Allie Preston, Author at Friends of the Everglades

Virtual Meet & Greet with Clyde Butcher

Remind yourself of the natural world we're fighting for by joining an artist talk with Everglades photographer Clyde Butcher 2-3 p.m. Feb. 11. The virtual event, co-hosted by Friends of the Everglades and the Arts Council of Martin County, will take place on Zoom and allow audience members to ask questions via the chat. Tickets are $25 and will be available via this link on Jan. 21. Butcher’s America’s Everglades photography exhibit is on display now through March 13 at the Arts Council’s Court House Cultural Center in Stuart. We're offering after-hours access to the exhibit to our Marjory's Circle members. Email info@everglades.org to book a private visit to see the exhibit.

Allie Preston2021-01-20T13:19:42-05:00January 20th, 2021|Wildlife Habitat|

Friends of the Everglades Opposes Changes to Miami-Dade’s Urban Development Boundary

The following comments, opposing changes to Miami-Dade County's urban development boundary (UDB), were submitted on behalf of Friends of the Everglades by attorney Richard Grosso. CLICK HERE to read the comments in full. Repealing the systematic approach to UDB amendments that has existed for years would greatly harm the comprehensive part of comprehensive planning in Miami-Dade County. The UDB is the cornerstone of the County’s land use planning approach that is so necessary to protect its fragile and increasingly scarce farmland, Biscayne Bay and Everglades national parks and ecosystems. Considering UDB amendment applications on a consistent schedule allows for a holistic approach to planning and reflects the fact that such amendments should be rarely granted. To change this long-standing approach [...]

Allie Preston2021-06-10T16:19:44-04:00January 19th, 2021|All Posts, Friends of the Everglades Statements, Homestead Air Reserve Base|

Join our next Clean Water Conversation: Revisiting the Toxic Puzzle

2018 is a year that most Floridians will never forget. That year, widely recalled as "Toxic18," put toxic algae and its link to serious public health concerns on the map in South Florida. That year, we saw devastating consequences after another summer of toxic Lake Okeechobee discharges. People got sick, dogs died, businesses suffered, and the most destructive red ride in years persisted with help from the constant source of nutrients. Samples collected during significant cyanobacterial blooms of 2016 and 2018 and tested by Dr. Paul Alan Cox's team from the Brain Chemistry Labs in Jackson, WY found concentrations of microcystin 10,000 times greater than that allowed by the state of Ohio for recreational waters. In the years since then, [...]

Allie Preston2021-01-20T09:00:59-05:00January 11th, 2021|All Posts, Clean Water Conversations, Human Health and Safety, Toxic Algae|

Fix the FLO Summit Invitation

Fix the FLO Summit Thursday, December 17, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friends of the Everglades joins the Rivers Coalition, the Florida Oceanographic Society, and the Indian Riverkeeper in welcoming virtual attendees to join the first Fix the FLO Summit using the following Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89623472723 Tune in to hear from state and federal lawmakers representing the St. Lucie Estuary region of the Greater Everglades as they communicate their plans for addressing water quality and quantity issues related to Lake Okeechobee discharges that plague our local waterways. Featured Lawmakers: - Congressman Brian Mast - State Senator Gayle Harrell - State Rep. John Snyder - State Rep. Toby Overdorf - State Rep. Dana Trabulsy We hope you will join us Dec. 17 at [...]

Allie Preston2020-12-15T14:38:32-05:00December 15th, 2020|All Posts, Everglades Restoration|

We can end toxic discharges

Lake Okeechobee discharges continue, but there’s an end in sight. An announcement made today by the Army Corps of Engineers confirmed that they would lessen the polluted lake releases to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries. The following is the release transition plan for the Caloosahatchee River Estuary: The first week target measured at the S-77 flood gates will be in addition to any local basin runoff. The following weeks will be measured at the S-79 and the targets will include Lake Okeechobee and local basin runoff. The following is the release plan for the St. Lucie River Estuary: While no lake water is released during the pauses for each “pulse,” local basin runoff may require flows through [...]

Allie Preston2020-12-11T14:52:40-05:00December 11th, 2020|All Posts, Toxic Algae|

Friends of the Everglades LOSOM PDT Comments Tell Army Corps to Fix the FLO

The following comments from Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades, were delivered during the Nov. 20 meeting of the Project Delivery Team developing the new Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual for the Army Corps of Engineers: We are reminded this year of the highly variable nature of Florida’s rainfall, which can vary upwards of 40 inches a year between wet and dry years. This year, it almost felt like we had both packed into one. The Everglades were literally on fire in April, and now Eta has dropped record rainfall on us in November, leading to damaging discharges to the northern estuaries that have continued for more than a month. This year also reminds us how much [...]

Allie Preston2020-11-20T14:49:17-05:00November 20th, 2020|All Posts, Friends of the Everglades Statements|

Sign the petition to Fix the FLO!

Allie Preston2020-11-12T09:02:37-05:00November 10th, 2020|Action Alerts, All Posts, Everglades Restoration, Lake Okeechobee, LOSOM|

Toxic Discharge Update: St. Lucie Locks 11-09-20

Scenes from the St. Lucie Lock and Dam captured Monday morning, November 9. Last week, the Army Corps of Engineers predicted that heavy rain from Tropical Storm Eta could raise the level of Lake Okeechobee by as much as 10 inches, suggesting that up to a month more of lake discharges to the northern estuaries may be necessary. The St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries have already suffered immense damage from the current Lake Okeechobee discharges. These delicate ecosystems cannot withstand another month of harm.

Allie Preston2020-11-09T15:03:55-05:00November 9th, 2020|St. Lucie Estuary|

61 Everglades Coalition organizations oppose development of Homestead Air Base

The Everglades Coalition has released a resolution adamantly opposing expanded operations at the Homestead Air Reserve Base including large passenger or cargo traffic commercial aviation. EVCO is comprised of 61 organizations, including Friends of the Everglades, dedicated to the protection and restoration of America’s Everglades. Read the full resolution below. For more information about environmentalists' opposition to a proposal that could lead to commercial flights out of Homestead Air Reserve Base, read a letter submitted to Mayor Gimenez and the Miami-Dade County Commission on behalf of Friends of the Everglades by attorney Paul J. Schwiep by clicking here.

Allie Preston2021-06-10T16:20:25-04:00November 3rd, 2020|Friends of the Everglades Statements, Homestead Air Reserve Base|

Friends of the Everglades Opposes FDEP’s Application to Assume Federal Wetlands Permitting

Friends of the Everglades joined Earthjustice and a number of other local, state, and national organizations in signing onto comments opposing the transfer of federal wetland permitting to the state department of environmental protection. Florida’s developers have been pushing for this handover to the state for decades. The environmental community stands steadfastly against the state's request to assume administration of a Clean Water Act Section 404 program because this would jeopardize vital natural resources at a time of unprecedented population growth combined with striking environmental degradation. Of particular concern, Florida proposes to take on the consequential responsibility of a Section 404 program without devoting an additional cent of resources to the undertaking. The proposal comes at a time when the [...]

Allie Preston2020-11-03T12:20:03-05:00November 3rd, 2020|All Posts, Friends of the Everglades Statements|

About Allie Preston