πͺ The Mission Lives On | |
|
As most of you know, our organization suffered a tremendous setback with the loss of our beloved friend and colleague, Captain Codty Pierce last month. While the last few weeks have been personally devastating and professionally difficult for many of us, our team has banded together and become considerably closer and stronger.
We have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from friends, colleagues and the community at large. Please take a moment to view a selection of photos from Codty's Celebration of Life on February 3rd. Thank you to all who attended or expressed their condolences.
| |
Connie Ramos-Williams
Executive Director | |
|
In the wake of this profound loss we have been working hard every day to keep our mission, goals, and Codty's legacy alive. And so, it is my pleasure to introduce you with two important documents our board and staff have been working on for months, our 2024 Annual Report and our 2025 Annual Plan. We hope you'll take the time to read both, learn more about the critical water quality work we are undertaking, and think about ways you can help support our cause.
πΌ We have also begun the search for a new Waterkeeper. You can learn more about the role and, apply online at calusawaterkeeper.org/jobs. Don't be shy, if you have an interest, or know someone who might, please drop us a line to discuss!
| β
|
π©οΈ Red Tide Observations | |
|
Southwest Florida's coastal waters have been hosting an intense red tide bloom over the past few weeks. This is a bloom generally agreed to have begun offshore of Tampa shortly after Hurricanes Helene & Milton and gradually drifted south this Fall (the typical time of year for a red tide bloom). The worst of it was generally lingering offshore and away from the Lee County coast throughout December, but as conditions changed β and despite some very strong cold fronts β the bloom really took off between Sanibel and Naples in late January.
Our amazing volunteer eye-in-the-sky Ralph Arwood has been at the leading edge of photographing conditions with frequent aerial flights, which have been published on our social media and carried by local and national media outlets.
| | |
|
|
Feb 6: Offshore of Sanibel | |
|
Thankfully, as of this week, the scope and intensity of the bloom appears to be waning based on both visual and satellite imagery. However, the impacts of poor air quality and dead sea life will likely still be found scattered across some of our beaches in the coming days. Only time will tell on how fast it may dissipate.
πβ If you have an observation to share please don't hesitate to contact us through our Pollution Report page.
To keep tabs on red tide in our area, we recommend NOAA's Gulf of Mexico Harmful Algal Bloom Forecast Center, in addition to following Calusa Waterkeeper on social media.
| |
ποΈ Join Us: Save Our Water Luncheon & Panel
| For many months we've been planning an exciting public event to be hosted at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. This event will be a luncheon featuring a keynote address by Calusa Waterkeeper Emeritus, John Cassani, followed by a panel of guest experts who will discuss the challenges facing our work to improve water quality, human health and public policy. | |
When: 11am on Thursday, March 27th, 2025
Where: Broadway Palm Dinner Theater in Fort Myers
Tickets: $50
| β
| |
π’ Advocacy Initiatives & Updates | |
There is a lot of activity shaping up both for the state legislative session in March and local issues we feel are important to know about because of their potential impact on water quality. | | |
|
Protect Captiva
The effort to enforce Lee County's density agreements on Captiva for the owners of South Seas Resort has had two
recent court rulings: A positive win in district court, and a loss (that will be appealed) in the FL Department of Administrative Hearings. The next call-to-action is to attend Lee County Hearing Examiner meetings starting this Friday, February 14th. Visit ProtectCaptiva.org for more.
| | |
|
Stop Redfish Point
A proposal to rezone and develop some of the last undisturbed wetlands at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee is anticipated to be heard by the City of Cape Coral in March. There are a number of ways citizens can get involved opposing this terrible idea, including a rally at Rotary Park on March 1st. Learn more at Protectourwetlandsincapecoral.org
| | |
β
Free the Three Fishermen
The saga of the Chiquita Lock drags on, with the City of Cape Coral reportedly seeking over $2,000,000 in legal fees from three of its own citizens who unsuccessfully challenged a permit to remove the Lock. There are simultaneous filings going on in the District Court of Appeals and the Department of Administrative. The eventual outcomes could set some truly disastrous precedents for Floridians seeking to challenge local permitting issues.
What you can do:
Send a letter to Cape Coral City Council to stop this aggressive litigation
| β
| | |
|
Support the Safe Waterways Act
The Florida Safe Waterways Act has been refiled for a 4th year, prior to the upcoming legislative session. This is a bill very near and dear to us, seeking to provide more consistent data and public notification of fecal bacteria pollution in Florida waters. In early January, Calusa Waterkeeper presented to our Lee County Delegation in support of this bill, which has been rewritten since it was vetoed by the Governor last year. HB 73 | SB 156
| | |
|
State Park Preservation Act
Calusa Waterkeeper recently joined 70 other organizations and businesses to support and strengthen new legislation aimed at further protecting our state parks from development. This is a direct response to last year's attempt by the DeSantis administration to commercialize several parks. Read the sign-on letter.
| |
π
Additional Upcoming Events | |
|
Join Calusa Waterkeeper representatives at:
Feb 22: IMAG Community Day
Feb 22: 23rd Annual Burrowing Owl Festival
Mar 10: Pelican Elementary STEM Night
ο»ΏMar 29: Great American Clean-up
Mar 29: Vertical Oyster Garden Workshop
| |
π° In the Press & Around the Watershed | |
|
Read our observations surrounding the Cape Coral Utility Department's land grab of 14 acres of park and preserve.
Calusa Waterkeeper - February 10, 2025
| |
|
Calusa Waterkeeper crew members enjoyed hosting the Sunrise Santiva Splash for a Sanibel-Captiva neighborhood, thanks to Tim & Louise Huyck
Calusa Waterkeeper - February 7, 2025
| |
|
Red tide raging in Gulf as cell counts hit 20 million cells per liter off Sanibel
The News-Press - February 5, 2025
| |
|
Commentary: Chiquita Lock case shows how to suppress civic participation
Orlando Sentinel - February 2, 2025
| |
|
Losing the Calusa Waterkeeper, Capt. Codty Pierce
Florida Weekly - January 29, 2025
| |
|
A vital job, a huge heart and an old soul: remembering Calusa Waterkeeper Codty Pierce
The News-Press - January 23, 2025
| |
|
Video: Thank you Andrew Shipley and Fox4 for this touching tribute. π
Fox4 - January 15, 2025
| |
|
Speaking at the Lee County Legislative Delegation to ask our legislators for their support of HB 73 Safe Waterways Act.
Calusa Waterkeeper - January 9, 2025
| |
|
People are flocking to Florida. Will there be enough water for them?
Grist - January 8, 2025
| |
|
Video: Calusa Waterkeeper Codty Pierce connects with Fox4's Andrew Shipley to discuss the red tide lingering just off our shores.
Fox4 - January 8, 2025
| |
|
Thank you to Rotary Club of Fort Myers South and Calusa Waterkeeper Board Member Kerri Goldsmith for inviting Captain Codty Pierce to speak
Calusa Waterkeeper - January 7, 2025
| |
|
Cape Coral sends a clear message: Opposition will not be tolerated | Opinion
The News-Press - January 5, 2025
| |
π Support Our Critical Work | Calusa Waterkeeper is dedicated to protecting and restoring the Caloosahatchee watershed for the benefit of all. But we cannot do it alone; we need your support to continue this essential mission. | β
| | | | |
