At its core, restoration is simple.
When it comes to Everglades restoration, we know the details can seem complicated – made even more so by misinformation pushed out by the Boys of Sugar and their massive team of consultants, lobbyists, and phony online “news outlets.”
But at its core, restoration is simple. Return to what Mother Nature gave us to the best of our ability: a natural and plentiful flow south from Lake Okeechobee into the River of Grass and down to Florida Bay, the headwaters of the Florida Keys. Now Or Neverglades.
Grass is always greener (especially when it’s alive).
Call us nerds if you must but discovering more about seagrass and why we jump up and down about losing them will make you a better Floridian. Really Everglades Trust, a better Floridian? Yes, really. Our seagrass beds are crucial for a prosperous Florida – and that translates to all 21 million of us.
Find about more in this week’s Review about escalating seagrass loss statewide, including record numbers of manatee deaths caused by the continued loss of their winter food source. Do not get depressed, get adamant. You can do it!
Gone fishing.
It’s tough to read about the state of affairs of our waterways and Everglades, and the debauchery of the sugar industry in Florida contributing to their demise, we know. For our own sanity, we go out of our way to find images and stories that inspire us AND things that make us LOL. We share an office favorite below.
EVERGLADES CALL TO ACTION
Nothing is more vital to life and Florida’s economy than WATER. For too many decades, we have not treated water and our waterways with an eye for an abundant future. The 2022 Legislative Session in Tallahassee began last week so now is a perfect time to let our state lawmakers here from all of us. We make it easy!
Email and Tweet YOUR LAWMAKERS
MUST-SEES OF THE WEEK
Florida must follow data, enforce rules to clean up Lake Okeechobee pollution
“Imagine living in a world where good intentions and wishful thinking are more important than reality. That pretty much describes where state regulators are in their efforts to curb pollution seeping into Lake Okeechobee.”
Voices of America’s Everglades
Treating Lake Okeechobee as their own private reservoir for decades, the sugar industry is physically and politically blocking the flow of clean water to the Everglades. What’s at stake? Our economy, jobs, drinking water, wildlife and human health. If there’s ever been a fight worthy, it’s this.
Watch Now on PROTECT YOUR WATER
Human-caused climate change and pollution devastating Florida ecosystems
“Warming waters and pollutants are destroying the habitats of manatees, fish and coral in and around the state of Florida. CBS News meteorologist and climate specialist Jeff Berardelli went to Florida to investigate the dilemma and see what scientists and advocates are doing to try to stop it.”
Watch Now on CBS NEWS
Reckless bill could further endanger manatees by destroying local seagrass
Seagrass Mitigation Bank – a fancy way to say: Yes, developers, you can now destroy seagrass beds. A big ATTABOY goes out to State Rep. Randy Fine for his strong opposition to this legislation and his explanation for it here in this OpEd.
Read More in FLORIDA TODAY
Seagrass and Seagrass Beds | Smithsonian Institute
Although they often receive little attention, seagrasses are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. They provide shelter and food to an incredibly diverse community of animals, from tiny invertebrates to large fish, crabs, turtles, marine mammals, and birds. Seagrasses provide many important services to people as well, but many of the essential meadows have been lost because of human activities.
Learn More in SMITHSONIAN OCEAN
GOOD ONE, ANDY
