Cape Coral Celebrates 31 Years of Canalwatch, Welcomes New Participants

August 5, 2026

The City of Cape Coral is proud to celebrate the 31st anniversary of the Canalwatch Volunteer Program and invites community-minded citizens to join this vital initiative to help protect our waterways.

For more than three decades, Canalwatch has been a proactive, community-driven effort dedicated to educating residents about water quality, fostering open communication between the city and its citizens, and strengthening a shared sense of responsibility for Cape Coral’s unique canal system.

Canalwatch volunteers collect environmental data and water samples from designated sites across Cape Coral each month. The City's water quality laboratory analyzes these samples, providing valuable insights that guide canal management and help keep our waterways clean and healthy for everyone.

We welcome new volunteers of all backgrounds. No prior experience is necessary, and full training is provided. If you're interested in volunteering or learning more about Canalwatch, please contact Harry Phillips at 239-574-0785 or hphillip@capecoral.gov.

Additional Resources:

A group of CanalWatch volunteers stand in a lab, listening to a City staff member in a green shirt speak.

CanalWatch volunteers stand around a lab workstation as a City staff member explains water testing equipment, with sample bottles and instruments visible on the counter.

City staff educate Canalwatch volunteers on the water collection process.