Our Water Programs
Citizens Partnership for Clean Canals (CPCC)
In collaboration with TEAM Punta Gorda, Charlotte County, the University of Miami, and the City of Punta Gorda, April 2024 began the expansion of our water monitoring programs, adding the Citizens Partnership for Clean Canals Alliance. Initial funding was secured in the form of a Marine Advisory Committee (MAC) grant and with support from the Punta Gorda Rotary Club.
A Project Plan and SOP’s were developed and in July ’24, testing expanded from two sites to four, eventually expanding to 10.
The purpose of this project was to gather and analyze data about the degree and nature of impairment in the canal system of Punta Gorda, in order to develop solutions.
October ’25 Update
A project commitment and milestone were achieved with the July 7 sampling. Three trained teams performed monthly monitoring at 10 sites throughout the canal system.
General water quality and fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) were tested in accordance with Charlotte County and FDEP quality control protocols and standard operating procedures.
Sample collection concluded with the September sampling. Initial DNA analyses from the University of Miami of samples including those collected during Debbie, Helene and Milton has been received and preliminary results of this 18-month project are currently being shared with government, civic and stakeholder organizations.
Our deepest gratitude to all those committed volunteers who braved storms, hurricanes, mosquitos, and heat to gather the samples so critical to this project. A special shout out to our CPCC Volunteer Coordinator Karen McCague who led from the front, to Jim McCague for assembling, managing and making sense of the collected data, and to Allen and Anne Taylor, our intrepid storm collectors.
“Starred” Locations = Testing Sites
Interested in further information, or looking to join our efforts?
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