Blog - Page 49 of 63 - Friends of the Everglades

Big Cypress must be protected from oil drilling threat

Photo by Luis G. Falcon This month Friends of the Everglades joined Center for Biological Diversity, National Park Conversation Association, Natural Resources Defense Council, and more than 80 additional organizations in signing on to a letter sent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requesting that they object to the Burnett Oil Company, Inc.’s Section 404 Clean Water Act permit applications requesting to fill in waters of the U.S. to drill for oil in Big Cypress National Preserve. America's first national preserve, Big Cypress is part of the National Park system and a vital part of the Everglades. The proposed oil extraction activities are not in the public’s interest, and would be inconsistent with President Biden’s initiatives to combat [...]

Allie Preston2021-05-26T12:17:24-04:00May 26th, 2021|All Posts, Friends of the Everglades Statements|

Author Lori McMullen on “Among the Beautiful Beasts” — a tribute to the early life of Marjory Stoneman Douglas

Set in the early 1900s, Among the Beautiful Beasts is the untold story of the early life of Friends of the Everglades founder, Marjory Stoneman Douglas. Though not focused on the details of Marjory's later life — where she become known as a fearless and passionate environmental advocate — this novel weaves a story from the lesser-known details, outlining the path that lead Marjory to become the person that would pioneer a shifting perspective on the Everglades from worthless swamp to timeless treasure. Author Lori McMullen grew up in unincorporated Dade County, outside of Miami, and now lives with her family in Chicago. Friends of the Everglades asked Lori to share the inspiration behind her debut novel which becomes available to [...]

Allie Preston2021-05-26T11:09:00-04:00May 26th, 2021|Marjory Stoneman Douglas|

VIDEO: Breaking down Florida’s 2021 Legislative Session

Florida's 2021 legislative session left much to be desired for those worried about environmental issues. Today's Clean Water Conversation dived into a number of bills that did damage this session. We heard input from Rep. Anna Eskamani (even as she dashed between our event and potential House floor votes happening simultaneously during special session in Tallahassee!), from Executive Director of Florida Conservation Voters, Aliki Moncrief, as well as from our own Policy Director, Gil Smart and Executive Director Eve Samples. Each of them reminded us of the need to remain vigilant. Our voices matter, and together we have the numbers to impact environmental policy in Florida. If you missed the conversation today, you can find the full recording below. For more information [...]

Allie Preston2021-05-19T17:59:54-04:00May 19th, 2021|Clean Water Conversations, Florida Legislature|

Friends of the Everglades Legislative Report: 2021

We’re not sugarcoating it: The 2021 session of the Florida Legislature eroded environmental protections and failed to address the core of our state’s water-quality crisis: lack of enforceable pollution limits. The following is our analysis of the good, the bad and the ugly from the session that concluded April 30 in Tallahassee. JUMP TO: M-CORES Repeal Right to Farm Expansion Seaport Regulations Water Storage North of Lake Okeechobee Everglades Oil Drilling Blue-Green Algae Task Force Recommendations Florida Forever As of July 13, 2021, the following Legislative Report has been updated to reflect recent developments. It was shaping up as just another spring in Tallahassee. Then the money rolled in. With the federal American Rescue Plan funneling $10.2 billion into state [...]

Allie Preston2021-07-13T13:57:36-04:00May 18th, 2021|All Posts, Florida Legislature|

Tell the Army Corps to eliminate Big Sugar’s influence from LOSOM

Photo taken by the Lake Worth Waterkeeper of blue-green algae at the Lake Okeechobee Pahokee Marina on April 26, 2021 They’re at it again. Two sugarcane lobbyists have effectively written one of the plans that will dictate the management of Lake Okeechobee’s water for the next decade. As a Bullsugar supporter, you know this is unacceptable. The good news is there’s still time to stop this dangerous meddling. Join us in asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reject the “Alternative BB” plan, thereby limiting the sugar industry’s influence on the new Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual. Tell the Army Corps to prioritize protecting the public from toxic algae blooms, rather than protecting Big Sugar’s crop yields. [...]

Allie Preston2021-05-12T10:37:55-04:00May 12th, 2021|Action Alerts, Human Health and Safety, LOSOM|

Everglades Illustrated: Growing public health threat calls for bold action now.

The Everglades is vast, and restoration is complex. We're breaking it down visually for you. Growing public health threat requires bold action now. This photo could be a a glimpse into our future. The Lake Worth Waterkeeper captured the image of blue-green algae at the Lake Okeechobee Pahokee Marina on April 26, 2021 — a month shy of the official start to Florida's rainy season, and the same day that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection reported the microcystin concentration at the marina had reached 860 parts per billion — 107 times more toxic than the EPA recreational limit for safe human contact. Just five days later, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that the Lake Okeechobee blue-green algae bloom had [...]

Allie Preston2021-05-13T11:16:39-04:00May 11th, 2021|Action Alerts, All Posts, Everglades Illustrated, Toxic Algae|

It’s time for Gov. DeSantis to issue a State of Emergency on toxic algae

Photo taken at the Pahokee Marina 4-26-21 by the Lake Worth Waterkeeper. On April 26, 2021 the Florida Department of Environmental Protection reported the microcystin concentration at the Lake Okeechobee Pahokee Marina had reached 860 parts per billion — 107 times more toxic than the EPA recreational guideline for safe human contact. Just five days later, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that the Lake Okeechobee blue-green algae bloom had expanded to an estimated 300 square miles as indicated by satellite imagery. These blooms present a direct public health threat to communities living around and downstream of Lake Okeechobee and waterways impacts by toxic Lake Okeechobee discharges. The near-term outlook for the co-occurring blue-green algae and red [...]

Allie Preston2021-05-12T10:34:21-04:00May 10th, 2021|All Posts, Friends of the Everglades Statements, Toxic Algae|

LOSOM must increase Lake Okeechobee flows sent south

The new Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) will replace the current operating conditions outlined in LORS2008 in governing releases from Lake Okeechobee. Thousands of stakeholders have attended meetings and sent comments to the Army Corps of Engineers expressing the need for LOSOM to present a balanced, more equitable plan that protects residents from exposure to toxic algae blooms by sending more water south. Hard data, based on scientific modeling by the Corps, was intended to ensure that the new plan was rooted in solid science. Yesterday, Friends of the Everglades joined Stuart City Commissioner Vice-Mayor, Merritt Matheson, the Indian Riverkeeper, and Rivers Coalition in voicing concern to the Army Corps of Engineers that their current modeling for LOSOM will [...]

Allie Preston2021-05-10T09:20:56-04:00May 7th, 2021|All Posts, Friends of the Everglades Statements, LOSOM|

Environmental groups ask President Biden to Stop Expansion of Homestead Air Reserve Base

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 5, 2021 Contact: Eve Samples, eve.samples@everglades.org, 772-485-8164 **PRESS RELEASE** DEAR PRESIDENT BIDEN: Stop the Expansion of Homestead Air Reserve Base MIAMI—Today seven national and regional organizations delivered a letter to President Joe Biden requesting his intervention to halt any actions by the US Air Force that could lead to the installation of commercial and private cargo operations at the Homestead Air Reserve Base in Southern Florida at the edge of America’s most threatened national parks. Everglades Restoration is the most ambitious program to restore a dying ecosystem in the world. Environmentalists have long opposed local government’s intent to convert the air base in Florida for industrial, private commerce, despite a decades long controversy that involved dozens [...]

Allie Preston2021-06-10T16:16:53-04:00May 5th, 2021|All Posts, Friends of the Everglades Statements, Homestead Air Reserve Base|

Your moment of Everglades Zen: Florida’s favorite Big Cat

A rare glimpse of Wild Florida Primal. Graceful. Elusive. Threatened. This video, sent to us by a Friend of the Everglades, captures footage that not even lifelong Floridians are all lucky enough to see. Florida’s most iconic animal is also one of the most endangered mammals in the country. The state’s booming population and tendency toward fast and furious development are creating major issues for the species, as habitat encroachment and disturbed territorial roaming patterns cut into the expansive acreage necessary for their survival. Studies estimate that there are only 120-230 adult panthers left in the state. Making this video all the more special. Friends of the Everglades has stood with the No Roads to Ruin Coalition to take a [...]

Allie Preston2021-05-04T12:07:27-04:00May 4th, 2021|All Posts, Everglades Zen|