The Conservancy’s Ripple Effect

Making an Impact for Water Quality and Protection of our Everglades

It has been a hot and now very wet summer in Southwest Florida as you have no doubt experienced in person, or heard through the extended grapevine! I wanted to share with you some insights regarding our specific efforts to address the ongoing water quality challenges in our region and how our efforts are having a ripple effect on our community.

As an informative and engaging way to learn more about current water quality activities, I encourage you to attend the upcoming Save our Water summit hosted by The News-Press and Naples Daily News on August 21 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point. The Conservancy is proud to again serve as a sponsor and as presenters on local water quality solutions. We hope you can join us and share the invitation with friends. You can click here for details and to purchase tickets.

I know many of you are away this time of year, and wanted to update you more personally on our recent work on the water quality front. In addition to our participation in the Save our Water summit, the Conservancy has been working closely with key members of the Governor’s administration and the new leadership at the South Florida Water Management District. Our goals are to ensure decisions are made using science-based information, to maintain a sense of urgency to act now on water quality issues and to continue the positive momentum we’ve experienced in the past seven months. I’d like to share a few examples of our recent work:

• Joining Governor DeSantis, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Valenstein, Senator Bradley and other local leaders to thank the State for the record funding for Everglades restoration. This is a key issue for which the Conservancy has been advocating for many years. The funding allows the state to advance science-based recommendations to address Everglades issues.
• Participating and formally commenting at the State of Florida’s new Blue-Green Algae Task Force meeting in Fort Myers;
• Leading efforts to support the City of Naples passing a stricter and more protective fertilizer ordinance, in order to reduce excess nutrients flowing into our waterways;
• Meeting with staff and appointed leadership of the DEP and South Florida Water Management District to share our recommended policy solutions;
• Reviewing and commenting on the State of Florida’s “Triennial Review” of state water quality standards;
• Providing leadership to the Everglades Coalition. Our Environmental Policy Manager, Marisa Carrozzo, is the Co-chair of the 62-member coalition working to advance the restoration and protection of America’s Everglades;
• Advocating against any further seismic exploration for oil resources in the Big Cypress National Preserve, which to date has caused significant surface impacts to this very sensitive wetland which form one of the most critical pieces of the Western Everglades system.

We have been busy! As you know, the Conservancy has a long tradition of digging deep into the complex issues, and offering science-based policy solutions for which we can advocate together.

Right now there is a historically significant window of opportunity to advance the Conservancy’s long-standing water quality positions. There is an alignment of interests among decision makers, State leadership, businesses and the greater community to advance substantial and meaningful solutions to our water issues. I encourage you to continue your support and engagement with us we are having an impact!

As always, we thank you for your generous support of our mission to protect Southwest Florida’s water, land, wildlife and future.

Sincerely,

Rob Moher
President and CEO
Conservancy of Southwest Florida