Email from VoteWater Also: Fighting Florida's new pro-developer law; did we really need Lake O discharges?; and check out new items in the VoteWater store! Alligator Alcatraz: What was the point? Judge will rule today; government presents weak case As of this writing, U.S. District Court Judge Kathleen Williams has not yet ruled on whether to shut down “Alligator Alcatraz” so a proper environmental review can be done as required by federal law. That ruling is expected today. Meanwhile, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced last week that a second detention facility — “Deportation Depot” — will be set up at the vacant Baker Correctional Institution in rural Baker County. Florida Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith characterized it like this on Instagram: “The state is scrambling to open a new detention center because they’re scared the courts will shut down their illegal Everglades detention camp.” Could be. But we have to ask: What was the point of all this? What did DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier think would happen? Did they actually think the courts would rule in favor of an insta-prison thrown up in the sensitive Big Cypress with no environmental review? Hundreds of millions of tax dollars were spent setting it up; how much will it cost to break it all down? What a waste. The government's case was lackluster at best. They presented just one witness, while the plaintiffs — Friends of the Everglades, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida — presented numerous witnesses who testified to the environmental harm caused by operations, the impact to panther habitat and tribal villages and sacred sites. So if Judge Williams grants the injunction sought by the plaintiffs, will the government appeal? Or will DeSantis and Uthmeier, the alleged “Alligator Alcatraz” mastermind, simply tuck their tails between their legs and retreat to “Deportation Depot?” What was this all about, anyway? Stay tuned and maybe we’ll finally find out. READ MORE AT VOTEWATER.ORG Sprawl? Why, in Florida you're soaking in it! Who has final say over how we grow — you or developers? Call it the “No Developer Left Behind” act of 2025. Senate Bill 180 was supposed to help hurricane-impacted communities rebuild. Instead, cities and counties across the state now find themselves at risk of being sued by developers who cite language in the new law exempting them from “more burdensome or restrictive” planning rules enacted since Aug. 1, 2024. Local flood protections, voter-approved growth limits and boundaries now could be cause for legal action. Senate Bill 180 will have a huge impact on the ability of communities to grow as they see fit — and that ultimately will impact both water quality and quantity. That’s why VoteWater has joined with conservation groups statewide in demanding legislators fix SB 180 — and you can help! Here's what you can do: To learn more about the new law and its potential consequences, click here. Then, contact your local city and county commissioners and ask them to formally oppose the damaging provisions of SB 180. And then, contact your state Senators or Representatives and urge them to repeal or amend SB 180. Did we really need those Lake O discharges? Earlier this year VoteWater and other conservation groups objected to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to discharge water from Lake Okeechobee to the northern estuaries (the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers and Lake Worth Lagoon). But after several years of high lake levels had killed off much of the submerged aquatic vegetation in the lake, the Corps decided it was time to implement “Recovery Mode,” discharging water to get the lake down to 12 feet for at least 90 consecutive days (or to 11.5 feet for 60 days). The lake fell, and submerged aquatic vegetation is regrowing at a welcome pace. That’s good! And with the lake this low, there's comparably little chance of discharges to the estuaries this summer — and that's fantastic. But look at that graphic. See that red line? That’s where the lake stood as of Tuesday. The gray shaded area is the “ecological envelope,” generally a good place for the lake to be. The black line is the “water shortage management band.” Should water levels drop below the line, it could trigger cutbacks for water users south of the lake — farmers and Big Sugar in particular, but also municipalities that rely on the lake for water supply. Groups representing these users have already started sounding the alarm; and unless we get rain (and yes, we know: be careful what you wish for), the din will intensify. It raises the question: Did we really need Recovery Mode? VoteWater and other conservation groups argued the Corps should have let Mother Nature lower the lake; evapotranspiration and dry conditions might have gotten the lake down to 12, even 11.5 feet without blasting the estuaries. The Corps has promised an "after-action report" in the coming months to assess the success of Recovery Mode and inform decision-making process next time. We'll let you know what they come up with and how it might help — or harm — our waterways. New items in the VoteWater shop! We've got swag! NEW in the VoteWater shop: Flexfit snapback trucker hats with mesh sides and back and our logo out front, a steal at $29.99! Show ‘em you vote for clean-water candidates! Also, environmentally friendly cork Koozies suitable for your favorite canned beverage! Perfect for a day out on the water or a relaxed evening at home, just $9.99 each! And each order includes a free VoteWater sticker! Now THAT’S a deal no true water warrior can pass up! Help us turn the tide for clean water Protect Florida’s waters — and make your voice louder at the ballot box. As a VoteWater supporter, you’ll fuel campaigns that expose polluters, push for stronger policies, and back leaders who put clean water first. Join us and be part of the solution. DONATE NOW BECOME A MEMBER Become a WaveMaker!   VoteWater | 3727 SE Ocean Blvd. Suite 200A | Stuart, FL 34996 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice