2017 Everglades Coalition Conference
The 32nd annual Everglades Coalition conference was held January 5th — 8th, 2017 at the Sanibel Harbor Marriott Resort in Fort Myers, Florida. The theme was “Three Estuaries, One Solution”, and the Conservancy was pleased to participate as a sponsor.
The Conservancy was also well-represented at the conference, with staff, board members and volunteers participating. A central focus of the conference was the need to acquire land south of Lake Okeechobee in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) now for additional storage. Such acquisition is within our reach, as a bill to buy 60,000 acres south of the lake will be proposed this legislative session, thanks to the leadership of Senate President Joe Negron.
Such acquisition will allow for significant storage and treatment of water, which will then be released into the southern Everglades. This storage will provide benefit to the Caloosahatchee, St. Lucie and Florida Bay estuaries by reducing damaging high-flow discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the east and west estuaries, and storing, treating, and conveying clean water south to Florida Bay.
The Conservancy has made supporting Senator Negron’s proposal one of our top Legislative priorities. While the Florida Legislative Session begins March 7th, Legislative Committees have already begun, so please stay tuned and be ready to take action when you receive your Conservancy Action Alert. Not signed up to receive alerts? Click here to sign up!
Conservancy Hosts Everglades Coalition Breakfast and Speakers
In Florida, the connection between land and water intersects with accommodating future development and protecting critical water resources.
Florida’s population is now at 20.6 million people. We’re the 3rd most populous state in the union, and we are adding more than 1,000 new residents per day.
It is no surprise that the Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR) projects we will reach 33.7 million people by 2070. This will be an increase of 14.9 million more people than in 2010. Moreover, we know the manner in which we develop has a tremendous impact on the amount of water we use.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS), the University of Florida’s Geoplan Center, and 1000 Friends of Florida partnered to create Florida 2070 and Water 2070, a series of maps that project how the current growth pattern could impact our state by 2070. For the Everglades, the picture should concern us all, with the potential for a sprawl pattern of development to branch out south of Lake Okeechobee into the very areas identified as critical for additional water storage.
But, we have the power to shape our future. Alternatives do exist. 1000 Friends of Florida staff members Vivian Young and Thomas Hawkins spoke to the conference attendees about these reports and explained how thoughtful and strategic planning for future growth protects the Everglades, while at the same time being fiscally prudent.
Conservancy Honors Partners at Awards Reception
The Everglades Coalition voted to honor the Conservancy’s nominee, Dr. Karen Dwyer, as the 2017 co-recipient of the John V. Kabler Grassroots Activism Award. Dr. Dwyer who founded the citizens grassroots action group Stonecrab Alliance, has been a valuable ally in the fight against inappropriate oil drilling in Southwest Florida. Dr. Dwyer worked very closely with the Conservancy on protecting sensitive lands from oil drilling activities and on many other projects.
The Everglades Coalition also honored Mayor of Sanibel Kevin Ruane –a strong advocate for the Caloosahatchee River- and Gayle Ryan –another citizen activist focusing on the St. Lucie River protection- with awards. Additionally, Earthjustice lawyer David Guest, who has represented the Conservancy on a number of critical cases, including Numeric Nutrient Criteria to address toxic algae blooms, was inducted into the Everglades Coalition Hall of Fame — its highest honor.
Read more from our other departments:
Wildlife
Science
Education
