“I’m always on the water. I started seeing the direct impacts of these Lake O discharges.”
– Jake Portwood, L2O paddle race coordinator
On Saturday, April 12, just after sunrise, dozens of paddlers launched into the Lake Okeechobee waterway for a grueling 36-mile trek to the Atlantic Ocean. But this wasn’t just a race — it was a mission.
Paddlers racing from Port Mayaca to Sandsprit Park in Stuart followed the same route toxic discharges take when released from Lake Okeechobee, through the St. Lucie Locks and into the most biodiverse estuary in the United States. By retracing this destructive path, paddlers brought urgent attention to the environmental, economic and public health consequences of Florida’s broken water management system.
Race organizer Jake Portwood, a native Floridan and passionate waterman, knows the damage these discharges cause to downstream communities. That firsthand experience inspired him to turn awareness into action. In creating the L2O Paddle Race, Jake aimed to rally support and funding for meaningful change.
Proceeds from the race supported Friends of the Everglades’ Rescue the River of Grass campaign — a bold push for solutions that stop harmful discharges and restore the natural flow of clean water south to the Everglades by calling for public acquisition of critical land in the Everglades Agricultural Area.
This was more than a paddle. It was a powerful demonstration of purpose fueled by passion — and a push for a future where Florida’s waters are protected for all.
