A welcome reminder of what we’re fighting for…

May 31, 2024

Clean water off Sanibel Lighthouse May 24, 2024.

Our fight for clean water is a movement to end harmful water-quality events and protect healthy waterways for generations to come.

Right now, our waters look beautiful by any standard, but especially when compared to the conditions a couple months ago when both coasts were experiencing high-volume discharges from Lake Okeechobee.

Seeing the difference that a lack of discharges can make in such a short time is a reminder of what our fight for clean water is all about.

Remembering what’s at stake

They say “You don’t appreciate relief from the headache you never had” and “You don’t really know what you’ve got until it’s gone.”

VERY TRUE.

It can be easy to take our paradise waters in Florida for granted, assuming that tomorrow’s sunrise will shower light over the same clear blue waves as yesterday.

But the reality is, the future of that paradise is not guaranteed.

In South Florida, we deal with much worse than “headaches” all too often when the Lake Okeechobee flood gates open and our coasts are inundated with damaging discharges.

When that happens, we get painful glimpses of what “gone” would look like.

https://captainsforcleanwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/3.jpg

Those moments must serve as our wake-up calls, our fuel to keep the fire to fight burning strong.

But just as importantly, the good times must be our reminder of what we’re fighting for in the first place—to safeguard the treasured waters that feed our soul and strengthen the foundation of our communities.

By rallying a collective voice to advance Everglades Restoration, the fight for clean water is a grassroots movement to PREVENT the discharges that have become crippling, chronic migraines that decimate our communities, economies, and environment.

And it’s a fight to PROTECT the pristine conditions we’re blessed with right now.

https://captainsforcleanwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Member-Ad.gif

How to ensure clean water for the future

Our waters can stay this clean and healthy by bringing major Everglades Restoration projects across the finish line, but that depends on us.⁠

It’s up to us to continue fighting for progress, to end the status-quo water management and finally make those harmful water-quality events a thing of the past.

The plan is in place and construction is underway on many projects, but the effort still faces constant threats—like the situation we’re in right now, where Big Sugar is suing over the use of a keystone project, the EAA Reservoir.⁠

That’s why we’re so laser focused on advancing major projects that help store excess Lake Okeechobee water, clean it, and send it south like how it once flowed naturally.⁠

Progress IS happening, but we must continue fighting these threats by rallying more support for restoration and speaking up for our waters when needed.

Thanks for sticking with us and for being a voice for our waters. Enjoy the conditions right now, and remember what we’re fighting to protect.

Clean water off Sanibel Lighthouse May 24, 2024.

Our fight for clean water is a movement to end harmful water-quality events and protect healthy waterways for generations to come.

Right now, our waters look beautiful by any standard, but especially when compared to the conditions a couple months ago when both coasts were experiencing high-volume discharges from Lake Okeechobee.

Seeing the difference that a lack of discharges can make in such a short time is a reminder of what our fight for clean water is all about.

Remembering what’s at stake

They say “You don’t appreciate relief from the headache you never had” and “You don’t really know what you’ve got until it’s gone.”

VERY TRUE.

It can be easy to take our paradise waters in Florida for granted, assuming that tomorrow’s sunrise will shower light over the same clear blue waves as yesterday.

But the reality is, the future of that paradise is not guaranteed.

In South Florida, we deal with much worse than “headaches” all too often when the Lake Okeechobee flood gates open and our coasts are inundated with damaging discharges.

When that happens, we get painful glimpses of what “gone” would look like.

https://captainsforcleanwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/3.jpg

Those moments must serve as our wake-up calls, our fuel to keep the fire to fight burning strong.

But just as importantly, the good times must be our reminder of what we’re fighting for in the first place—to safeguard the treasured waters that feed our soul and strengthen the foundation of our communities.

By rallying a collective voice to advance Everglades Restoration, the fight for clean water is a grassroots movement to PREVENT the discharges that have become crippling, chronic migraines that decimate our communities, economies, and environment.

And it’s a fight to PROTECT the pristine conditions we’re blessed with right now.

https://captainsforcleanwater.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Member-Ad.gif

How to ensure clean water for the future

Our waters can stay this clean and healthy by bringing major Everglades Restoration projects across the finish line, but that depends on us.⁠

It’s up to us to continue fighting for progress, to end the status-quo water management and finally make those harmful water-quality events a thing of the past.

The plan is in place and construction is underway on many projects, but the effort still faces constant threats—like the situation we’re in right now, where Big Sugar is suing over the use of a keystone project, the EAA Reservoir.⁠

That’s why we’re so laser focused on advancing major projects that help store excess Lake Okeechobee water, clean it, and send it south like how it once flowed naturally.⁠

Progress IS happening, but we must continue fighting these threats by rallying more support for restoration and speaking up for our waters when needed.

Thanks for sticking with us and for being a voice for our waters. Enjoy the conditions right now, and remember what we’re fighting to protect.