Next up on The Everglades Story: Big Sugar’s influence, the freshwater crisis and toxic algae blooms
“Is a sugar industry that has profited so richly from the bounty of soil the Everglades provides, willing to sell some of that land so that ALL of us may have a better future?” -Michael Williams, Episode 4 of The Everglades Story Last week, we debuted the first three episodes of The Everglades Story with Michael Williams — short videos that examined the beauty and necessity of what the Everglades ecosystem provides to Floridians. This week, we are zooming in on the top threats facing the Everglades, and you are probably all too familiar with them. The sugar industry has plenty of access to water, drainage and financial protections — both through government supports and taxpayers covering the cost [...]
Take action now to stop Big Sugar’s favorite bill
Big Sugar’s favorite bill is on the move in the Florida House - and we need your help to stop the momentum. House Bill 433 is a sweeping agricultural proposal that would expand Florida’s existing “food libel law” by allowing Florida’s sugar industry to sue anyone who disparages its product or farming practices (like burning sugarcane fields prior to harvest). A companion bill (SB 290) is stalled in the Florida Senate, but House Bill 433 is being fast-tracked and will be heard Wednesday by the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Budget Committee. This bill is an outrageous assault on Floridians’ freedom of speech. We need you to contact members of the subcommittee and tell them to vote NO [...]
Introducing The Everglades Story with Michael Williams
“You and I can no more live and thrive without the Everglades, than we can exist without clean air and sunshine.” -Michael Williams, Episode 1 of The Everglades Story The Everglades behold great value for Florida and those who call it home. This unique ecosystem is a source of life: our clean drinking water. It is a respite for humans and habitat to some of the world’s most imperiled species. To appreciate the Everglades, to protect them, we must first understand them. That’s why, together with former news anchor Michael Williams, we’re proud to introduce The Everglades Story, a nine-part video series examining the history of the Everglades, spotlighting their beauty and explaining the major challenges facing the ecosystem [...]
Lake Okeechobee Recovery Operations After Action Report — Our letter to the Army Corps of Engineers
On January 14, 2026, Friends of the Everglades submitted a formal letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding Recovery Operations, which involved discharges to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries beginning in December 2024 and ending March 29, 2025. Friends of the Everglades asked that the “after action report” gauge the effectiveness of Recovery Operation include an analysis of whether water levels in Lake Okeechobee could have been sufficiently reduced without harmful discharges; and that the report include impacts on seagrass, oysters, water quality, fish and other wildlife. Friends also asked for a detailed analysis of whether and how submerged aquatic vegetation benefitted from the drawdown of the lake.
WATCH NOW — Live 2026 Florida legislative session preview
https://youtube.com/live/K7P2IeqFbHo?feature=share _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Today's livestream with Executive Director Eve Samples and Policy Director Gil Smart was a crash course in what to expect during Florida’s annual 60-day legislative session that begins Tuesday, January 13. The biggest takeaway? There’s no shortage of bad bills being proposed, but with vigilance and accountability, we can meet this moment head-on. Make preparations to stand with us this session: ✅ Bookmark our Legislative Accountability hub to sign up for action alerts, stay updated on bills and review our legislative priorities ✅ Read our concise pre-session report to get up to speed on what’s coming down the pike ✅ Educate your network by sharing today’s live conversation with friends Stay engaged, stay informed and thanks to [...]
📸 2025 in the Everglades — Photos of Stunning Beauty Worth Protecting
A year of Everglades beauty worth protecting Dear Friend, What a journey this year has been. In 2025, our work began with the launch of our science-backed Everglades restoration campaign, Rescue the River of Grass. In January, this work took me on a two-day trip through the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), into Everglades National Park, then down to the Florida Keys as I documented areas important to the movement. These were quiet days in nature as I captured the ecosystem bursting with life — and the voices of allies who boldly endorsed this effort that calls on the state to use voter-approved funds to [...]
Sunflower blooms at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary bring beauty and brawn to Everglades ecosystem
Wildflowers in bloom are autumn's colorful gift Dear Friend, Florida’s native wildflower blooms have become my favorite part of autumn. And although plants bloom throughout Florida’s seasons, there is something special about the pops of color appearing here in South Florida while other states experience the fall foliage of orange, yellow and red leaves. Sometimes one just gets a quick glimpse, like passing by a field in bloom on the side of the interstate. These sunny roadsides are prime locations for patches of wildflowers, but don’t always allow for up close and personal observation. Southeastern Sunflowers blooming by the millions at Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary do allow for [...]
Finding peace and quiet at Loxahatchee Slough Natural Area
Rain or shine, Florida's natural areas are worth exploring Peace and quiet can be hard to come by in South Florida, where constant threats to our beloved natural spaces shock us and development swells into places we never imagined it would. But I encourage you to take a breath, because tranquil pockets of nature still exist, and the stillness of an early morning in the Everglades ecosystem is the perfect antidote to anxiety. Rain or shine, they are worth visiting, as I did one recent moody morning. With Hurricanes Imelda and Humberto swirling offshore, I decided a sunrise visit to Loxahatchee Slough Natural Area in Palm [...]
Construction temporarily halted at “Alligator Alcatraz”
Today marked an important milestone in our legal battle to halt environmental harm caused by a mass detention center in the heart of the Everglades. Judge Kathleen Williams granted a 14-day temporary restraining order requested by Friends of the Everglades and our partners. That means new construction — including filling, paving, installation of new infrastructure and lighting — must stop immediately at “Alligator Alcatraz.” The judge’s decision followed two days of testimony from experts who detailed harm posed by industrial lighting and at least 20 acres of new pavement built on the site, among other impacts to the land and water within Big Cypress National Preserve. “We’re pleased that the judge saw the urgent need to put a pause [...]