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 [...]

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 [...]

Last week, Friends of the Everglades and our partners at Bullsugar.org signed on to a Friend of the Court Amicus Brief in support of Maggy Hurchalla. The rights secured by the First Amendment act as a powerful tool allowing the public to communicate with elected officials. A petition for review of Maggy's case by the U.S. Supreme Court has been filed by attorney Richard Grosso. Our joint amicus brief signifies our support for her and for the outcome of this fight which could severely impact concerned citizens' rights to petition their government. In Maggy's own words, "It's a long shot. The Supreme Court gets hundreds of cases submitted and accepts very few. But if no one risks losing, we all [...]