Artisan Using Advanced Tool Skill

Tell Governing Board members to choose Floridians over sugar   Dear manoj,   Since February 17, Lake Okeechobee's harmful discharges have wreaked havoc on Florida's northern coastal estuaries. Dark, polluted waters stain the St. Lucie, Caloosahatchee, and Lake Worth Lagoon, and an ominous early algae bloom in the northwest corner of Lake Okeechobee signals a potentially toxic summer ahead. The problem: A rigged system prioritizing sugarcane growers' drainage needs, leaving little room to redirect water south when needed most. The solution: More equitable use of 62,000-acres of stormwater treatment areas (STAs) south of the lake. Currently prioritized to clean agricultural runoff, these taxpayer-funded treatment marshes can be better utilized to store and treat water from Lake Okeechobee, safeguarding coastal estuaries and replenishing the Everglades. Who holds the key? The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board. With their authority, they c...

Friends of the Everglades LIVE recording available now!   Hi manoj,   It's safe to say that we may all feel a bit of the 2024 legislative session PTSD that Gil Smart described today,  but today's livestream discussion also outlined some bright spots to be proud of, as well as plenty of reasons to keep fighting.    Thanks to many Friends of the Everglades and other allies who contacted lawmakers, we celebrated the defeat of the worst proposals, like HB 789, through effective grassroots advocacy and collaboration with allies. But much work remains, as polluting industries continue to lobby for favors from Tallahassee lawmakers.   Thanks to everyone that tuned in with us today. You can review our big takeaways from session by viewing our Post-Session Report , available now at our Legislative Accountability hub .   If you missed the event, you can find the full recording by clicking the button below. WATCH THE RECORDING   This Frie...

This event will begin at noon today, March 21.   Hi manoj,   This is a reminder that our Friends of the Everglades LIVE: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Looking Back on Florida's 2024 Session will begin in 1 hour at 12:00 PM today, March 21.   Today's event will cover the specifics of Florida's 2024 annual Legislative session, which ended March 8. This session was marked by a number of industry-friendly bills, but also some noteworthy wins in the environmental community. Join Friends of the Everglades Executive Director Eve Samples and Policy Director Gil Smart as they break it all down in a live recap.   This event will be streamed to our Facebook page, YouTube channel, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram Live . Wherever you follow Friends of the Everglades, use the buttons below to join us.    A recap of the event will be added to the Latest News tab on our website shortly after the event. A recorded version will also be delivered directly ...

There are solutions. Why aren't more people talking about them? manoj  — Two weeks ago, Carl Hiaasen told us to "Stay pissed off." This week, we have reason to. Across the state, spring break is in full swing — a time that generally calls for easy days in the sun and water-filled activities. But on Florida's east and west coasts, dark plumes of pollution muddy the water. If you've got an uneasy sense of  déjà vu, you're not alone. We've been here before. It's time to fix the rigged system. In today's edition: "Listen to the water," but "Stay pissed off" Florida's 2024 legislative session is a wrap Young Friends in your schools   WATCH — EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ADDRESS Lake Okeechobee discharges are not a "necessary evil"   It's been just over a month since the Army Corps of Engineers opened the floodgates from Lake Okeechobee, causing polluted water to foul the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee river...