South Florida Water Management District

As Caloosahatchee begs for water, Big Sugar says: We got dibs

February 19, 2026

Most of Florida is in the grip of a worsening drought, and the consequences are mounting. In the greater Everglades region, nowhere is this more apparent than along the Caloosahatchee River, where low flows from Lake Okeechobee — an average…

Alligator Alcatraz: Setting a dangerous precedent?

February 12, 2026

The Everglades immigrant detention center known as “Alligator Alcatraz” is damaging enough in its own right, inflicting untold harms on the site and the greater Everglades ecosystem. But more damaging over the long haul may be the legal precedent being…

DEEP DIVE: These chemicals kill toxic algae. But are they safe?

October 30, 2025

Since 2020, when the state authorized the use of “innovative technologies” to combat harmful blue-green algal blooms, the South Florida Water Management District has added chemicals known as algaecides to its toolbox — and to the water. Over the past…

ROCK MINE UPDATE: DeSantis vows Southland project won’t hurt EAA reservoir

October 23, 2025

Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Martin County Tuesday to talk about python hunting, but briefly addressed the proposed Southland “Water Resource Project” (rock mine) in response to a reporter’s question. “Our Department of Environmental Protection is not going to allow…

About that study showing Lake O is the ‘dirtiest’ in the nation…

September 26, 2025

Last week we reported on a new study showing Lake O is the dirtiest lake in America; we had our doubts about the methodology but agree that the lake has big problems — which are going to require big fixes. Now, “official”…

DeSantis and the Everglades: What will be his legacy?

September 11, 2025

We’ve recounted many times how Gov. DeSantis came into office with a bang, replaced the entire South Florida Water Management District Governing Board, appointed red tide and blue-green algae task forces and set about securing massive funding for Everglades restoration.…

Rock mine update: Project files for extension after nearly missing deadline

August 28, 2025

UPDATE: In our Aug. 28 newsletter we noted that while the Southland Water Resource Project (the EAA rock mine) faces a legal challenge over its FDEP permit, the “water resources” aspect of the project hasn’t even begun the South Florida Water…

Legal challenge filed to halt Big Sugar’s rock mine

August 13, 2025

The Florida DEP planned to issue an Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) for the first phase of the Southland Water Resource Project project this week; but on Monday the Everglades Law Center filed a legal challenge to halt the project, acting…

Rock mine could get DEP permit Aug. 11 unless ‘Everglades Governor’ steps in

August 8, 2025

Barring some legal challenge, the Florida DEP (“Don’t Expect Protection”) is scheduled to issue its permit for Phase 1 of the Southland rock mine project on Aug. 11 — and the one person who can stop it, Gov. Ron DeSantis,…

Deep Dive into herbicides: Can Florida cut back on all the spraying?

August 7, 2025

At the May 10 South Florida Water Management District Governing Board meeting, member Ben Butler said he’s heard “numerous concerns” about the district’s use of herbicides. Butler, manager of the family-owned dairy farm Butler Oaks Farm north of Lake Okeechobee,…

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