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Friends of the Everglades 2025 Florida Legislature: End-of-session report

We scored some crucial wins this legislative session in Tallahassee — both on offense and defense. The Legislature passed, and Gov. DeSantis has promised to sign, landmark legislation  protecting Florida’s state parks. Several of the worst bills this session — the worst ideas this session — did not pass. And while some damaging bills did pass, and good proposals that would have protected Florida’s natural environment went nowhere, things could have been far worse. Unfortunately there’s still time for things to GET worse, as the House and Senate have not yet agreed on a budget, and could tack some of those bad ideas onto budget implementing bills as amendments. So the bottom line is, we’re not in the clear just [...]

2025-05-16T11:56:06-04:00May 16th, 2025|Florida Legislative Tracker, Florida Legislature|
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Your impact in the Everglades — View Friends of the Everglades’ 2024 Annual Report now!

The Everglades isn’t just a place. It’s a refuge for wildlife, for water and for people. Our 2024 Annual Report is a tribute to this incredible ecosystem and the individuals (including YOU!) who empower this movement to preserve, protect and restore it. It’s your passion and persistence that fuels our mission at Friends of the Everglades — allowing us to transform grassroots advocacy and sound science into smart policy and meaningful change.  This year’s report intentionally focuses on images of people out enjoying the Everglades, reflecting a powerful truth: Those who love and experience this special place become its strongest protectors. In turn, we find the solace and rejuvenation that only nature can provide.  Our executive director Eve Samples [...]

2025-05-15T11:35:49-04:00May 15th, 2025|Friends of the Everglades Statements, Who We Are|
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Watch the video highlights from the 4th Annual Marjory Stoneman Douglas Legacy Celebration

In April we gathered at The Biltmore in Coral Gables to celebrate our 4th Annual Marjory Stoneman Douglas Legacy Celebration. This year’s theme “Our Two National Treasures” brought hundreds of friends of the Everglades together to celebrate the incredible, one-of-a-kind ecosystem that is America’s Everglades and the internationally renowned, large-scale black and white photography of Clyde Butcher. Attendees were enthralled by Butcher’s keynote conversation and photography that captured the spirit of the Everglades. We honored environmental attorney Richard Grosso as this year’s Defender of the Everglades for his decades of legal advocacy — a moment made all the more special when he received a surprise proclamation from Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. And emcee Ron Magill lit up [...]

2025-05-15T11:43:48-04:00May 13th, 2025|All Posts, Defender of the Everglades Award, Marjory Stoneman Douglas Legacy Celebration|
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Tell the Palm Beach County Commission to OPPOSE the Southland rock mine!

The Southland rock mine proposal, planned for 8,600 acres in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), is being rushed through without full vetting from the South Florida Water Management District — despite claims to the contrary by the developer.  The proposed mine sits in an area critical to Everglades restoration — and yet it’s being fast-tracked based on misleading information and without the necessary public accountability. We need to act now so the Palm Beach County Commission votes NO at a public hearing on May 22 at 301 North Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, on the 6th floor. By sending this letter to Palm Beach County Commissioners, you’re standing with Friends of the Everglades to demand transparency, protect South [...]

2026-10-19T16:29:25-04:00May 8th, 2025|Action Alerts, Southland Rock Mine, Wildlife Habitat|
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WATCH: Everglades adventure — swamp walking in Big Cypress National Preserve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TShLhU1p04 Dear Friend, Are you craving slow, quiet time in the embrace of ancient trees rooted deep into the rich muck? I was, so I took a bold step into the heart of Big Cypress, where the waters calmly flow south to the Everglades, trees create a protective canopy and a humid habitat is rife with plant and animal species.  Swamp walking is a unique Everglades adventure that allows you to experience — with all of your senses — the riches of natural Florida. With water levels that can reach your chest, you’ll definitely be feeling it. Talk about forest bathing.  This slow-moving hike is also known as slough slogging, and is a must-do for anyone who admires the [...]

2025-05-05T15:22:41-04:00May 6th, 2025|Everglades Zen|
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Tell DeSantis to sign the State Park Preservation Act into law!

We’re one step away from a major victory for Florida’s state parks — and your voice is needed now more than ever. Yesterday we celebrated the unanimous passage of the State Park Preservation Act in the Florida House. The Senate unanimously approved the bill Wednesday. Now it’s up to Gov. DeSantis to sign it into law.  Throughout this process you have stood with us to make clear that Floridians want these places to remain wild and natural. With strong language prohibiting golf courses, hotel-style lodges and other harmful development, this bill will do just that.  We need you to lend your voice one last time to get this bill across the finish line.  Take action now. Contact Gov. [...]

2025-05-02T12:05:25-04:00May 2nd, 2025|Action Alerts, Florida Legislative Tracker, Florida Legislature, Save Florida's State Parks, Wildlife Habitat|
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BIG WIN for Florida’s State Parks!

https://youtu.be/tlVIlSUwPio?si=Ev_d6HJ3KZdmUl-1 We’ve got BIG news — and it’s worth celebrating!  The Florida House of Representatives just unanimously passed the State Park Preservation Act! 🏛️ The bill has now cleared both chambers of the Florida Legislature — and will now head to Gov. DeSantis’ desk. We need him to sign it into law! 🛑 This bill includes strong protections that prohibit golf courses, pickleball courts, hotel-like lodges and other harmful development in our beloved state parks. 📝 The original version of the bill had dangerous loopholes. Friends of the Everglades and our allies stepped up to close them. 💬 We brought our suggestions to Rep. Snyder — and he listened. HB 209 reflects our input! 🛡️ Sen. Harrell, with backup [...]

2025-05-01T15:48:55-04:00May 1st, 2025|Florida Legislative Tracker, Florida Legislature, Save Florida's State Parks|
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Tell state lawmakers to strengthen SB 80 to protect Florida’s state parks

New protections for Florida’s state parks are in sight — but we need your help. On Tuesday, the Florida Senate Fiscal Policy Committee passed Senate Bill 80, the parks protection bill sponsored by Sen. Gayle Harrell. It’s now headed to the Senate floor on April 29. But there’s a problem. The language in SB 80 isn’t tight enough. It might still allow inappropriate development and damage to the natural resources in our parks. The language in the bill passed by the House, HB 209, is more robust and preventive — and it’s imperative the Senate adopt that language in order to ensure the strongest possible protections for Florida’s state parks. Take action now. Contact your state lawmakers and [...]

2025-04-28T09:23:15-04:00April 23rd, 2025|Action Alerts, Florida Legislative Tracker, Florida Legislature, Save Florida's State Parks, Wildlife Habitat|
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Paddling with purpose: Jake Portwood and the L2O Paddle Race

https://youtu.be/5_u1o2oK42U?si=Xx2kYu2TT66fwxdd “I'm always on the water. I started seeing the direct impacts of these Lake O discharges.” - Jake Portwood, L2O paddle race coordinator On Saturday, April 12, just after sunrise, dozens of paddlers launched into the Lake Okeechobee waterway for a grueling 36-mile trek to the Atlantic Ocean. But this wasn’t just a race — it was a mission. Paddlers racing from Port Mayaca to Sandsprit Park in Stuart followed the same route toxic discharges take when released from Lake Okeechobee, through the St. Lucie Locks and into the most biodiverse estuary in the United States. By retracing this destructive path, paddlers brought urgent attention to the environmental, economic and public health consequences of Florida’s broken water [...]

2025-04-22T15:00:07-04:00April 23rd, 2025|All Posts, Rescue the River of Grass|
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