Originally published on Boca Beacon by Garland Pollard on September 6, 2024 A half-million gallons of rainy sewage leaked onto the Gasparilla Island Water Authority plant grounds after Hurricane Debby. The spill was at 2:05 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 5. It did not go into...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Calusa Waterkeeper, Inc. has withdrawn from the case, others will proceed. The Calusa Waterkeeper Board of Directors has made the difficult decision to withdraw as named petitioners challenging the removal of the Chiquita Lock in Cape Coral. This decision was made not...
For the last several weeks, red tide has brought intense respiratory irritation to beachgoers, hundreds of thousands of dead fish, and several dead sea turtles and dolphin to our beaches. At this moment, we can be thankful that the red tide concentrations appear to be...
Originally published by The News-Press on February 21, 2022 by Amy Bennett Williams There’s a mystery in the Caloosahatchee – one that agencies in charge of the river haven’t yet solved: Where did several muddy jolts of polluted water come from? And who’s...
You can Report Trash along the Caloosahatchee that could Pose a Risk to Wildlife Originally published by WINK News on February 3, 2022 Styrofoam was scattered along the Caloosahatchee riverbank near Centennial Park on Thursday, and it’s apparently been there for...
Construction of Reclaimed Water Pipeline from Fort Myers to Cape Coral to Begin Soon Originally published by WINK News on January 24, 2022 There’s a plan to keep the water flowing not down a river, but across a river. Progress is happening on an idea to move reclaimed...
Originally published by TC Palm on January 20, 2022 and written by Sydney Czyzon and Max Chesnes. Treasure Coast lawmakers admit Florida’s flagship program to reduce water pollution isn’t working. But none are taking action during this legislative session to change...
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....
Originally published by Florida Weekly on December 15, 2021 This hasn’t happened in years: Floridians are in agreement, a rarity anywhere these days, about any subject. Democrats and Republicans are in agreement, somewhat. People from the state’s east and west...
Guest Editorial originally published by The News-Press on December 2, 2021 and written by Nicole Johnson, Director of Environmental Policy for Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Marjory Stoneman Douglas famously penned one of the greatest books ever written on the...
Originally published by Naples Daily News on December 2, 2021 by Karl Schneider The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has filed documents supporting its appeal to overturn a court decision rejecting the group’s challenge to the development of Rivergrass, a village in...
Originally published by The News-Press on November 3, 2021 by Amy Bennett Williams with contributions by Chad Gillis & Karl Schneider Florida’s soaring population is good for business, but there may be a hidden price: the health of the state’s...
Report Shines Spotlight on Southwest Florida’s Water Issues Originally published by WINK News on October 25, 2021 A state report shows trouble in Southwest Florida’s water. Scientists warn that areas of our water are polluted with nutrients and bacteria. While the...
Originally published by The News-Press on October 24, 2021 by Amy Bennett Williams What’s been long suspected now is official: Southwest Florida’s most cherished waters are in trouble. From Charlotte Harbor south to San Carlos Bay, a draft state report shows...
Originally published by NBC-2 News on August 23, 2021 New images from the Calusa Waterkeeper taken from an airplane show large plumes of discolored water coming from Estero Bay at Big Carlos Pass. They said the images show runoff from recent rains and are indicative...
Originally published by The News-Press on August 15, 2021 by Chad GIllis Are our wetlands in danger? A former high-ranking Florida Department of Environmental Protection official says more wetlands are being targeted for development now than just nine months ago, when...
Calusa Waterkeeper Concerned About Impact of Large Storm Plume Seen in Naples Bay Originally published by FOX4 News on July 9, 2021 Tropical Storm Elsa may be well clear of Southwest Florida by now, but a few after effects are still being felt. A large plume of storm...
Originally published by NBC-2 News on July 7, 2021 New pictures taken over Lake Okeechobee show huge swaths of blue-green algae. The photos are a grim reminder that BGA is still present in Lake O and Tropical Storm Elsa could make things worse. “Our pilot flew the...
Guest Editorial originally published by The News-Press on July 06, 2021 and submitted by Ed Shinouskis I would like to comment on the June 24 Guest Opinion by Michael A. MacDowell titled “Compared to Flint Michigan, we’re in good hands with water quality in...
With the 2021 Legislative Session now closed, bills that passed through the House and Senate are on their way to the desk of Governor Ron DeSantis. Calusa Waterkeeper is urging our supporters and followers to contact the Governor to veto the following bills that have...
