Monthly News & Updates

September 2023

Calibrating Human Health Risks from Cyanotoxins

Our team has read and watched several local media pieces this year that seem to disregard important public health policies and research when reporting on harmful algal blooms. In a recent guest opinion column to the News-Press we address this issue. An excerpt:

Clearly, it is inaccurate to claim that “if you smoke a cigarette, you will die.” But we have come to understand that smoking significantly elevates the risk of certain diseases, including several forms of cancer. Similarly, this has been a priority of Calusa Waterkeeper – to warn people that exposure to the toxins produced by blue-green algae involves risks of developing terrible debilitating illnesses.

We invite experts from all viewpoints to join us in an open discussion of calibrating the potential health risks and communicating them accurately to the public.

Read the Full Story: Blue-Green Algae Toxins are a Human Health Risk

Quiet disaster: Dapis algae in Matlacha Aquatic Preserve and Charlotte Harbor

This summer Calusa Waterkeeper Codty Pierce took out members of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida policy team for a first-hand look at the Dapis cyanobacteria (formerly classified as Lyngbya) that is proliferating in Matlacha Pass and other local waters.

August Fecal Bacteria Indicator Results

CWK conducts Fecal Indicator Bacteria (FIB) sampling at up to 32 sites in Southwest Florida each month. Enterococci bacteria can cause gastrointestinal illness, infections, and rashes. 23 of 32 sites were above the Florida Department of Health's advisory threshold of 70 MPN. View the full results.

(Please note conditions can change daily)

Upcoming Events

Sep. 30, 9 am

Vertical Oyster Garden Workshop

Join Capt. Codty Pierce and CWK volunteers at the FGCU Food Forest for our second session of oyster shell stringing and become part of this fun restoration project.

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Oct. 7, 9 am

Clean Water in Lee County

The League of Women Voters of Lee County host guest speakers Joseph Bonasia of Florida Rights of Nature Network and Capt. Codty Pierce, Calusa Waterkeeper at the Fort Myers Regional Library.

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Sep. 27 - 8:30 am

Redfish Pointe Protest March

On the eve of the one-year anniversary of Ian's impact, residents will gather at Rotary Park and march to SW 6th Place, where the proposed entrance to the Redfish Pointe development would disrupt hundreds of acres of natural wetlands along the Caloosahatchee River.

RSVP

Save the Dates!

Oct. 25, 2023 - Engage Estero Public Forum

Nov. 9-12, 2023 - Fort Myers Boat Show

Nov. 18-19, 2023 - Edison Ford Plant Sale

Dec. 9, 2023 - RESET Center Fall Plant Sale

Jan. 21, 2024 - Sanibel Farmers Market

Feb. 10-11, 2024 - Edison Ford Plant Sale

Mar. 24, 2024 - Calusa Waterkeeper Annual Meeting

You Asked – We Listened

Calusa Waterkeeper has partnered with DonateStock.com to enable our supporters to donate stock. Our DonateStock page enables you to donate holdings from your brokerage account directly to our account through a secure portal, making the gifting process fast, safe, and easy. By donating your appreciated stock to CWK, you avoid paying tax on capital gains while enjoying the benefits of deducting 100% of the value of the contribution. It’s a “win-win” for everyone!

Clean water changes everything. Your support can too! Please donate to CWK by clicking here.

Meet Our New Team Member: Tricia Santucci

Tricia has over 30 years of experience leading global technology operations and risk management functions in the financial sector. Prior to joining Calusa Waterkeeper, Tricia was responsible for overseeing all business administration functions at one of the top commercial diving institutes in the country.

Tricia was born and raised in Delaware and spent most weekends and vacations at the many beaches along the Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland coastline. She loves boating, fishing and spending time relaxing at the beach. Tricia was given the opportunity to relocate from Delaware to the Tampa Bay area in 2000 and did not hesitate to make the move to be closer to the sandy beaches and tropical waters of the Gulf. In 2022 Tricia decided to migrate further south to Fort Myers, and now spends her weekends exploring the area and all that our waterways have to offer. Tricia is an avid photographer who enjoys taking pictures of the local wildlife and the amazing Florida skies.

In the Press and Around the Watershed

Using Chemicals to Treat Florida’s Algae Bloom Problem is like taking Aspirin for a Brain Tumor

Calusa Waterkeeper Emeritus John Cassani contributed his experience with the state of Florida's misuse of these products in this Craig Pittman article in the Florida Phoenix.