by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 24, 2023 | Cape Coral Spreader Canals, Featured, Litigation, Stormwater
Calusa Waterkeeper, Inc. has withdrawn from the case, others will proceed.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...
by Robin Serne | Mar 15, 2023 | Featured, Harmful Algal Blooms, Policy, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 21, 2022 | Press, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 3, 2022 | Press, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 24, 2022 | Press, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jan 20, 2022 | Press, Stormwater
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...
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....
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Dec 15, 2021 | Press, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Dec 2, 2021 | Press, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Dec 2, 2021 | Featured, Press, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 3, 2021 | Featured, Press, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 25, 2021 | Bacteria Monitoring, Press, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 24, 2021 | Bacteria Monitoring, Featured, Press, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 23, 2021 | Press, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Aug 16, 2021 | Press, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 10, 2021 | Press, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 7, 2021 | Press, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Jul 6, 2021 | Press, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | May 4, 2021 | Featured, Policy, Stormwater
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...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Feb 1, 2021 | Press, Stormwater
Lake O Releases Being Sent to Caloosahatchee to Avoid Wet Season Problems Originally published by WINK News on February 1, 2021 More water from Lake Okeechobee is scheduled to be sent to the Caloosahatchee River, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to increase...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Dec 7, 2020 | Press, Stormwater
Originally published in The Gainesville Sun by Guest Columnist, Jim Carroll on December 7, 2020 Florida’s waterways have been choked by blue-green algae and red tide for years, and are now on life support. On July 2, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the “Clean Waterways Act”...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Dec 4, 2020 | Press, Stormwater
Originally published by NBC-2 News on December 4, 2020 A non-profit organization dedicated to protecting waterways in Lee County took pictures of shorelines yesterday, Dec. 2 to show the effect of recent water releases from Lake Okeechobee. Earlier this week,...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 13, 2020 | Featured, Press, Stormwater
Originally published by NBC-2 News on November 13, 2020 There is brown water working its way into the Caloosahatchee River. It’s happening next to two construction sites off West First Street in Downtown Fort Myers. James Douglass with Florida Gulf Coast University’s...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 12, 2020 | Press, Stormwater
Originally published in The News-Press by Amy Bennett Williams on November 12, 2020 Once again, two construction sites have dumped polluted stormwater into the Caloosahatchee in downtown Fort Myers. Barriers around the work sites failed to contain the dirty runoff...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 4, 2020 | Press, Stormwater
What Impacts Could Tropical Storm Eta have on Lake Okeechobee and Water Releases? Originally published by WINK News on November 4, 2020 As we continue to watch Tropical Storm Eta’s track, we’re looking at the impact it could have on Southwest Florida water. If Eta...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Nov 2, 2020 | Featured, Press, Stormwater
Dramatic Images Show Lake Okeechobee Releases Meeting Gulf near Sanibel Originally published by WINK News on November 2, 2020 There are new concerns for Southwest Florida water quality. New aerial images show the Lake Okeechobee water discharges reaching the Gulf of...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 27, 2020 | Press, Stormwater
Cape Coral seeks $2M in State Funding to Push for Chiquita Lock Removal Originally published by WINK News on October 26, 2020 The City of Cape Coral is moving forward with hopes to remove the controversial Chiquita Lock. The fight over whether the lock should be...
by Calusa Waterkeeper | Oct 20, 2020 | Press, Stormwater
Originally published in The News-Press by Bill Smith on October 20, 2020 The city of Cape Coral stands ready to rally the public in the next legal battle to dismantle the Chiquita Lock, hiring lawyers who promise to use public involvement to convince regulators to get...
