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Environmental Policy & Advocacy

Ensuring that our region’s leaders have the tools to make informed decisions is a critical role of the Conservancy. The Policy team ensures the proper stewardship of Southwest Florida’s natural resources by actively taking on regional issues to make a difference.

Lake Okeechobee management up for once-in-a-decade discussion

Lake Okeechobee management up for once-in-a-decade discussion

This summer marks the homestretch of a three-year long planning process that will dictate how Lake Okeechobee is managed for the next 7–10…
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Conservancy of SWFL
Jun 15, 2021
Longwater and Bellmar Villages

Longwater and Bellmar Villages

Help us stop Collier County from getting a raw deal
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Conservancy of SWFL
May 21, 2021
2021 Legislative Session Wrap Up

2021 Legislative Session Wrap Up

The 2021 Legislative Session ended with mixed results for environmental protection. While some positive legislation was approved, we cannot…
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Conservancy of SWFL
May 13, 2021
Collier County is at a crossroads and its future hangs in the balance.

Collier County is at a crossroads and its future hangs in the balance.

On Tuesday, May 25, the Collier County Board of County Commissioners will cast the final vote on two proposed 1,000-acre villages, called…
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Conservancy of SWFL
May 11, 2021
Working Together to Address Panther-Vehicle Collisions

Working Together to Address Panther-Vehicle Collisions

In 2020, 19 endangered Florida panthers were struck and killed by vehicles. The latest estimates show only 120–230 panthers remain in the…
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Conservancy of SWFL
May 11, 2021
City of Naples takes steps to improve water quality

City of Naples takes steps to improve water quality

Written by Environmental Policy Specialist Kelly McNab
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Conservancy of SWFL
Apr 13, 2021
Rookery Bay and Picayune Strand Tours with City of Miami Commissioner Ken Russell

Rookery Bay and Picayune Strand Tours with City of Miami Commission...

On Thursday, April 1, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida hosted City of Miami Commissioner Ken Russell, South Florida Water Management…
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Conservancy of SWFL
Apr 12, 2021
Old Tamiami Trail Road Removal

Old Tamiami Trail Road Removal

On April 7, we celebrated what would have been Marjory Stoneman Douglas’ 131st birthday and we are excited to share good news on the…
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Conservancy of SWFL
Apr 12, 2021
Conservancy disappointed in Longwater vote

Conservancy disappointed in Longwater vote

The Conservancy is disappointed in the vote on Longwater and stands by its analysis that Longwater is inconsistent with the Collier County…
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Conservancy of SWFL
Apr 2, 2021
Villages threaten to change what you love about Southwest Florida

Villages threaten to change what you love about Southwest Florida

ACT NOW
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Conservancy of SWFL
Mar 30, 2021
Forever Starts Now

Forever Starts Now

The proposed villages in eastern Collier County threaten to change what we love about Southwest Florida, and that’s why the Conservancy is…
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Conservancy of SWFL
Mar 24, 2021
Developer wants us to pay for two new sprawling villages in primary panther habitat

Developer wants us to pay for two new sprawling villages in primary...

Public hearings continued to Thursday, March 18
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Conservancy of SWFL
Mar 15, 2021
SCCF & Conservancy of Southwest Florida Partner in Hiring Water Analyst

SCCF & Conservancy of Southwest Florida Partner in Hiring Water Ana...

To further a commitment to regional water quality and Everglades restoration through a unified front, SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation…
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Conservancy of SWFL
Mar 11, 2021
Florida Begins to Implement Unlawful Clean Water Act Permitting Program, Thousands of Acres at Risk

Florida Begins to Implement Unlawful Clean Water Act Permitting Pro...

By Amber Crooks, Environmental Policy Manager, Conservancy of Southwest Florida
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Conservancy of SWFL
Mar 11, 2021
Developer wants us to pay for two new sprawling villages in primary panther habitat

Developer wants us to pay for two new sprawling villages in primary...

Public hearing Thursday, March 4
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Conservancy of SWFL
Feb 26, 2021
Developer wants taxpayers to pay for two new sprawling villages in primary panther habitat

Developer wants taxpayers to pay for two new sprawling villages in ...

Written by Senior Environmental Planning Specialist April Olson
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Conservancy of SWFL
Feb 15, 2021
Collier County is poised for another mega-blunder

Collier County is poised for another mega-blunder

Written by Conservancy Senior Environmental Planning Specialist April Olsen
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Conservancy of SWFL
Jan 18, 2021
Conservancy and partners sue to protect Florida wetlands

Conservancy and partners sue to protect Florida wetlands

Announced today, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and our partners have filed suit against the US Environmental Protection Agency…
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Conservancy of SWFL
Jan 14, 2021
36th Annual Everglades Coalition

36th Annual Everglades Coalition

Registration is now open for the 36th annual Everglades Coalition Conference, the largest yearly forum dedicated to the restoration…
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Conservancy of SWFL
Jan 14, 2021
U.S. EPA to Decide On Wetland Destruction Proposal in December

U.S. EPA to Decide On Wetland Destruction Proposal in December

By Amber Crooks, Environmental Policy Manager
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Conservancy of SWFL
Dec 16, 2020
Fertilizer ordinance wins this season

Fertilizer ordinance wins this season

Written by: Conservancy of Southwest Florida Environmental Policy and Advocacy team
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Conservancy of SWFL
Dec 14, 2020
Despite budget crisis, Florida is doubling down on costly and destructive plans

Despite budget crisis, Florida is doubling down on costly and destr...

Nicole Johnson | Director of Environmental Policy, Conservancy of Southwest Florida
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Conservancy of SWFL
Oct 21, 2020
The Latest on Lake Okeechobee Releases

The Latest on Lake Okeechobee Releases

Lake Okeechobee just hit the 16 foot mark last week, which triggers another section of the operations that guide how the Army Corps of…
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Conservancy of SWFL
Oct 16, 2020
Stop the destructive toll roads

Stop the destructive toll roads

Help us stop 140 miles of new toll roads that will destroy wetlands and Florida Panther habitat at a cost of more than $3 billion dollars…
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Conservancy of SWFL
Oct 7, 2020
Concerns over sprawl dominate public hearings for eastern Collier

Concerns over sprawl dominate public hearings for eastern Collier

The Collier County Planning Commission, on September 3, concluded day one of two scheduled public hearings to discuss amendments to the…
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Conservancy of SWFL
Sep 14, 2020
Last attempts to ensure Naples’ charm is not a distant memory

Last attempts to ensure Naples’ charm is not a distant memory

The rules upon which development, preservation and agriculture are based for the 300 square mile in eastern Collier County, called the…
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Conservancy of SWFL
Aug 27, 2020
Conservancy endorses Conservation Collier referendum

Conservancy endorses Conservation Collier referendum

The high stakes of November’s election has loomed for months over the Conservancy. We’ve been busy reviewing poll results, strategizing…
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Conservancy of SWFL
Aug 14, 2020
Conservancy supports one citizen’s efforts to preserve a priceless piece of natural Florida

Conservancy supports one citizen’s efforts to preserve a priceless ...

By Gladys Delgadillo | Conservancy Environmental Policy Specialist
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Conservancy of SWFL
Aug 14, 2020
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