by Calusa Waterkeeper | Sep 11, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing
Originally published on WGCU by Tom Bayles on September 11, 2024 “We test water bodies throughout our jurisdiction and that has been one area that routinely comes back extremely high,” said Connie Ramos-Williams, the director of Calusa Waterkeeper. “When we see things...
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...
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...
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....
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 23, 2024 | Planning, Policy, Press
Originally published on Fox4 by Andrew Shipley on August 23, 2024 “If it starts to go into one place, even if this is on the opposite end of the coast from us, we have to really start thinking about the big picture,” said Codty Pierce, Calusa Waterkeeper...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 22, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing
Originally published on Fox4 by Andrew Shipley on August 22, 2024 Water is so important to us in Southwest Florida. Water not only feeds our economy, but it also gives us recreation. But what is in our water? Every month the Calusa Waterkeeper tests our water for...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 22, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing
Originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on August 22, 2024 Once a taken-for-granted bankable asset, Southwest Florida’s degraded water quality is now a critical, contentious topic.. Water issues here have people scrambling for...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 22, 2024 | Cape Coral Spreader Canals, Litigation, Press, Stormwater
Originally published in the News-Press by Chad Gillis on August 22, 2024 Some environmental groups and residents fought the city over the issue, saying removing the lock will impact endangered species like the smalltooth sawfish, which breed and live near the lock....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 27, 2024 | Featured, Press
Originally published on NBC-2 by Rachel Whelan on July 26, 2024 Participants who complete the academy will graduate as Rangers, equipped to conduct water and air quality testing as certified citizen scientists. They will also serve as ambassadors of Calusa...
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 26, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press, Water Testing
‘Levels this high usually indicate sewage.’ Estero neighborhood grabbles with water problem Originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Chad Gillis on July 25, 2024 The Estero River is a designated Outstanding Florida Waterway with the highest...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 25, 2024 | Events, Press
With more than 1,000 sq. miles of waterways to protect and restore in its work area, Calusa Waterkeeper is excited to announce open enrollment in August for its Fall Ranger Training Academy with Calusa Waterkeeper Captain Codty Pierce. Citizens are invited to become...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 21, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing
Ordered by Florida to clean up its act, Fort Myers works to fix its water pollution problem Originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on July 21, 2024 With swelling demand straining its antique wastewater infrastructure, it’s no wonder...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 15, 2024 | Press
Why the Right to Clean Water is needed Op-Ed originally published in the Sanibel Captiva Island Reporter by Mary Kay Kralapp on July 15, 2024 Recently, Calusa Waterkeeper Codty Pierce released an editorial about the plight of the Manual’s Branch in downtown Fort...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 12, 2024 | Events, Press
Educational, interactive, and fun way to champion the fight for clean water Calusa Waterkeeper invites you to sign up for its highly anticipated Vertical Oyster Garden (VOG) Workshop scheduled for July 27 from 2 to 3:30 PM at the Historic Iona House at the Calusa...
by Jason Pim | Jul 11, 2024 | Events, Press
Breweries unite in the fight for clean water during National Water Quality Month in support of Calusa Waterkeeper Calusa Waterkeeper is thrilled to announce the launch of its inaugural Taps Flow for H2O event series to celebrate Water Quality Awareness Month in...
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 8, 2024 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing
Creek runs along Fort Myers landmarks where children, families gather and play Op-Ed originally published in the Fort Myers News-Press by Codty Pierce on July 7, 2024 As the Calusa Waterkeeper, it is my duty and that of our organization to protect and restore our...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 26, 2024 | Featured, Press
Originally published in Florida Weekly by Roger Williams on June 26, 2024 “The sheer amount of vessels on the water today directly impacts the habits and behaviors of our fishery, whether they are fishing or not,” says Capt. Codty Pierce, a career fishing guide and...
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 17, 2024 | Cape Coral Spreader Canals, Featured, Litigation, Press, Stormwater
Originally published in the News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on June 17, 2024 Last year, several prominent environmental nonprofits withdrew from the case, after the city hired a law firm known for what Hannon calls “scorched earth” tactics designed to...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 11, 2024 | Press, Stormwater
Originally published on WINK-TV by Camila Pereira on June 11, 2024 WINK News reporter Camila Pereira met with the Calusa Waterkeeper Cody Pierce to discuss how the recent rainfall could affect the water quality in Southwest Florida. Pierce said that while the rain is...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 10, 2024 | Cape Coral Spreader Canals, Litigation, Press, Stormwater
Originally published in the Cape Coral Breeze by CJ Haddad on June 10, 2024 Calusa Waterkeeper Emeritus John Cassani, in testimony at the trial on the removal of the Chiquita Boat Lock, attempted to expose major failings in the FDEP which allow the city of Cape Coral...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jun 4, 2024 | Press
Originally published by Bob Moro in the Nautical Mile Beach Talk Radio on June 1, 2024 There’s no doubt all of Nautical Mile’s readership are concerned about the quality of our waterways here in southwest Florida. The problems are complex: Unprecedented development...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 30, 2024 | Featured, Press
Originally published by Fort Myers News-Press by Chad Gillis on May 30, 2024 Bloom conditions and the presence of fecal coliform is only reported by the Florida Department of Health in Lee County when it occurs at places like Bonita Beach or Fort Myers Beach....
