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Bullsugar has a strong new ally: our newest board member, former Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah. Ray brings deep experience in environmental advocacy, particularly in Southwest Florida, that is sure to add an inspiring presence to the Bullsugar team. As a former environmental land planner with the Lee County Department of Community Development and with 24 years of experience as a Lee County Commissioner (1988-2012) he remains a strong advocate for providing a balance between management of growth and responsible stewardship of our precious natural resources. Ray isn’t new to the fight for clean water. He spent many years establishing himself as a thorn in the side of polluters. He has spoken out regularly at environmental gatherings and water management [...]

Why is the state of Florida spending $50 million to build a cluster of scientifically questionable water-storage wells north of Lake Okeechobee? The broader restoration project known as LOWRP intends to reduce the need for damaging discharges to the northern estuaries while also improving the ecology of the lake. On the surface, that sounds like a promising proposal to address northern water-storage needs required by Everglades restoration — but there are big questions about the unintended consequences. The success of the project relies heavily on the costly implementation of 80 “aquifer storage and recovery” (ASR) wells north of the lake, projected to store up to 146 billion gallons a year that would then be available for recovery during times of [...]

They did what?? That was our response when we heard that the Army Corps of Engineers had slid in eleventh-hour language changes to an important new report on the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir planned for south of Lake Okeechobee. The language locks us into a footprint that independent scientists have called grossly inadequate and reverses the Corps’ 2018 stated position that, as designed, the proposed project risked “non-compliance with water quality standards.” CLICK HERE TO BECOME A BULLSUGAR.ORG MEMBER! For communities looking for relief from Lake Okeechobee discharges, the EAA reservoir is one initiative with the greatest potential to help solve Florida’s water management crisis by reducing the need to send damaging releases to the northern coastal estuaries and increasing [...]

In the decades-long saga that is Everglades restoration, there’s been very little progress that doesn’t have roots in a state or federal courtroom battle. CLICK HERE TO BECOME A BULLSUGAR.ORG MEMBER! It’s thanks to a federal lawsuit in the 80’s that the Everglades has mandatory nutrient pollution limits on water moving south. Though it’s been fought by polluters as too stringent almost since its inception, the “consent decree” that came from that lawsuit is widely considered the only thing keeping the toxic algae nightmare of the northern estuaries from leaking down into the Everglades. It remains the single most meaningful legislation that has ever protected the Everglades from pollution to this day. In northern coastal communities, there are no such [...]

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Following a decade of rapid water quality deterioration, Florida waters need strong, enforceable water quality regulations now. We can no longer afford to kick the can down the road or implement half-measures with little to no chance of success. Despite being named the “Clean Waterways Act” Senate Bill 712 as currently written, will not adequately protect and restore Florida’s water resources, further endangering our environment, economy, and public health. Last year, Senator Debbie Mayfield, the sponsor of SB 712, promised clean water advocates she would “fix the bill” during a Committee Hearing on the 2019 “Clean Waterways Act.” There is still time for Senator Mayfield to keep her promise but we need your help. SB 712 is scheduled for its [...]

Captain Ben Biery owns a small charter business on Sanibel Island. Most days that means taking people out on guided fishing trips, sightseeing tours, and other boating activities. So what does it mean for someone like him when the main attraction driving the income you depend on is suddenly unavailable, or worse, not safe for your clients? Scientific evidence pointing to the health risks associated with exposure to harmful algal blooms is stacking up. One of the most recent studies conducted by researchers at FAU’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute found that 95% of recruited study participants had detectable levels of microcystin in their nasal passages, despite various levels of exposure to the water. The findings indicate that the toxins are [...]

Water is the reason people move to Florida. It is the reason for a thriving tourism-based economy. It is the joy of every fisherman and every outdoor enthusiast. Its very existence inspires advocates, and its perils have paved the way for some of this state’s most memorable heroes. One of history’s most notable fought to protect Florida’s water until the very last day of her 108-year life. Marjory Stoneman Douglas is affectionately remembered as the “defender of the Everglades.” Her legacy lives on today through the grassroots group she created 51 years ago, Friends of the Everglades. This week Friends of the Everglades welcomed former TCPalm and USA TODAY Network Opinion Editor Eve Samples as executive director. We spoke with [...]

This week, the City of Stuart put on an admirable display of political will, voting unanimously to seek legal and scientific expert advice to sharpen a lawsuit aimed at the Army Corps of Engineers over its operational management of Lake Okeechobee water levels. The decision was met with a sense of overwhelming appreciation from a beleaguered public all too used to the repercussions of current water management. While many long term projects remain years away from promised benefits, a shift in the operational management of Lake O is being hailed as a potentially giant step towards providing immediate relief for coastal communities. Not every voice in the crowd was in support of the lawsuit. It became evident that the City [...]

As we enter a new decade, Florida residents are finding themselves at a pivotal crossroad: will they continue to be targets of toxic Lake Okeechobee discharges, or will state and federal water managers finally break free from the decades-long vice grip of Big Sugar and start standing up for human health and safety? In a longer than usual update, we’ve provided a synopsis of some of the most significant details and events that have led us to this critical moment in Florida water history. During most of Rick Scott’s reign as governor, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the Army Corps stood by in willful neglect as the coastal communities were swamped by Lake O’s nutrient-filled dirty water [...]