Back to the bad old days with DeSantis picks for SFWMD board

When Gov. Ron DeSantis came into office in 2019 one of the first things he did was dismiss the sitting South Florida Water Management District Governing Board and appoint a new slate. No longer was the board dominated by special interests; now there were a few — gasp! — conservation-minded members.

It seemed like a new era. But that “new era” imploded last week as DeSantis filled two seats once held by "conservation-minded members" with developers.

That could have big consequences as the balance of the board now shifts back toward the historical norm — when special interests like Big Sugar called the shots.

For a look at the new board members, and what their appointments may mean to the clean-water cause, click the button below.

State parks update: Now what?

Things were looking up for the proposed legislation to protect Florida’s state parks from inappropriate development. Last week House Bill 209 was amended and approved by its final committee and ultimately passed by the full House on Wednesday, April 16. All the lobbying we — and you — did to tighten the language in this bill appeared to have paid off!

But the companion bill in the Senate, Senate Bill 80, did NOT get amended during its April 15 stop in the Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government. Instead, the bill passed "as is," and now heads to its final committee stop in Fiscal Policy next week before heading to the Senate floor — if it makes it.

Will the enhanced state parks protections in HB 209 ultimately be added to SB 80? If not, what does that mean for these bills — not to mention our state parks?

Stay tuned to our Facebook and X pages for the latest updates!

Is this the worst bill this session?

Every year there’s a lot of competition for the worst bill of the Florida Legislative session. This session is no different — but for those of us who care about wetlands, Senate Bill 492 and House Bill 1175 take the dirty-water cake.

Titled “Mitigation Banking,” these legislative proposals would, among other things, make it easier for developers to destroy wetlands. No longer would they have to purchase “mitigation credits” generated in the same basin by creating, restoring, preserving or enhancing wetlands to offset the impact of their projects. Instead, they could pay a little more and buy mitigation credits generated almost anywhere else in the state.

That means once a place like Orlando or Miami-Dade runs out of mitigation credits — because so much development has already taken place — no problem! We can just buy credits generated in, say, Franklin County, and plow ahead!

Franklin County may wind up with the best dang wetlands in Florida! But Orlando, Miami-Dade? Wave goodbye to those wetlands — ultimately, maybe all of them.

HB 1175 has already made it to the House floor; find your representative here and ask them to vote “no” on this destructive bill.

Rock mine update: Hearing pushed back to May 22

The Palm Beach County Commissioners' hearing on the proposed Southland rock mine project has been postponed after the applicant, Phillis & Jordan, requested more time. Now the hearing on the (de)merits of mining limestone on 8,600 acres south of Lake Okeechobee next to the EAA Reservoir will be held on Thursday, May 22.

More updates — and tips on what you can do to make a difference — as we get closer to the date.

ICYMI: Tampa Bay Times reports: Our water is getting dirtier

If you didn’t see the blockbuster stories by the Tampa Bay Times over the past few weeks detailing how Florida’s polluted waterways contributed to the massive die-off of manatees in recent years, definitely check it out. Not only did the Times document how pollution in the Indian River Lagoon in particular killed the seagrass manatees need to survive, but the paper crunched the data to show that Florida’s waterways are dangerously polluted and getting worse.

“State efforts to curb pollution aren’t working,” Reported the Times. “Nearly 1 in 4 waterways in the state are tainted by forms of nitrogen, phosphorus or other issues,” the Times reported. “More than half of tainted waterways that reporters analyzed either showed worsening levels of pollution or weren’t getting better over the last two decades.”

For good measure, the reporting included a story quoting several Florida Congressmen and women telling the state to get its act together before it's too late.

Haven't you had enough?

Enough with the water pollution. Enough with the discharges. Enough with special interests getting what they want at the expense of the Everglades.

If you’ve had enough — it’s time to Rescue the River of Grass. Click the button for more info and to sign the petition.