South Florida Water Management District

Everglades Foundation study finds that polluters don’t always clean up after themselves

By Virginia Chamlee | 03.28.12 | 9:50 am

According to a recently released study by the Everglades Foundation, the agriculture industry is responsible for 76 percent of the phosphorus pollution entering the Everglades. But despite passage of a “Polluter Pays” amendment to the state Constitution in 1996, the ag industry isn’t paying for even half of the cost of phosphorus removal, leaving the balance of the burden on the shoulders of taxpayers.

Broward Sierra Club opposes South Florida immigration detention center

By Marcos Restrepo | 02.10.12 | 12:24 pm

The Broward Group of the Sierra Club today announced its opposition to the federal immigration detention center set to be built in the South Florida town of Southwest Ranches.

Army Corps announcement could bode well for endangered Everglades species

By Virginia Chamlee | 02.10.12 | 8:55 am

The Army Corps of Engineers on Wednesday approved a South Florida Water Management District request for authorization to use temporary forward pumps to pull water from Lake Okeechobee lower than gravity-flow will allow, and now, the Corps has agreed to reduce that permit extension to one year only, in part to allow for a thorough analysis of the impacts of the pumps on the endangered Everglades snail kite. The announcement is an important one for the environmental group Audubon of Florida, which has long fought for the snail kite habitat.

Everglades summit participants debate over-development, Big Sugar, Scott’s budget

By Virginia Chamlee | 01.17.12 | 3:47 pm

The Everglades Water Supply Summit kicked off in Tallahassee today with a panel that included West Palm Beach City Commissioner Kimberly Mitchell, state Rep. Will Weatherford, Florida Power & Light VP Mike Sole, South Florida Water Management District Executive Director Melissa Meeker and golf course designer Jack Nicklaus. They spoke about the need for better policy, restoration efforts and the importance of not pointing the finger at any one particular industry when it comes to pollution in the area. Below, some of the highlights.

Water Management District unanimously approves Everglades projects

By Virginia Chamlee | 10.14.11 | 11:54 am

The governing board of the South Florida Water Management District yesterday voted unanimously to move forward with eight public/private partnership projects to store water in the Northern Everglades.

Everglades National Park (Pic via Navin75)

Audubon of Florida releases ‘State of the Everglades’ report

By Virginia Chamlee | 08.31.11 | 2:09 pm

Environmental group Audubon of Florida has released its “State of the Everglades” report, a summary of the most important stories and policies to come out of the Greater Everglades during the first half of 2011.

More cuts to water management districts

By Virginia Chamlee | 08.25.11 | 4:46 pm

The approval of a slew of additional cuts to water management districts Wednesday has environmentalists more than a little worried about the future of Florida’s waterways.

Scum floating along the St. Johns River in July 2010 (Pic by deadgirlsdontdance)

Federal appeals court strikes down challenge to EPA water rules

By Virginia Chamlee | 08.04.11 | 1:16 pm

A federal appeals court yesterday struck down an attempt by state utility interests to do away with the EPA’s proposed “numeric nutrient criteria,” which will set limits on pollution in Florida waterways.

A warning sign along the Caloosahatchee River (Pic by Florida Water Coalition)

Alva conservationist: Water mismanagement made Caloosahatchee algal bloom worse

By Virginia Chamlee | 08.03.11 | 12:08 pm

The recent algal bloom in the Caloosahatchee River has seemingly gone away, but citizens and conservationists alike continue to draw attention to water mismanagement they say made the problem worse.

Everglades National Park (Pic via army.mil)

Audubon of Florida director defends claims of water mismanagement in South Florida

By Virginia Chamlee | 08.01.11 | 1:47 pm

A recent column published on Sunshine State News, titled “Lying About Lake O to Win Hearts and Minds: The Eric Draper Story,” alleged that Audubon of Florida’s executive director was lying about the mismanagement of Lake Okeechobee, which has suffered as a result of the recent South Florida drought. In a response, Draper writes that although the column is “derisive,” it brings much-needed attention to the issue at hand.