Governor DeSantis announces creation of Red Tide Task Force

Governor Ron DeSantis announced Friday the appointments of 11 expert researchers and leading scientists to the recently re-organized Red Tide Task Force. The Governor was joined by Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Noah Valenstein and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Executive Director Eric Sutton. For over 15 years, this Task Force […]

Task force discusses septic/sewage as water quality concern contributors

The state’s Blue-Green Algae Task Force met for the third time Thursday to discuss septic and sewer systems as potential contributors to the algae crisis in Southwest Florida. “If we’re going to mitigate a problem, we need to know where the problem is,” said Dr. James Sullivan, task force member. State leaders want to prevent […]

Lee County residents dispute proposed location for wastewater treatment facilities

A neighborhood battle is brewing over what could be two waste water treatment facilities in Lee County, near Alico Road and south of Southwest Florida International Airport. If local leaders approve a new project, neighbors who live to the east side of Alico Road worry about the proposed site of both the wastewater treatment plant, […]

(Credit: WINK News)

Battle over Lee County wastewater, solid waste transfer facilities

A neighborhood battle is brewing over what may become a site for wastewater treatment and solid waste transfer facilities. As southwest Lee County spreads, there is a need for more services. The county wants to put the new site near Alico Rd., south of Southwest Florida International Airport. Neighbors said they do not want the facility […]

Algae task force meeting to focus on septic tanks in SWFL water crisis

When it comes to water quality issues, there is no one source to blame. But, an upcoming agenda meeting will focus on the role septic tanks play. Right now, about 100,000 people in Lee County have active septic systems. “If you’re in a rural area or far enough away from the infrastructure,” said Dr. Mike […]

No single cure for palm tree diseases

Palm trees line roads in Southwest Florida. While they make for great scenery, they can also face their own problems. Several diseases are out there right now that can put palm trees at risk, so we spoke to experts about when it’s time to completely get rid of a tree. “In Florida, especially South Florida, […]

Researchers in Collier say not all pesticides will control mosquitoes

To many, mosquitoes are around every corner in Southwest Florida. Along with living with them, protecting ourselves from the disease-carrying bugs is a way of life. Now, researchers say not all pesticides will help control the pesky bugs. Scientists with the Collier Mosquito Control District research and test mosquitoes in a lab, and they recently […]

Animal with caught line having surgery. (Credit: Mind Your Line)

‘Mind Your Line’ dumpsters are drop off points for hooks, line

The beauty of Southwest Florida reels in visitors from all over and those visitors do the reeling, too. But it some cases, the big catch is the wrong catch. “We were told that somebody had accidentally hooked a sea turtle off of a pier,” said Dr. Robin Bast, a staff veterinarian for C.R.O.W. Clinic. “It […]

Algae being processed in a machine. (Credit: WINK News)

Army Corps experiment to clean algae from the water

We haven’t seen blue-green algae like we did last year and researchers want to keep it that way. “We’ve been blessed this year,” said Brian Hamman, vice-chairperson of the Lee County Commission. “We haven’t had a lot of algae this year.” Although we have not had algae blooms in our area like last summer, researchers […]

Lee County golf course achieves Audubon International environmental certification

Nature surrounds golfers who are out on the course. And one course is taking that aspect further. A local golf course is commuting to making positive environmental impacts and maintaining them for the good of wildlife and the public. The Forest Country Club in Lee County is now a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. “It just […]