There’s sh*t in our water. Here’s the proof—and the path forward.

Southwest Florida’s waters are gorgeous from a distance. Up close, the story changes. Week after week, official sampling shows enterococci (fecal-indicator) bacteria spiking at popular beaches and—more persistently—in Fort Myers’ creeks and canals. Under Florida’s Healthy Beaches Program, a “Poor” result (≥71 enterococci per 100 mL) can trigger a swimming advisory after a confirmatory resample. “Good” is ≤35; “Moderate” is 36–70.

That’s the polite, scientific way of saying: we keep finding evidence of fecal pollution in the places our kids fish, splash, and paddle. In some creeks, levels are not just a little high—they’re orders of magnitude above health thresholds. For example, Manuel’s Branch—a small urban tributary that flows to the Caloosahatchee—was measured at 21× the Florida DOH safety level and 44× the EPA limit during advocacy sampling last year.  Calusa Waterkeeper’s volunteer testing has repeatedly logged exceedances well over the 70 MPN “beach action” value at inland sites, yet such spots rarely get posted with warning signs because they aren’t designated public bathing places.

What’s dirty—and where

Beaches & nearshore Gulf (Lee County): DOH-Lee monitors 13 beaches weekly and issues advisories after confirmatory high results. You can check status any week; the categories are simple: Good (0–35), Moderate (36–70), Poor (≥71).

Creeks & canals (Fort Myers): Chronic hot spots include Manuel’s Branch and Billy’s Creek—FDEP-listed as “impaired” waters since at least the late 2000s—with a Pollutant Reduction Plan now in place for both watersheds. Sources include stormwater, legacy infrastructure, failing laterals/septics, and pet & wildlife waste.

Additional tributaries like Whiskey Creek have had blue-green algae cautions during recent seasons, underscoring a broader urban runoff problem.

Caloosahatchee Estuary: Conditions swing with rainfall and Lake Okeechobee management. As of Aug. 26, 2025, SCCF noted flows at S-79 around 1,665 cfs (no releases from the lake that day), illustrating how weekly hydrology can veer between too-fresh and too-salty for oysters and seagrass. Their tracker is the best “is it okay right now?” dashboard for the river and Pine Island Sound.

Lake Okeechobee & Cyanobacteria: Statewide algae reports in mid-August show ongoing bloom potential across Florida, including Lake Okeechobee with weekly westward outflow volumes that periodically reach the Caloosahatchee. Satellite analysis in late August indicated ~55% of Lake O with low–high bloom potential; earlier in July, local reporting cited ~34% coverage.

Red tide along the Gulf: Red tide (Karenia brevis) wasn’t widespread in Lee County in late August, but this is a moving target—track the FWC eight-day interactive map to see current samples. Florida’s HAB Task Force reports expanded monitoring and response capacity this year, but outbreaks still recur with onshore winds and nutrient pulses.

Marine heat & compounding risk: The Gulf of Mexico has been abnormally warm, with near-record sea-surface temperatures in 2025, which can stress ecosystems, intensify storms, and worsen HAB dynamics. Local sensors topped 90°F at sites in the estuary and Gulf last summer; global ocean heat remains elevated in 2025.

Why this keeps happening

• Stormwater & aging pipes: Heavy summer rains wash pet waste, trash, and soil into creeks. Older neighborhoods often have legacy stormwater systems and sanitary overflows that spike bacteria counts, especially after downpours. City documents have acknowledged impairment and the need for pollutant load reductions in Manuel’s Branch and Billy’s Creek.

• Lake O releases & salinity stress: Since LOSOM (Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual) was activated in Aug. 2024, the Corps has more flexibility to reduce harmful discharges. Recovery operations in 2025 dialed Caloosahatchee releases down to protect the estuary and conserve water, but the river still experiences salinity swings and periodic algae pressure.

• Heat & nutrients: Warmer water supercharges algae. Local labs documented 88–90°F water last year; national analyses show 2025 ocean heat remains near record highs. Nutrients (from fertilizers, legacy muck, septic, and stormwater) feed blooms that linger in backwaters and canals.

What’s being done (and what’s not)

• Local investments: Lee County green-lit new filter marsh projects (e.g., Bob Janes Preserve ~$2.5M grant; Palm Creek ~$1.5M) to strip nutrients from runoff before it hits bays and the river.

• C-43 Reservoir: The state held a ribbon-cutting and began initial operations in July 2025 for the C-43 Caloosahatchee Reservoir, designed to store basin water and deliver the right flows at the right time to the estuary; federal construction milestones continue into late 2025.

• Lake management (LOSOM): LOSOM’s activation (Aug. 12, 2024) aims to reduce damaging discharges and consider toxic algae risk in decisions. In spring 2025, USACE further cut S-79 releases as part of recovery operations. This is progress—but local conditions still depend on rainfall and storage south.

Who’s fighting for clean water (right here)

• Calusa Waterkeeper (CWK) — Independent sampling, fecal-indicator bacteria tracking in creeks, public health alerts, and policy advocacy. Their reports repeatedly show exceedances in Fort Myers tributaries.

• Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) — Weekly water conditions, RECON sensors, sea-temperature monitoring, and science-based policy work for the Caloosahatchee & Pine Island Sound.

• Captains For Clean Water — Grassroots pressure that helped push LOSOM across the finish line and continues to watchdog Everglades restoration.

• Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida (DECF) — Mobilizes volunteers and supports candidates who prioritize clean water & environmental justice; Southwest Florida chapter engages locally.

• Florida Right to Clean Water (2026 amendment) — A citizen initiative to enshrine an enforceable right to clean, healthy waters in Florida’s constitution. Signature-gathering is underway for the 2026 ballot.

• Local advocates & candidates — Community leaders, scientists, and candidates in Lee County keep centering water quality; for example, Cindy Banyai has campaigned on “no sh*t in the water” messaging to draw attention to chronic creek pollution.

What you can do:

1. Check before you swim: See DOH-Lee Healthy Beaches updates and the FWC red tide status map.

   
   

2. Avoid contact after storms and keep pets out of discolored or smelly water—especially in creeks and canals where advisories aren’t posted but fecal bacteria can spike.

   
   

3. Support local fixes: Back filter-marsh and stormwater retrofits; these reduce the nutrients that feed blooms.

   
   

4. Track the river: Use SCCF’s Weekly Water Conditions to understand salinity, temperature, and algae risk on the Caloosahatchee.

   
   

5. Sign & share the Right to Clean Water petition (registered FL voters). Organizers need signatures statewide to make the 2026 ballot.

   
   

6. Show up to USACE & SFWMD meetings about Lake O operations; public comments matter when flows and releases are on the table.

   
   

7. At home: Pick up pet waste, keep leaves & fertilizer off pavement, maintain septic (if you have one), and report sewage spills and algae sightings through state channels.

8. Support grassroots candidates who refuse to stay silent: Community advocates like Cindy Banyai for Florida House 78 are running on a platform of “no sh*t in our water” and demanding real accountability for water quality. She’s not alone—across Florida, working-class candidates are standing up against the lobbyists and elites who profit while our rivers, creeks, and families suffer. Support them with your vote, your volunteer time, and your donations.

Bottom line

• Fecal-indicator bacteria levels continue to spike in Fort Myers’ creeks and at times on beaches—posing real health risks, particularly after rain.

• Cyanobacteria in Lake O and red tide in the Gulf remain recurring threats—with marine heat and nutrients as accelerants.   

• There is real progress—LOSOM, filter marshes, and the C-43 reservoir—but we need enforcement, funding, and political will to stop pollution at the source and protect public health.

Let’s be blunt: there’s sh*t in our water because we keep letting it get there. The fixes are known, the data are public, and the community muscle exists. Now it’s about scale—and accountability.