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Creative expression shapes environmental stewardship for intern, Frances Josma

Enjoy this piece written by our 2026 Karen Mashburn Environmental Scholar, Frances Josma. Think about the last time a poem, film, or performance shifted your perspective, even slightly, on any given topic. I’ve come to believe that art is one of the most powerful tools for environmental stewardship because it changes how we see the natural world. I have come to this idea through reading about the endeavors of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, working with Friends of the Everglades, and my participation in an environmental project, “The Butterfly Affect: Eco-Puppetry for Envisioning a Joyful Environmental Praxis.” I think that it’s worth putting a greater focus on how artistic expression has the power to reshape how we value the natural world. [...]

Amanda Purnell2026-08-17T16:41:08-04:00August 17th, 2026|All Posts, Karen Mashburn Environmental Scholars Internship and Scholarship, Young Friends of the Everglades|

5 important facts about Florida Bay

Florida Bay Dreaming When you think of the Everglades, wide open views of cumulus cloud-dotted blue skies and swaying sawgrass probably come to mind. But the slow moving River of Grass has to flow somewhere, and traditionally, that has been to the large, shallow Florida Bay estuary. Unfortunately, in the last 100 years, man-made changes forced a redirection of the natural flow of water, depriving Florida Bay of the freshwater it needs to thrive. (Thankfully, we know the solution to that problem.) Keep reading for five important facts about our favorite subtropical bay. 1. Florida Bay is the southernmost portion of Everglades National Park A majority of the bay, [...]

Leah Voss2026-07-24T11:59:20-04:00August 4th, 2026|All Posts, Everglades National Park, Everglades Zen, Florida Bay, Rescue the River of Grass|

Dr. Jennifer Rehage: To save Florida Bay, we must restore the flow

https://youtu.be/1rWBCbAMMcI?si=s0fbOOu2QqKJo90E “Florida Bay is chronically starved of freshwater… we’re just one drought away from a major disaster.” — Dr. Jennifer Rehage In the southern reaches of the Everglades, freshwater that slowly winds its way from Lake Okeechobee through marshes, sloughs and wetlands eventually mixes with the sea in the shallow waters of Florida Bay. Nearly the entire bay lies within Everglades National Park, supporting a renowned recreational fishery that contributes hundreds of millions of dollars to South Florida’s economy each year. But this extraordinary ecosystem depends on something that’s been in short supply for generations — clean freshwater. Without enough freshwater, salinity rises, seagrass becomes stressed and the delicate balance that sustains fish, birds and other wildlife begins [...]

Allie Preston2026-07-22T16:14:23-04:00July 23rd, 2026|All Posts, Rescue the River of Grass|

A 5-point Plan for Remediation, Restoration, and Protection of the Everglades After “Alligator Alcatraz”

Friends of the Everglades sent the following letter to Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava on July 2, 2026, to ensure transparency and public input guide what happens at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport after the closure of a mass immigration detention center on the property. The letter outlines outlines a Five-Point plan for Remediation, Restoration, and Protection of the Everglades After “Alligator Alcatraz.”

admin2026-07-09T13:57:22-04:00July 2nd, 2026|All Posts, Alligator Alcatraz, Friends of the Everglades Statements|

A fighting chance for the Indian River Lagoon

https://youtu.be/gL150lmeXkc?si=7mgZvsWc76nRYdcT The Indian River Lagoon is a place of extraordinary beauty and abundance. Stretching 156 miles up Florida’s east coast, its depths historically nurtured seagrass meadows, thriving oyster reefs and thousands of marine species, making it one of North America’s most biodiverse estuaries. In its southern reaches, the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon converge, mixing fresh and saltwater. These scenic waterways create an interconnected ecosystem that sustains a way of life, supporting fishing, boating, tourism and local economies that have defined the Treasure Coast for generations. But the future of this remarkable ecosystem is increasingly uncertain. Over 100 years of channelization has altered the natural flow of water across the Greater Everglades. In the St. Lucie River [...]

Allie Preston2026-06-29T16:56:50-04:00June 30th, 2026|All Posts, Florida Legislative Tracker, Florida Legislature, Rescue the River of Grass, St. Lucie Estuary|

Statement from our Executive Director on the removal of detainees from “Alligator Alcatraz”

June 17, 2026 Statement from Friends of the Everglades Executive Director Eve Samples on detainees being removed from "Alligator Alcatraz:" “‘Alligator Alcatraz’ will go down as one of the biggest policy failures in American history. Our government failed to protect the Everglades and failed to follow basic environmental laws — while racking up an estimated $1 billion tab paid by taxpayers. Friends of the Everglades and our many allies have fought for a full year to hold the state and federal government accountable for this assault, and this week’s news shows the pressure worked. But the work is not done. ICE’s decision to remove detainees, if true, is overdue and welcome news, yet threats to the Everglades persist. We [...]

Leah Voss2026-06-17T15:36:21-04:00June 17th, 2026|All Posts, Alligator Alcatraz|

One year (too many) of “Alligator Alcatraz”

What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, state and federal officials brazenly ignored our most fundamental environmental laws to build a mass detention center on hallowed ground in the Everglades. They dubbed it “Alligator Alcatraz” and slapped the name on t-shirts and stickers. It was always more political stunt than public policy — and it totally backfired. “Alligator Alcatraz” was a failure by every measure: the massive waste of taxpayer dollars; the harm to the Everglades; the disregard for Miccosukee tribal lands and lives; the insult to Big Cypress National Preserve, which encircles the site. It’s been said that national parks were America’s best idea … “Alligator Alcatraz” was one of its worst. The legal action we filed [...]

Allie Preston2026-06-15T16:03:26-04:00June 16th, 2026|All Posts, Alligator Alcatraz, Voice of the Everglades|

“I am the mangrove” — a visual love letter to the Indian River Lagoon

SIGN YOUR NAME TO RESCUE THE RIVER OF GRASS ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dear Friend, I am the mangrove. I build. Quietly, quietly, through the blazing days, Through the breathing nights, I thrust my grey roots, Building. I have spent this spring documenting segments of the Indian River Lagoon, building a story of the estuary using my cameras. The story is as spectacular as the river is resilient. There is rich Indigenous history, which I learned more about while reading Indian River Lagoon: An Environmental History. There is my own history with this waterway — having told its stories throughout my career, having made my own glorious memories [...]

Leah Voss2026-06-15T13:15:58-04:00June 10th, 2026|All Posts, Everglades Zen, Florida Legislative Tracker, Rescue the River of Grass, St. Lucie Estuary|

‘Alligator Alcatraz’ is STILL open — and we’re still fighting

If we’ve learned one thing since “Alligator Alcatraz” was built on hallowed ground in the Everglades last summer, it’s this: We can’t take government assertions about the detention center at face value. “Aligator Alcatraz” was planned in secret. Built in secret. And, for more than 10 months, it has operated in secret — on sensitive swampland encircled by Big Cypress National Preserve. “Alligator Alcatraz” was built in the footprint of the most recent congressionally authorized Everglades restoration project, the $2 billion Western Everglades Restoration Project, with zero regard for the threat to that taxpayer investment. The secrecy continues now, following reports that the facility is slated to close. On May 7, The New York Times broke the news that [...]

Allie Preston2026-05-19T09:50:54-04:00May 19th, 2026|All Posts, Alligator Alcatraz, Voice of the Everglades|

We won’t stop fighting until “Alligator Alcatraz” is officially shut down

Reports say “Alligator Alcatraz” may be closing, but we’re keeping our foot on the gas The end is near for “Alligator Alcatraz.” It can’t come soon enough. Ten months after DeSantis appointee James Uthmeier announced the political stunt as a “low-cost opportunity,” reports confirm that the ICE detention facility’s days are numbered. According to the New York Times, vendors were told that detainees would be moved out by early June, with the facility dismantled in the weeks that follow. As of today, the site is still operating. We will not stop fighting until “Alligator Alcatraz” is officially shut down, all construction is removed, and harm at the site is remediated. Until then, we are continuing full [...]

Allie Preston2026-05-13T15:03:43-04:00May 13th, 2026|All Posts, Alligator Alcatraz|