A two-year investigation by local environmental group Calusa Waterkeeper has found evidence of human-source fecal contamination in Manuel’s Branch, a small urban creek located just south of Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers.
FOX 4 Meteorologist Andrew Shipley first reported on concerns surrounding the creek back in May, when he joined Calusa Waterkeeper rangers as they collected water samples.
Calusa Waterkeeper Finds Evidence of Human Fecal Contamination in Manuel’s Branch After Two-Year Investigation
At the time, the organization said bacterial levels in the water were alarmingly high. Now, new testing appears to confirm those concerns — and raises fresh questions about where the contamination is coming from.
Bacteria Levels Thousands of Times Higher Than Safety Thresholds
Manuel’s Branch has repeatedly shown extremely high concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria, which signal contamination and potential health risks.
“When you see bacteria notification at a public beach, that number is 70,” said Jason Pim, a board member with Calusa Waterkeeper. “Here we get numbers all the time that are in the 2,000 to 4,000 range, and as high as 10,000.”…