Our Mission
The purpose of the Environmental Council is to be knowledgeable of current environmental issues that potentially negatively affect the quality of life for residents of the greater Estero area and to counsel ECCL leadership on actions, options, and recommendations for improvement.
What we’re doing…
The ECCL Environment Council monitors threats to Southwest Florida habitats, wetlands, water quality, wildlife and any issue that affects the quality of the environment affecting Estero. We work with agencies including The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, and others to inform residents of actions they can take to preserve and protect our paradise.
Environment Campaigns…
Water Quality
DR/GR
Lake Okeechobee Releases
Algae Blooms
Red Tide
Flood Prevention
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Wildlife Protection
Florida Panther
Sea Turtle Nesting
Manatee Protection
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Limerock Mining
Protection of DR/GR
Traffic Impact
Blast Damage
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Parks & Public Lands
Preservation
Access
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Take Action
Important Water Quality Legislation in Florida’s House and Senate
Governor DeSantis appointed the Blue Green Algae Task Force in 2019 to “ensure that objective and sound science informs Florida’s environmental decision-making process.” They made their recommendations, and the resulting proposed legislation is currently being...
The DR/GR – What is it and why you should care about it
DR/GR stands for density reduction – groundwater resource. It is a large area of land (over 80,000 acres) just east of Estero that was established jointly in 1990 by the State of Florida and Lee County with the specific purpose of protecting the principal water supply...
Seeking Volunteers
Sewer Conversion Committee
ECCL Environmental Council Continue Reading Sewer Conversion Committee
Articles
Microorganism’s Macro Impact
Corkscrew Road Wildlife Crossing Update
Work is planned to begin construction on a wildlife crossing across Corkscrew Road in October. It will be located approximately 1000 feet west of the entrance to Cypress Shadows Boulevard, which coincides with a regional flow-way that crosses under Corkscrew Road at...
Litter Harms the Environment
Litter is not just a land problem. Because storm drains empty into our local waterways with little to no filtering, any object tossed on the road, flying out of an open truck bed, or left in a yard can end up in our river, estuaries, and beaches.
Worth a Read: “Army Corps’ Choice of Plan CC for Lake O Presents Opportunity for Relief”
The Friends of the Everglades report that the Army Corps of Engineers has chosen a promising plan, but the need for advocacy is still urgent. “While we’re encouraged by the Army Corps’ selection of Plan CC, the new Lake O playbook won’t be successful unless it’s...
Worth a Read: “Is an Ounce of Red Tide Prevention Worth a Pound of Cure?”
In "The Bradenton Times", Glenn Compton writes about the need to study potential links between stormwater treatment facilities' regulated discharges and algal blooms. These discharges, he writes, are not monitored, and so their contribution to the overall water...
Masks effective against Red Tide
Florida Gulf Coast University's Water School has determined that the same masks the public has worn during the pandemic appear to filter airborne red tide droplets. People susceptible to respiratory illnesses, or who are exposed for long periods of time may find some...
Troubled Waters: A Public Health Hazard We need to act!
Troubled Waters: A Public Health Hazard During the height of the 2018 Blue-Green Algae and Red Tide HAB (harmful algal bloom) crises in Southwest Florida, Calusa Waterkeeper met and interviewed many of the nation’s leading research scientists studying HABs, but also...
Septic System Care
Septic systems that are poorly cared for can leak harmful chemicals into the water basin that lies beneath all of Southwest Florida. In addition to saving you money, proper maintenance of a septic system can protect the environment. This link is a helpful guide.
Over Two Tons of Rubbish Collected Off Hwy 41 in Estero Since October!!
The team of volunteers participating in ECCL’s Adopt a Highway initiative have collected well over two tons of rubbish which has included litter, tires, pieces of metal and other miscellaneous items since they started the program in October last year. This weekend’s...
Important Water Quality Legislation in Florida’s House and Senate
Governor DeSantis appointed the Blue Green Algae Task Force in 2019 to “ensure that objective and sound science informs Florida’s environmental decision-making process.” They made their recommendations, and the resulting proposed legislation is currently being...
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