On February 4, 2022 the Florida Senate filed Senate Bill 2508, a dangerous piece of legislation that posed a major threat to Everglades restoration and clean-water progress. The bill would have undone years of progress and reverted water management back to an industry-serving system that prioritized water supply for special interests at the expense of everyone else. That would have guaranteed more harmful discharges to the coasts, more toxic algae, less water to the Everglades, and incalculable economic and environmental losses that harm all Floridians.

Thankfully, however, our supporters GOT LOUD, and there was an outpouring of public opposition to SB 2508—including that of Governor Ron DeSantis, who slammed the bill. Ultimately, the bill was vetoed in a landmark moment for clean water that sent a clear message about the importance of water quality. It was also a reminder of the power we have as individuals to influence change, because the precedent-setting moment would have never happened without every single person that did their part to oppose the bill—no matter how big or small.

The Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) is the manual with which the Army Corps of Engineers will manage Lake O’s water levels over the next 10 years. That’s a big deal for our coastal communities that receive toxic discharges that lead to ecological collapse. Throughout the three-year planning process, Captains stayed inserted in the conversations and development meetings to ensure the new manual would be balanced for all stakeholders, especially the estuaries, who had received the brunt of adversity for decades. 

And that’s exactly what happened. The support from our call to action campaigns secured a favorable outcome that will reduce damaging discharges to the east and west coasts of Florida and send more water south to the Everglades.