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Change at the top at FDEP – and that could spell trouble

November 14, 2024

You might have seen the news last week that Florida DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton was stepping down; he’ll be replaced by Alexis Lambert, chief of staff of the state’s division of bond finance since 2018. There’s speculation that Hamilton’s departure…

Will Rubio’s replacement fight for cleaner water?

November 14, 2024

Looks like Sen. Marco Rubio could be moving on up. And that could have a big impact on the clean-water cause. As first reported last weekend, President-Elect Donald Trump is set to nominate Rubio Secretary of State.  If so —…

Election reax: Here’s how our endorsed candidates fared, and what it means

November 6, 2024

Congratulations to Congressman Brian Mast and Islamorada Village Councilman-elect Steve Friedman, who won their races last night! They were among four candidates VoteWater endorsed in the election; the other two, unfortunately, fell short. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell lost to incumbent U.S. Sen.…

ELECTION SPECIAL 2024: Recapping our endorsements and a look ahead

October 30, 2024

Media reports show more than 8 million Floridians cast early ballots this year. If you weren’t one of them — today is the day! WHEN ARE THE POLLS OPEN?: From 7 a.m to 7 p.m. WHERE DO I VOTE?: Check this voter precinct lookup from the…

DEEP DIVE: Do hurricanes cause harmful algal blooms?

October 30, 2024

To the death and destruction caused by the immediate impact of hurricanes, add the secondary impact of harmful algal blooms. No, hurricanes don’t cause red tide or blue-green algal blooms, but they can fuel them. As evidence, look at how…

VoteWater endorses Steve Friedman for Islamorada Village Council

October 18, 2024

VoteWater, a South Florida clean-water advocacy group, has endorsed Steve Friedman for Islamorada Village Council. Friedman is a backcountry fishing guide and the former Commodore of the Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association. He helped form Florida Bay Forever, served on…

Deep Dive: Baby manatees are dying – and it might be a sign of recovery

September 26, 2024

So far this year, 133 baby manatee have been found dead in Florida, a mortality rate more than twice the five-year average and more deaths than any other entire year since the state began keeping records in 1974. Still, manatee…

VoteWater endorses Debbie Mucarsel-Powell for U.S. Senate

September 23, 2024

VoteWater has endorsed former Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell for the U.S. Senate. VoteWater Executive Director Gil Smart praised Mucarsel-Powell’s commitment to cleaner water and noted that she’s taken no money from Florida’s sugar industry, while her opponent, incumbent Sen. Rick Scott,…

Why has no one been held accountable for state parks fiasco?

September 18, 2024

Here’s a question for you: Did Florida DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton know about the controversial and now (temporarily) shelved plan to develop Florida’s state parks? Given that the Department of Environmental Protection was riding herd over the project, it would…

DEEP DIVE: Is this the calm before the toxic algae bloom storm?

September 17, 2024

Aside from some recent flare-ups — like the toxic algae found in the St. Lucie River this past spring and the near-constant algae in Lake Okeechobee — Florida waters have mostly been spared the massive, guacamole-like blue-green algae blooms that choked…

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