday, July 18, 2026, as the Fort Myers Mighty...
State of Our Water Meeting to Highlight Citizen Science and Seagrass Monitoring Efforts

State of Our Water Meeting to Highlight Citizen Science and Seagrass Monitoring Efforts

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 30, 2026 | Events, Featured, Press, Science

CWK Rangers Amanda Zirzow and Narrie Magturo to present on citizen science efforts, regional seagrass monitoring, and current watershed conditions across Southwest Florida ​Calusa Waterkeeper invites the community to its Q3 State of Our Water meeting, offering an...
Sanibel Causeway tests ‘poor’ for bacteria; state site lacks details

Sanibel Causeway tests ‘poor’ for bacteria; state site lacks details

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 19, 2026 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press

Originally published in the News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on June 19, 2026. Anyone headed out to the Sanibel Causeway this weekend might want to think twice about getting into (or even touching) that lovely turquoise water. That’s because the water tested...
Chubby Mermaid Brewing Company partners with Calusa Waterkeeper on clean water efforts

Chubby Mermaid Brewing Company partners with Calusa Waterkeeper on clean water efforts

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 5, 2026 | Events, Featured, Press

New partnership highlights the connection between clean water, environmental stewardship and local economy of Southwest Florida Calusa Waterkeeper and Chubby Mermaid Brewing Company have announced a new partnership focused on supporting clean water advocacy and...
Fort Myers contractor mistake sends raw sewage back into home

Fort Myers contractor mistake sends raw sewage back into home

by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 30, 2026 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press, Water Testing

Originally published in Fort Myers News-Press by Charlie Whitehead on May 30, 2026 The city had replaced the 50-year-old collection lines in the ground as part of ongoing system upgrades beginning in 2007. All the homes on Hanover were connected to the new lines and...
Fort Myers pushes wastewater upgrades after 2020 sewage spill triggered state order

Fort Myers pushes wastewater upgrades after 2020 sewage spill triggered state order

by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 12, 2026 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing

Originally published in Gulf Coast News by Samantha Carlson on May 12, 2026 Fort Myers has reduced discharge into the river by 50% over the past two years, which Sciandra described as “a huge benefit to the environment.” The city stopped testing for human...
Alzheimer’s in the water

Alzheimer’s in the water

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Apr 27, 2026 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Water Testing

Originally published in Florida Weekly by Roger Williams on April 27, 2026 Research scientists make the undeniable connection between blue-green algae and the growing public health crisis Connections are good — unless they’re not. Take the connection between algal...
Experts discuss health risks of harmful algal blooms in Southwest Florida

Experts discuss health risks of harmful algal blooms in Southwest Florida

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Apr 11, 2026 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Water Testing

Originally published on Gulf Coast News by Natacha Casal on April 11, 2026 Researchers and environmental advocates gathered at Florida Southwestern State College to address the health and environmental impacts of harmful algal blooms, including airborne toxins and...
Water experts examine how algal toxins may affect brain health in SWFL

Water experts examine how algal toxins may affect brain health in SWFL

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Apr 11, 2026 | Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Water Testing

Originally published on WINK News by Paul Dolan on April 11, 2026 Water experts are holding an event this morning to keep up with the state of Southwest Florida’s water. The Calusa Waterkeeper says the main presentation will look at how algal toxins may play a...
Dolphin dementia: Florida scientist to share research, talk about algae

Dolphin dementia: Florida scientist to share research, talk about algae

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Apr 9, 2026 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Water Testing

Originally published in the News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on April 9, 2026 Why dolphins sometimes strand themselves on shore, often to die, has long troubled scientists and beachgoers alike. A recently published article explores whether their brains may warn...
Nonprofit works to protect endangered sawfish habitat

Nonprofit works to protect endangered sawfish habitat

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 30, 2026 | Cape Coral Spreader Canals, Featured, Press, Science

Originally published on Gulf Coast News by Evan Dean on March 30, 2026 Among the places the non-profit is working to protect is Glover Bight. It’s a cove along the Caloosahatchee River, near The Westin Cape Coral Resort. “In the federal registry, this is known as...
Florida sawfish face extinction risk from habitat destruction

Florida sawfish face extinction risk from habitat destruction

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 24, 2026 | Cape Coral Spreader Canals, Featured, Press, Science

Originally published on WINK News by Bridget Bruchalski on March 24, 2026 A rare sawfish nursery in the Caloosahatchee River faces mounting threats from development and rising sea levels. Joe Cavanaugh, Calusa Waterkeeper, took WINK News to one of only two known...
Troubled Waters

Troubled Waters

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 17, 2026 | C43 Reservoir, Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Lake Okeechobee, Policy, Press

Originally published in Florida Weekly by Roger Williams on March 7, 2026 How agricultural runoff, septic systems and policy gaps are fueling Florida’s water emergency Starting in mid-February, a bloom of toxic blue-green algae erupted across more than 40 miles of the...
David A. Davis, Ph.D. to Headline Calusa Waterkeeper’s State of Our Water Meeting

David A. Davis, Ph.D. to Headline Calusa Waterkeeper’s State of Our Water Meeting

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Mar 3, 2026 | Events, Featured, Press, Science

“Algal Toxins & Alzheimer’s Disease” will be the keynote address by David A. Davis, Ph.D. of the University of Miami Brain Endowment Bank Calusa Waterkeeper will welcome Dr. David A. Davis of the University of Miami Brain Endowment Bank as the keynote speaker...
« Older Entries

Search News Posts

Recent News

  • Cape Coral developer fined more than $34K for mangrove removal without permits
  • Mangrove Matters: Rising seas, storms and development affect coastal system
  • Scientist at BGSU finds toxins from algal blooms present in air samples
  • Waterkeepers Florida Position Statement: Protecting Water, Wildlife, and Communities in the Face of Data Center Growth
  • Water woes: Wells run dry, growth adds pressure as fresh water rushes to sea

News Categories

  • Bacteria Monitoring (61)
  • C43 Reservoir (10)
  • Cape Coral Spreader Canals (25)
  • CWK Rangers (12)
  • Events (46)
  • Featured (349)
  • Harmful Algal Blooms (96)
  • Lake Okeechobee (46)
  • Litigation (16)
  • Matlacha Pass Water Quality (4)
  • Planning (21)
  • Policy (49)
  • Press (613)
  • Science (37)
  • Stormwater (42)
  • Uncategorized (5)
  • Water Testing (53)

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



info@CalusaWaterkeeper.org



239-899-1440

© 2026 Calusa Waterkeeper, Inc., All Rights Reserved | Site Credits