Caloosahatchee River

Lee Commissioners authorize purchase of about 12 acres on the Caloosahatchee River; accept grants

Lee Commissioners authorize purchase of about 12 acres on the Caloosahatchee River

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is beginning the process of considering a request for a permit to rebuild the Fort Myers riverfront, formerly known as the yacht basin. A Dallas-based company has an agreement with the city to build a new public marina.

New details emerge on Fort Myers marina plans

Mike Walcher

New details are emerging on re-building the public marina in the Caloosahatchee river, at downtown Fort Myers. The Army Corps of Engineers is requesting comments on plans by Suntex Marinas, based in Dallas.

The comet known as C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS as seen over the Caloosahatchee River on Tuesday night, Oct. 15, 2024, in Fort Myers. The comet was first discovered in 2023 by observers at the Purple Mountain Observatory in China and an Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in South Africa. The comet can be seen about 45 minutes after sunset each day through the end of October. It can be seen without special equipment but the best view is through a pair of binoculars. The comet isn’t expected to be visible again for 80,000 years.

Science/Tech

Tsuchinshan-ATLAS comet and the Caloosahatchee River

Amanda Whittamore

The comet known as C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS as seen over the Caloosahatchee River on Tuesday night, Oct. 15, 2024, in Fort Myers. The comet was first discovered in 2023 by observers at the Purple Mountain Observatory in China and an Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope in South Africa. The comet can be seen about 45 minutes after sunset each day through the end of October. It can be seen without special equipment but the best view is through a pair of binoculars. The comet isn’t expected to be visible again for 80,000 years.

Lee County residents purchased more than 40 acres of Caloosahatchee River waterfront this week, which is upstream about a mile from this parcel but is similar with largely undisturbed woods and coves; see the internet link in the story below for a video tour of the parcel

Environment

Over 40 acres of Caloosahatchee's riverfront becomes public land

Tom Bayles

Lee County residents now own more than 40 acres of undeveloped land along Moody Road on the northern shore of the Caloosahatchee River in North Fort Myers under the Conservation 20/20 program.

New guidelines regulating when polluted water can flow from Lake Okeechobee through this spillway in Moore Haven and into the Caloosahatchee River, and other waterways leading from the lake to the Atlantic Ocean, are now official after years in the Army Corps of Engineers pipeline

Environment

The when, where, and how of water releases from Lake Okeechobee now official

Tom Bayles

The Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual — LOSOM , a set of guidelines on how, when, and where water will be released from Lake Okeechobee — was made official this week

Soon, the only thing traveling through the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam will be boats, as releases of water from Lake Okeechobee through Port Mayaca into the St. Lucie Canal will all but cease under the new management plan for distributing excess water from the lake

Environment

Moving how much water, where, when: A new guide for Lake O

Tom Bayles

The new plan to manage the water flow from Lake Okeechobee throughout the Everglades is making its final rounds among various higher-ups before expected approval in the fall.

None of the blue-green algae outbreaks in Lee County so far this year have grown into a full bloom like the one shown in this file photo from 2018

Environment

Health alert for blue-green algae called off; a new advisory issued

Tom Bayles

Small outbreaks of blue-green algae have been happening for weeks in the Caloosahatchee River

Traffic approaches the Caloosahatchee River Bridge on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Fort Myers. The bridge has been two lanes since April but will close entirely from May 31 to Aug. 11 to allow contractors to expedite the addition of a sidewalk on the bridge.

Transportation

Pain of Caloosahatchee Bridge closure will provide pleasure later for pedestrians, bicyclists

Amanda Whittamore

The pain of recent periodic closures on the Caloosahatchee River Bridge due to a construction project is expected to be mitigated by a 10-week total shutdown of the U.S. 41 span that will begin May 31.

Environment

Water Quality Report: Blue-green algae -- learn it, live it, but you don't have to love it

Tom Bayles

It’s the time of year when warnings about blue-green algae outbreaks will be a regular part of life and this space and the department of Health in Lee County issued its sixth health advisory this year due to blue-green algae in the Caloosahatchee River.

How blue-green algae may affect humans is the subject of an ongoing study of willing residents who live along canals in Lee County. Gift cards are given to those who provide lung tests and blood samples.

Environment

Fifth blue-green algae health alert issued for Caloosahatchee River

Tom Bayles

Blue-green algae can be dangerous. Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, or come into contact with water if you can see a bloom.