Stephanie Byrne

A tool with a memorable name is helping us understand our water quality in Southwest Florida. The Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University has a new friend in the fight against harmful algal blooms in our backyard: It’s a robot nicknamed Sylvia that’s monitoring what’s in our water. Think of it as an underwater […]

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission met for the first time in person on Wednesday since the pandemic began. With the precedence that wildlife and the environment take in the Sunshine State, the agency has quite a bit on its plate. From helping Florida panthers bounce back to tracking red tide in the Gulf, […]

Another milestone has been reached toward the restoration of the Everglades. Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday announced removal of the old Tamiami Trail roadbed is complete, months ahead of schedule. The Everglades are the heartbeat of Florida’s environment, and that heartbeat has been in poor health for years. Now, it’s on the road to recovery. […]

Red tide is moving further south, as evidenced by new photos showing fish kills off the beach of Cayo Costa between Captiva Pass and Boca Grande. We’ve been watching the Tampa area for several days to see if their problems are headed our way, and Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday unveiled some new technology to […]

Florida Gulf Coast University and Mote Marine Laboratory are studying the impact of fish kills on red tide and whether it’s fueling more outbreaks. Researchers first have to compost dead fish for the study to mimic the effect of a fish kill. Adam Catasus is FGCU’s Vester Field Station Education and Research Coordinator. He explained, […]

It’s been a record-breaking year for manatee deaths in Florida. As manatees fight for their lives, SeaWorld helps care for the injured gentle giants. From bottle service to an all-you-can-eat salad buffet, these are some of the steps taken to care for manatees at Orlando’s Sea World. “This pool never is empty,” said Jon “JP” […]

The way Lake Okeechobee is managed impacts Floridians all over the state, and people are weighing in on a new plan to regulate the lake. Lake Okeechobee covers 730 square miles. That translates to big water. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District is responsible for the lake management, and that comes with the task […]

What started as an environmental concern has grown into a pandemic project for one family. After a little girl learned the monarch butterfly population is dwindling, she and her parents wanted to help make a difference. Now, their efforts are fluttering high. Four-year-old Juliette is a social butterfly herself – from her social media to […]

Lee County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Kevin Ruane and stakeholders met Monday with representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to discuss the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM). The meeting comes after the Army Corps announced its preliminary selection of a lake management plan called Plan CC. Everyone involved gathered at the […]

Florida SouthWestern State College is inspiring the next generation to take an interest in the health of Southwest Florida waterways. The college hosted Lee County schools on Wednesday as part of a STEM Camp where they learned about water quality in Punta Rassa. Students collected water samples and recorded data. “We are helping the fourth […]