IS IT SAFE TO
GO INTO THE WATER?
🌊 SAFE WATERS FOR ALL — WE CAN DO BETTER.
I was honored to help facilitate and participate in this week’s Safe Waters for All / South Florida Waterway Safety & Reef Protection Roundtable alongside Carter Viss at Nova Southeastern University Marine Environmental Education Center.
Many people worked tirelessly to bring this conversation forward, bringing together an extraordinary group representing law enforcement, government agencies, marine science, reef conservation, boating safety, divers, advocates, and others who share and care about our waterways.
At the heart of the conversation was Carter's story - Carter survived a horrific boat collision while snorkeling in 2019 that forever changed his life. Hearing him share his story was emotional — but equally powerful was the remarkable tenacity and resilience he has shown in turning that experience into a mission to protect others.
Joining us via Zoom was Walter Williams, father of Kellie (Williams) Avalos who tragically lost her life when she was struck by a boat off Hollywood Beach in June. We also heard concerns from divers, swimmers, snorkelers, and others who regularly share these increasingly busy waters.
Their voices were a powerful reminder that behind every discussion about waterway safety are real people, real families, and real lives. We all came together to listen, learn, share perspectives, ask difficult questions, and explore solutions — from boating-safety education and diver-down flag awareness to navigation tools, possible separation of recreational uses, and
improved public outreach.
One idea received particularly strong support: clear, highly visible safety signage at ocean access points, (example "Know the Rules" photo included) beginning along the Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve. Most importantly, there was agreement that the conversation can not end at this table.
WE CAN DO BETTER - Whether you are a resident or visitor, boater, angler, swimmer, snorkeler, diver, paddleboarder, kayaker, or jet skier, we should be able to enjoy the ocean and waterways safely and responsibly while also protecting our priceless marine ecosystem that's beneath the surface.
Thank you to everyone who made this roundtable possible and participated — and especially to Carter, for having the courage to relive his story in the hope that another person, another family, will never experience what he did.
At R4R, we often say, “It’s hard to care about what you don’t know about.” This is an issue we all need to know about — and care about. By bringing greater awareness to the challenges facing those who share our waterways, we can help build understanding, encourage collaboration, and ultimately help prevent future tragedies.
We look forward to continuing this important conversation and working
together seeking Safe Waters For All!
A SPECIAL THANK YOU — AND A BIG HUG! 💙
To our R4R Expert Team Member Brenda Lee Chalifour for her incredible leadership, dedication, tenacity, and unwavering commitment to making our waterways safer for everyone.
Brenda has been a driving force behind Safe Waters for All — helping bring people, organizations, agencies, and ideas together and keeping this important conversation moving
toward meaningful action.
We are so grateful for her passion, persistence, and belief that we can —
and must — do better.
Thank you, Brenda, for all you do! 🌊💙
For more on Carter's Story
IS IT SAFE TO GO INTO THE WATER?
It sounds like a simple question — but the answer involves more
than just water quality.
First, is the water itself safe?
Bacteria, sewage spills, stormwater runoff and other pollutants can affect the health of our waterways and potentially the health of the people who swim, paddle, fish and recreate in them. Knowing what is in our water — and having timely, easy-to-understand water-quality information — is an important part of keeping residents informed and safe.
But there is another side to that question: Are we safe once we’re in the water?
South Florida’s waterways and coastal waters are shared by swimmers, snorkelers, divers, paddleboarders, kayakers and boaters — often in the very same areas. That raises another set of important questions about waterway safety, navigation, education and how we protect both people and the
sensitive coral reefs and marine environment beneath them.
SAFE WATERS FOR ALL
That is why Residents for Resilience is helping bring together government agencies,
law enforcement, scientists, boating and diving organizations, waterway users and
community advocates through the Safe Waters for All initiative.
The goal is simple but important: How can we make our waters safer for everyone who
uses them while also protecting the extraordinary marine environment we all share?
Because safe water isn't only about what's in the water. It's also about what
happens on the water — and beneath it.
FOR YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY
IS IT SAFE TO GO INTO THE WATER?
Miami Waterkeeper Monitoring Results for
Fort Lauderdale and Miami
WATCH FOR SITES THAT REPEATEDLY TESTS HIGH FOR BACTERIA-
THOSE ARE AREAS YOU SHOULD PROCEED WITH CAUTION - ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE AN OPEN WOUND!
REMEMBER... Try to avoid marine water recreational activities after extreme rain events!
WEEKLY BACTERIA WATERWAY MONITIORING RESULTS BELOW!
For your Health and Safety - All Waterway Recreational Activities should be avoided in areas that test over 70!
💧 A Step Forward for Water Quality Transparency in Fort Lauderdale
Residents for Resilience would like to extend our sincere thanks to the City of Fort Lauderdale for continuing to expand public access to water quality information through its dedicated Waterway Quality webpage. The webpage provides direct links to both Swim Guide and Miami Waterkeeper's water quality monitoring results, giving residents easy access to important information before heading out to enjoy our waterways.
As many of you know, Residents for Resilience regularly shares Miami Waterkeeper's latest monitoring data because we believe access to timely environmental information is essential for protecting public health and helping residents make informed decisions.
👏 We especially want to recognize the City of Fort Lauderdale for investing in this important water quality monitoring program. To our knowledge, Fort Lauderdale is currently the only municipality in Broward County to financially support this level of public water quality monitoring.
🦠 What Is Bacteria Monitoring?
Each week, water samples are collected at designated watersports activity areas and other popular recreational locations throughout Fort Lauderdale. These samples are tested for enterococci bacteria, an indicator used by the Florida Department of Health to determine whether water is generally considered safe for recreational contact.
While no single test can guarantee water is completely free of harmful organisms, enterococci are widely used as an indicator of potential fecal contamination and help residents make informed decisions before swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, fishing, or enjoying other water activities.
Current monitoring locations include:
• Annie Beck Park
• Cooley's Landing Marina
• Himmarshee Canal (sampled by the City of Fort Lauderdale)
• Lake Sylvia
• Lauderdale Isles Landing (Riverland Woods Park)
• Merle Fogg Park (Central Intracoastal)
• Middle River (George English Park)
• Middle River (NE 18th Street Dock)
• New River North Fork (Sweeting Park)
• New River South Fork (Coontie Hatchee Park Kayak Area)
• Oakland Park Bridge (North Intracoastal)
• Sandbar (SE 8th Street)
• SE 17th Street Bridge (South Intracoastal)
• Sunrise Bay (Hugh Taylor Birch State Park)
• Sunrise Paddleboards
• Tarpon River (Rio Vista Boulevard)
🔬 What Is Microbial Source Tracking (MST)?
The City has also expanded its partnership with Miami Waterkeeper to include monthly Microbial Source Tracking (MST) at five locations with a history of elevated bacteria levels. Unlike routine bacteria monitoring, which tells us that bacteria are present, Microbial Source Tracking helps identify where the contamination may be coming from by analyzing genetic markers. Scientists can determine whether the bacteria are most likely associated with human wastewater, pets, wildlife, or other animal sources.
Understanding not only when bacteria levels are elevated, but also identifying the likely source of that contamination, is one of the most important steps toward developing effective, long-term solutions. Instead of simply reacting to elevated bacteria counts, this information helps identify pollution sources, prioritize investigations, guide infrastructure improvements, and support targeted restoration efforts that can improve water quality over time.
Current MST monitoring locations include:
• Annie Beck Park
• Himmarshee Canal
• Middle River (NE 18th Street Dock)
• New River North Fork (Sweeting Park)
• Tarpon River (Rio Vista Boulevard)
👏 This is a tremendous investment in science, transparency, and public health, and we applaud the City for taking this important step forward.
🌊 Looking Ahead
As encouraging as this progress is, we also see an opportunity to continue building upon it. Residents for Resilience looks forward to working with the City, Miami Waterkeeper, our universities, and other research partners to develop an even more comprehensive Water
Quality Dashboard or Public Information Portal that could eventually include:
💧 Bacteria Monitoring & Microbial Source Tracking results
🌊 Water clarity and turbidity monitoring
🪨 Sediment monitoring associated with marine construction and development activities
🧪 Nutrient, dissolved oxygen, and other water quality parameters, where available
🌧️ Rainfall, stormwater, and tidal information that may influence water quality
📍 Real-time project updates and environmental restoration efforts
📢 Public advisories and historical water quality trends
Bringing this information together in one easy-to-understand location would give residents a more complete picture of the health of our waterways while supporting science-based decision-making, increasing transparency, and encouraging collaboration among residents, researchers, and local governments. The goal isn't simply to collect data—it's to use that information to better understand our waterways, identify pollution sources, and develop effective, long-term solutions that protect both public health and our environment.
At Residents for Resilience, we believe knowledge leads to understanding, understanding leads to action, and informed communities create lasting solutions. By making this information more accessible, we're helping residents better understand, appreciate, and protect the waterways that make Fort Lauderdale such a special place to live, work, and play.
After all, it's hard to care about what you don't know about.
Thank you again to the City of Fort Lauderdale, Miami Waterkeeper, and everyone working together to protect one of our community's greatest natural resources!
💙 Stay informed. Stay connected. Stay resilient.
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A Heartfelt Thank You...
to Miami Waterkeeper and Captain Bill!
Tricia Halliday and I experienced a powerful reminder of why we do what we do last Thursday when we spent a morning out on our waterways with the incredible team from Miami Waterkeeper.
Residents for Resilience has been receiving an outpouring of messages, photos, and emails from concerned residents about the condition of our waterways. In response, we invited our Miami Waterkeeper friends and water quality specialists—Aliza Karim, Adriana Gonzalez Fernandez, and Gabby Perez—to join us for a meeting on the water to visit several key sites. Some of these sites continue to test high for bacteria, while others, though no longer monitored, remain deeply concerning.
Together, we toured sections of the Tarpon River and areas along the New River, focusing on locations where excessive stormwater is regularly discharged. These specialists collected water samples at each location, and we look forward to reviewing their findings in the coming weeks.
This meaningful outing would not have been possible without the generosity of our R4R friend, Captain Bill Hogle, who graciously took us out on his boat and helped us navigate these critical sites.
We look forward to meeting with Commissioner Sorensen, who has recommended bringing together city staff, Miami Waterkeeper, concerned residents, and environmental advocates for a group discussion. The goal: to review findings and explore long-term, community-driven solutions for
improving the health of our waterways.
We also plan to host additional “meetings on the water” in the coming months to visit more sites that consistently test high for bacteria. We hope to include city staff and local leadership to these outings to see these concerns firsthand and work together toward meaningful remediation.
Stay tuned - we’ll keep you updated!
And a big thank you to everyone who has sent in photos of pollution incidents in our waterways — from blue-green algae blooms and construction runoff, to stormwater discharges, sewage spills, dredging sediment, boats dumping instead of pumping out, and oil spills.
Your watchful eyes help raise awareness and push for the cleaner, safer waters we all deserve.
If you see something say something - See it! - Snap it!- Share it!
👀 📸 🤳🏼
OTHER MARINE WATER MONITORING PROGRAMS
Dear Louis Aguirre, Anastasia Brenman, and Channel 10,
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to both of you for the incredible opportunity to be part of your “Don’t Trash Our Treasures” series on such a crucial topic—“Is it Safe to Go in the Water?” The health of our waterways is something we all care deeply about, and it was an honor to contribute to this important conversation.
Louis, your insightful questions and unwavering commitment to raising awareness on this critical issue means so much. I’m also incredibly grateful for the shout-out you gave to Residents for Resilience (R4R). Thanks to your support, we’ve welcomed many new members who are eager to join us in our mission to restore and protect our precious waterways. Their involvement will certainly help us work toward making our waters safe and, hopefully, swimmable again!
I truly look forward to collaborating more in the future. Thank you both for your hard work and dedication!
Best,
Suzee
WHAT CAN WE DO?
!
While the ocean and the Everglades receive much-deserved attention,
our waterways—the vital arteries connecting the two—continue to be overlooked.
For our organization, 2025 is all about solutions!
When it comes to our waterways R4R is currently hard at work
on four proposed long term nature-based
waterway remediation projects
under the initiative called the “RESTORE OUR WATERWAYS"Challenge."
These R.O.W. projects aim to reintroduce
millions of oysters, and thousands of mangroves
back into our marine waters,
along with biochar socks to kick-start the filtration to aid in their survival!
Our goal is to restore marine life and make our waterways safe and swimmable once again!
ON-GOING CONSTRUCTION POLLUTION
IN THE TARPON RIVER AND THE ICW
INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY
UPDATE!
TARPON RIVER
Good afternoon everyone,
-
Below are some of the current and past initiatives that have been undertaken in the Tarpon River:
2- Aerators have been installed in a section of the river where the Tarpon River intersects SW 4th Ave and SW 9th St.
3-Weekly waterway testing occurs at 3 locations by City staff.
4-City conducts waterway cleaning on a daily basis. The Tarpon River is serviced every two weeks with the last service being conducted on March 24th as shown by the below GPS screenshots. There are sections of the Tarpon River that are inaccessible due to water levels and bridge clearances that will not allow safe ingress or egress.
In 2020 an environmental assessment of a portion of the Tarpon River was done as a result of the force main breaks
And a portion was dredged in 2022.
Regarding Mr. R'S complaints, the City has been having an issue with a subcontractor (Solution Construction Inc.) who is doing some sewer work along the area of SW 7th St between SW 1st Ave and SW Flagler Ave. for the prime contractor Hanover Company who is constructing the Hanover Riverwalk at 477 SW 1st Ave.
The main issue has been the release of turbid discharges due to their dewatering into the Tarpon River. Environmental, Building Code Enforcement, and DSD – Engineering have been involved in the investigation. Ultimately a stop work order was issued until they could get their operation back into compliance. Fines were also assessed ($10,000) which they are appealing. They have been dewatering in compliance for about the past couple of weeks. There was a minor incident on April 7th, most of the turbidity was contained with the turbidity curtain which the City made them install to mitigate any discharges. The site will continue to be monitored and issues addressed. That part of the Tarpon does not flow very well so it is common to have water stagnate until some tidal exchange is experienced.
One of the other issues that we have been receiving feedback on are ‘remediation’ efforts for these types of discharges that Mr. Routman refers to. That would involve a much larger discussion to address from a practical, legal, etc. perspective. Currently, our mechanism for resolving these is to find the source which can be challenging in of itself and use enforcement available to us under City Code of Ordinances and the Florida Building Code.
Thank you!
On Wed, Apr 9, 2025 at 3:27 PM Suzee Bailey <info@residentsforresilience.org> wrote:
Thank you for the detailed information!
R4R would also like to express deep concern on behalf of our community regarding these ongoing and increasingly harmful impacts of construction activities on the Tarpon River, but also on the Intracoastal Waterway. These vital waterways are facing repeated disruptions caused by insufficient sediment controls, careless runoff, and, in some cases, a lack of regard for environmental safeguards.
Many of our residents are very concerned not only about the specific construction site at hand, but also the consistent sediment pollution at various construction sites both north and south of the Las Olas Bridge. They are particularly worried about potential health hazards associated with disturbed sediment that is released through faulty turbidity curtains or insufficient mitigation efforts.
According to the EPA, pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and parasites can attach to sediment particles and persist for extended periods. When sediment is disturbed, by storms or dredging, it can become airborne, allowing for the inhalation of contaminated particles and pathogens. This can lead to respiratory infections, allergic reactions, and other health issues. Additionally, legacy bacteria—often a result of past sewer line spills—can persist in sediment for years, contributing further to these concerns.
While turbidity is currently the only water quality monitoring required at this site and along the ICW, residents are understandably concerned about the broader impacts. These concerns have only grown since the City pulled Miami Waterkeeper’s independent monitoring off the Tarpon River, leaving a troubling gap in third-party oversight. Meanwhile, residents with boats docked near the construction zones have reported significant damage to their vessels due to sediment accumulation.
Despite existing ordinances, we continue to witness severe turbidity events, sediment accumulation, and contamination that threaten marine life, water quality, public health, and community trust. The current enforcement methods, which often involve minimal fines or warnings, have proven to be ineffective in deterring negligent practices.
We respectfully urge the Commission to take the following actions:
Increase and enforce meaningful fines, starting at a minimum of $10,000 per violation, with a maximum of $15,000, as allowed. The current $500 fines are insufficient and ineffective.
Issue immediate stop-work orders for any project violating environmental protections, with mandatory cleanup fully paid for by the construction company. The cleanup should be followed by independent water quality monitoring—not limited to turbidity, but also including broader indicators of ecological health to ensure the safety and welfare of all who live, work, or play on these waterways.
Require stricter sediment control and construction best practices, including properly functioning containment systems, storm preparation protocols, and stronger oversight of high-risk waterfront sites.
Establish a dedicated environmental compliance liaison or task force within the City’s Environmental or Building Department to monitor activity and address violations swiftly.
Ensure public transparency by making all permits, enforcement actions, fines, and water quality monitoring results easily accessible to residents and environmental watchdog groups in real time.
Our waterways are not only central to the identity and economy of Fort Lauderdale, but they are also vital ecosystems that must be protected. Continued inaction or leniency in enforcement threatens long-term damage, undermines restoration efforts, and sends the wrong message to developers.
We urge the City to act boldly and swiftly to protect these invaluable resources. Thank you for your time, leadership, and commitment to preserving Fort Lauderdale’s most important natural assets. We stand ready to support you in implementing these necessary improvements.
I have many pictures and videos that I can send upon your request!
Sincerely,
Suzee Bailey
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Incidents like these have residents concerned, leading many to question,
"Where are the warning signs?"
View the weekly report online
or visit DEP's Algal Bloom Dashboard
NOTICE THE AMOUNT OF ACTIVE
ALGAL BLOOM
DETECTED
ACCORDING TO THE FDEP SITE - Anatoxin-a: not detected; Cylindrospermopsin: not detected; Nodularin-R: not detected; Saxitoxins: not detected
EditDate12/27/2025, 2:32 AM
GREEN DOTS SHOW AREAS WHERE ALGAE BLOOM IS ACTIVE
IS IT SAFE TO GO INTO OUR WATERWAYS?
According to marine water quality testing data provided by Miami Waterkeeper,
many test sites throughout Fort Lauderdale's waterways
are currently unsafe for recreational activities.
Any measurement exceeding 70 MPN (as you see above in the pink)
is considered risky and potentially dangerous.
High readings like these are often result from sewer line breaks or heavy rainfall.
However, many sites in the pink are on dates
with no recent sewer line break alerts and no heavy rainfall.
What is the exact causeof these concerning results?
Our R4R team has been requesting more informative safety signage in areas of our waterways that may be harmful for recreational activities.
Unfortunately this sign below
is what has been placed at a few sites that test frequently high:
We feel a more informative sign like this is needed.
Your thoughts?
Miami Waterkeeper conducts weekly bacteria level monitoring in Fort Lauderdale's waterways to keep you informed about water safety. You can easily access these results, along with the Department of Health's (DOH) Healthy Beaches testing data, through the free Swim Guide app or their website click here.
Both Miami Waterkeeper and the DOH perform water sampling every Monday morning, with the latest results available by Tuesday afternoon. If a site shows high bacteria levels, they are committed to re-testing daily until the issue is resolved.
The EPA has set the following standards for safe swimming water, which are used by DOH and Miami Waterkeeper:
0-70 CFU/MPN per 100 mL enterococci per sample: Safe for swimming
70+ CFU/MPN per 100 mL enterococci per sample: Not safe for swimming
Avoid waterway recreational activities
after heavy rain event.
Bacteria levels can become extremely high.
IS IT SAFE TO GO INTO THE WATER?
Did you know that you can use this SWIM GUIDE App to check waterway quality conditions before you go to the beach or on our waterways?
FOR MORE IN-DEPTH WATER QUAILITY DATA VISIT MIAMI WATERKEEPER WEBSITE - THEY ARE THE SCIENTIST WHO TEST 10 SITES OF OUR FORT LAUDERDALE WATERWAY
CLICK HERE
Why you want to avoid water sports after severe rains! 70 is the threshold
SIGNAGE IS RECOMENDED BY THE EPA!
Warning - no swimming because of high bacteria levels.
Children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are the most likely populations to develop illnesses or infections after coming into contact with polluted water, usually while swimming. Fortunately, while swimming-related illnesses are unpleasant, they are usually not very serious. They require little or no treatment or get better quickly upon treatment, and they have no long-term health effects.
The most common illness associated with swimming in water polluted by sewage is gastroenteritis. It occurs in a variety of forms that can have one or more of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, stomachache, diarrhea, headache or fever. Other minor illnesses associated with swimming include ear, eye, nose and throat infections. In highly polluted water, swimmers may occasionally be exposed to more serious diseases.
Another potential source of illness includes some types of cyanobacteria that form algal “blooms” (discolored water) and the toxins they produce. When people are exposed to cyanotoxins, they may have hay fever-like symptoms, skin rashes, sore throat, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or even kidney or liver damage. Pets can be poisoned by drinking or swimming in toxin-contaminated water.
DID YOU KNOW MANGROVES ARE THE SUPERHEROES OF OUR ENVIRONMENT?
Along the coast of Southwest Florida, red tide is lingering. Through January 6, 2023, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission detected low to high concentrations in 59 samples collected from Pinellas to Charlotte County, as detailed in the image above.