Clean Water Conversations Archives - Friends of the Everglades

Recording available now! Clean Water Conversations: Northern Estuary Waterkeepers’ Toxic Discharge Update

We are grateful to all of you for joining us for our latest Clean Water Conversation: Northern Estuary Waterkeepers' Toxic Discharge Update. Today we were joined by Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani, Indian Riverkeeper Mike Conner, and Lake Worth Waterkeeper Reinaldo Diaz to get an update on the damages inflicted onto each of these northern estuaries by the recent start of Lake Okeechobee discharges. The impacts of Lake Okeechobee discharges on each of these ecosystems are devastating and far-reaching. Each time the flood gates open, local environments suffer, and the people that call these areas home are faced with exposure to dangerous cyanobacteria and tremendous economic loss. We are thankful to each of these Waterkeepers for serving as critical sources of local [...]

Allie Preston2020-11-03T12:20:18-05:00October 23rd, 2020|All Posts, Clean Water Conversations|

Recording Available Now! Clean Water Conversation: Stop the Burn

We are grateful to all of you for joining us for our latest Clean Water Conversation: Stop the Burn. Today we covered the environmental and health injustices of sugarcane burning. As our guest Patrick so poignantly emphasized, the history of Everglades restoration is scattered with instances where the reckless pursuit of short term profit was allowed to outweigh that of longterm human health and dignity. This outdated pre-harvest practice is another shocking example of a way that this shortsighted thinking still prevails to this day. Our guests today reminded us of the importance of collectively raising our voices against injustices and lifting up each other's individual experiences, as real human stories are often the most effective tool for fostering change. We can't say enough about the [...]

Allie Preston2020-09-01T15:51:19-04:00August 27th, 2020|All Posts, Clean Water Conversations|

Recording Available Now! Clean Water Conversations: Harmful Algal Bloom Expert Q&A

Thanks to all of you for joining us for another successful Clean Water Conversation. Today our guests, Dr. Walter Bradley and Dr. James Metcalf, covered the frightening topic of human health impacts related to toxic algae exposure. Many of you offered up your questions and concerns for discussion, highlighting very real fears that Floridians face due to toxic Lake Okeechobee discharges. The takeaway was direct and disturbing: these toxins present clear short and long-term risks to humans, to our pets, to animals that share these environments with us, and to crops that are irrigated with polluted water. We’re grateful to Doctors Bradley and Metcalf for their truly remarkable work, dedicated to understanding the dangers of HABs. They are [...]

Allie Preston2020-07-20T17:25:51-04:00July 16th, 2020|All Posts, Clean Water Conversations, Human Health and Safety|

Upcoming Clean Water Conversations: Harmful Algal Bloom Expert Q&A

For more than 70 years, the Army Corps has managed Lake Okeechobee without consideration for the health of those impacted in the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee watersheds and further south in Florida Bay. As a result, Floridians and their pets have been exposed to an array of serious near-term health threats. Additionally, researchers have linked toxins in discharged lakewater to increased long-term risks of liver failure, ALS, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Parkinson’s Disease. In our upcoming Clean Water Conversation, we’re offering the public a chance to converse candidly with harmful algal bloom (HAB) experts Dr. Walter Bradley and Dr. James Metcalf. We know Floridians have many concerns about Lake Okeechobee releases exposing people to dangerously high levels of toxins. Now is [...]

Allie Preston2020-07-20T17:26:34-04:00July 7th, 2020|All Posts, Clean Water Conversations, Human Health and Safety|

Recording Available Now! Clean Water Conversations: Revisiting “The Swamp”

Did you miss today's Clean Water Conversation featuring author of "The Swamp," Michael Grunwald? No worries! We've got you covered. Thank you to all of you who were able to join us today. We invite you to revisit parts of the conversation, or share it with friends, with a recorded version, available here. Huge thanks to Michael Grunwald for sharing his time and his thoughts on what's changed (and what hasn't) since "The Swamp" was published in 2006. It's clear that we continue to face an uphill battle, but let's face it, he's right — “This place is paradise...we have to figure out how we can all live here sustainably.” If you enjoyed this event, please consider helping us fund the [...]

Allie Preston2020-07-01T13:51:40-04:00June 25th, 2020|All Posts, Clean Water Conversations, Everglades Restoration|

Recording Available Now! Clean Water Conversations: What’s up with the EAA Reservoir?

Thank you to everyone that joined us today for our Clean Water Conversation surrounding the EAA Reservoir. If you missed parts of the conversation or want to share this with a friend, you can find the full recording HERE. https://youtu.be/vXu-UAoBr8s A big thank you goes out to Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch and Diana Umpierre for making this a successful and informative event. Today's topic of conversation will continue to evolve. We'll be sure to pass on new information and chances for the public to weigh in on the project as we come across them. We’ll keep you posted and hope you’ll join us for the next Clean Water Conversation. By the way, this effort is funded by people like you who care about protecting [...]

Allie Preston2020-07-01T13:55:10-04:00May 21st, 2020|All Posts, Clean Water Conversations, Everglades Restoration|

Join us virtually! Clean Water Conversation: What’s up with the EAA Reservoir?

What are you doing at noon Thursday? If you’re working from home, as I am, I hope you’ll grab a sandwich and tune in live to our next Clean Water Conversation, streamed via Friends of the Everglades’ Facebook page. The topic: What’s up with the EAA Storage Reservoir? No concept has dominated the conversation about Everglades restoration more than this project, and we have some important new developments to discuss. The $1.8 billion reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee is intended to send clean water south to the Everglades, while delivering a degree of relief from toxic Lake Okeechobee discharges to the northern estuaries. But the EAA Reservoir, as planned, is a shadow of the 60,000-acre undertaking once envisioned for the [...]

Allie Preston2020-07-01T13:55:26-04:00May 19th, 2020|All Posts, Clean Water Conversations, Everglades Restoration|

Clean Water Conversation Recording Available Now!

Video streaming glitches aside, we made it through our first Clean Water Conversation today! Technological difficulties are a humbling reminder that we’re adapting to the major shift to virtual advocacy. Thanks to all who stuck it out with us through the initial hiccups. If you missed parts of the conversation or want to share this with a friend, you can find the full recording HERE. https://youtu.be/xOWyz-sjMFY A big thank you goes out to Gary Goforth, Maggy Hurchalla, and Rae Ann Wessel for making this a successful and informative event. Remember: We hope you'll stay involved by tuning into the upcoming LOSOM PDT meeting happening virtually on April 30th at 1 p.m. You can find more information about that here. Thanks again [...]

Allie Preston2020-07-01T13:58:00-04:00April 23rd, 2020|All Posts, Clean Water Conversations, LOSOM|

Join our first Clean Water Conversation this Thursday

COVID-19 has not lessened the need for advocacy — it has simply changed the format. This week, we’re announcing the debut of a new livestream series called Clean Water Conversations. Our goal with these live video events is to keep you connected, informed, and aware of advocacy opportunities that you can participate in from the safety of your own home. You can tune in to our first one on your lunch break this Thursday, April 23rd at noon. The conversation will be streamed to Facebook Live. Sign up to attend by clicking HERE. If you’re unable to attend, or don’t use facebook, the event will be recorded and made available at a later date. Our first Clean Water Conversation will focus on the [...]

Allie Preston2020-07-01T13:58:36-04:00April 20th, 2020|All Posts, Clean Water Conversations, LOSOM|