Researchers look at impacts Irma might have had on SWFL water quality

It’s been three years since Hurricane Irma hit Southwest Florida. Many community members remember what it looked like after the powerful storm made landfall. In Irma’s aftermath, the region’s water quality suffered. It included algae blooms in our waterways and red tide on our beaches at the same time. We spoke to researchers recently about […]

Calusa Waterkeeper, City of Fort Myers find differing fecal bacteria data

Efforts to clean up Billy Creek are getting a boost. The City of Fort Myers and Calusa Waterkeeper are working together surveying Billy Creek to help make our water cleaner. “We sample nine locations, four of which are on Billy Creek,” said David Hempleman. The problem is, surveyors are getting conflicting data. The city works […]

DEP again visits Fort Myers construction sites as runoff pours into river

Heavy rain is causing construction runoff that’s potentially harmful to our waterways. The City of Fort Myers has already ordered the construction to stop until the situation is resolved. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection also visited the sites Tuesday after reports of runoff from the Silver Hills and City Walk sites. Photos posted on […]

Bottoms up: Could brewing beer help reduce red tide?

Red tide can create large fish kills and did just that along Southwest Florida’s shores in 2018. So, to prevent it from happening again, one bar in Bradenton is brewing up a solution. “What better way to use it? Stuff that would otherwise just be sitting around,” said Blue Hellenga, Head brewer at Darwin’s Brewing […]

Filter material installed in Cape Coral could protect water quality

Cape Coral is going to begin installing ‘bold and gold’ filter material to filter runoff water from ditches. WINK News Environmental Reporter Stephanie Byrne shows everyone what substance is in the filters and how it could protect your water quality. Chris Bogdan says seeing the water crisis here in Southwest Florida is “terrible.” “I’m a […]

Blue-green algae identified in Caloosahatchee

Some people are worried about the specks seen floating in the Caloosahatchee River in North Fort Myers. After bottling a sample of the water and its mysterious detritus, we sent it to Barry Rosen, PhD, professor in FGCU’s Department of Ecology & Environmental Studies. Under microscopic investigation, Rosen found the sample contained small amounts of […]

Everglades reservoir project blasts into its next phase

We’re getting a better look at a project that will help send water from Lake Okeechobee south to the Everglades. The Everglades Agricultural Area Storage Reservoir Project (EAA) will help reduce harmful discharges from the lake. Blasts in the heart of Florida, with 4,000 pounds of explosives, mark the most recent milestone for the project. […]

Fort Myers construction sites investigated for Caloosahatchee runoff

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is investigating new reports of stormwater runoff from the City Walk and Silver Hills projects into the Caloosahatchee River. “This is the second incident of this construction site runoff problem,” said Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani. “Suspended sediments, you know, they create some problems for anything that breathes with gills […]

Florida angler explains importance of Lake O restoration project

A project to restore healthy water levels comes as welcome news for people living around Lake Okeechobee. We spoke to a fisherman, who has lived there for decades, about what he would like to see happen. Scott Martin is a professional angler, show host, and a co-founder of the group Anglers for Lake Okeechobee. “Growing […]