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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...
Fort Myers receives $6 million grant to clean polluted canals

Fort Myers receives $6 million grant to clean polluted canals

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 25, 2026 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing

Originally published in Gulf Coast News by Nehilah Grand-Pierre on February 25, 2026 Fort Myers has received a $6 million grant from the Department of Agriculture to clean polluted canals, including Manuel’s Branch and Billy’s Creek. The grant will fund...
Fort Myers receives $6M grant to clean polluted canals

Fort Myers receives $6M grant to clean polluted canals

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 24, 2026 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press, Water Testing

Originally published in Gulfshore Business by Evan Williams on February 24, 2026 The Department of Agriculture awarded Fort Myers a $6 million grant to help clean up polluted canals and creeks throughout the city.  The funding is part of ongoing efforts to address...
C-43 Reservoir in Hendry County not expected to be fully operational until 2028

C-43 Reservoir in Hendry County not expected to be fully operational until 2028

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 18, 2026 | C43 Reservoir, Featured, Policy, Press

Originally published on Gulf Coast News by Evan Dean on February 18, 2026 The C-43 is designed to capture runoff and water releases from Lake Okeechobee during the rainy season, clean the water while it’s being stored and then release it down the Caloosahatchee River...
Why is blue-green algae lining miles of SW Florida’s Caloosahatchee?

Why is blue-green algae lining miles of SW Florida’s Caloosahatchee?

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 18, 2026 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Water Testing

Originally published in the News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on February 18, 2026 The algae stretches for miles along the Caloosahatchee: clouding the shoreline, murking up canals and choking oxbows, a dull avocado taint that signals nothing good. Despite a health...
Toxic algae blooms reappear in Caloosahatchee, sparking health warning

Toxic algae blooms reappear in Caloosahatchee, sparking health warning

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 10, 2026 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Water Testing

Originally published in the News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on February 13, 2026 With drought and coldburn browning most of Southwest Florida, the upriver Caloosahatchee is one of the few green places around. The culprit? Cyanobacteria, AKA blue-green algae, a...
Toxin-producing algae has appeared in a Caloosahatchee canal in Alva

Toxin-producing algae has appeared in a Caloosahatchee canal in Alva

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 26, 2026 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Press, Water Testing

Originally published in the News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on January 26, 2026 Health officials are warning of a toxin-producing algae bloom in the Caloosahatchee. The  cyanobacteria – also called blue-green algae – appeared in an upriver Alva canal. Alva resident...
Fecal bacteria remains elevated in Fort Myers canal, city says

Fecal bacteria remains elevated in Fort Myers canal, city says

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 7, 2026 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing

Originally published in Gulfshore Business by Evan Williams on January 7, 2026 Elevated fecal indicator bacteria is a longstanding issue in Fort Myers and in urban waterways across Florida. Manuel’s Branch and Billy’s Creek, another urban tributary, have been...
Fort Myers laid out response to fecal bacteria concerns at Manuel’s Branch

Fort Myers laid out response to fecal bacteria concerns at Manuel’s Branch

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 6, 2026 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing

Originally published on Fox 4 by Austin Schargorodski on January 6, 2026 Manuel’s Branch had been an issue since at least 2021, when the Department of Environmental Protection found that the city failed to address long-term elevated levels of bacteria. City council...
Group eager to help city with polluted creek, but can it be saved?

Group eager to help city with polluted creek, but can it be saved?

by Calusa Waterkeeper | Dec 29, 2025 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Water Testing

Originally published in the News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on December 29, 2025 For years, Manuel’s Branch has failed Florida’s most basic test for public waterways: that they be safe for people to touch. There’s too much human poop in the creek, which flows...
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  • ADAM device in Lee County gives researchers a repeatable way to track algae bloom exposures
  • Calusa Waterkeeper and Brain Chemistry Labs Publish Peer-Reviewed Research on Airborne Harmful Algal Toxins
  • Cape Coral, FL development Seven Islands Raises Water Quality Concerns
  • Florida bloom toxins turn up in air, suggesting inhalation risk beyond shorelines
  • Labelle’s Massive Sewage Spill Capped Years of Wastewater Troubles

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