“A fist bump from the west coast to the east coast”
When Friends of the Everglades was founded in 1969 by Marjory Stoneman Douglas, it was with the recognition that the River of Grass was not an east vs. west ecosystem, but rather an entire, interconnected ecosystem. And what’s good for the east and west coast is also good for the southern end of the Everglades. That means sending more clean water south, thereby eliminating the threat of toxic discharges to the northern estuaries and replenishing the parched Everglades with lifegiving, fresh water.
The regional environments that make up the Greater Everglades ecosystem are varied and unique in makeup. Like pieces of a puzzle, each of them combines to create a larger, more spectacular whole. As the places that we love, they inspire many different voices of advocacy.
Yesterday, advocacy groups from across the state and political leaders representing opposite coasts stood together to urge the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to adopt a more equitable Lake Okeechobee management plan (LOSOM).
Together we insisted on eliminating toxic discharges to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries and the Lake Worth Lagoon by increasing dry season lake flows south to the Everglades, Everglades National Park, and Florida Bay.
Together we pushed for a management plan that doesn’t leave communities poisoned, businesses and livelihoods at risk, and natural places on the brink of disappearing.
Together, our fight is stronger.
