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Original analysis, event updates, and perspectives from our team — written for public audiences and available to republish with attribution.
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Ecosystem Protection
2023 Boat Show Sea Trials in Essential Manatee Habitat
November 2, 2022
In the chilly winter months, manatees migrate down the coast of Florida to winter over in Central and South Florida waters. Some of these waters in our lagoons and estuaries are defined as “essential manatee habitat”, which is a habitat that supports manatee resting, feeding, foraging, mating, and loafing. This is the habitat that helps
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Ecosystem Protection
Miami-Dade County’s Urban Development Boundary Still at Risk
June 1, 2022
For decades, Miami-Dade has protected a bright line to stop urban sprawl into the Everglades, called the “Urban Development Boundary”; this is one of our best tools to protect the Everglades and our drinking water. Recently, you were asked to let our County Commissioners know that you want them to Hold the Line on Miami-Dade
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Ecosystem Protection
Water Win: Mangrove Ban Ordinance Withdrawn
May 31, 2022
The City of Miami Commissioners withdrew a proposed ordinance that would have banned planting mangroves at City parks. Mangroves are incredibly beneficial for our community, including millions of dollars in ecosystem services every year. Still, on May 31, 2022, the City of Miami Commission was scheduled to hear an ordinance that would ban the
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Ecosystem Protection
Agenda Item 2A Vote Put On Hold
February 10, 2022
For decades, Miami-Dade has protected a boundary line to stop urban sprawl into the Everglades, called the “Urban Development Boundary” (UDB). This is one of our best tools to protect the Everglades, our drinking water, and Biscayne Bay from urbanization. Yet, this boundary is constantly under threat. The County manages its growth according to the
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Ecosystem Protection
Hold Miami-Dade County’s Urban Development Boundary Line
September 16, 2021
Recently, you were asked to let our County Commissioners know that you want them to Hold the Line on Miami-Dade County’s Urban Development Boundary. A total of 44 community members advocated for natural resource protection and voiced their opposition to develop beyond this boundary. Breaching the line places our drinking water, the Everglades, and Biscayne
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Ecosystem Protection
Right Whales Need Your Help
March 24, 2021
Miami Waterkeeper submitted a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) urging them to use their authority and protect the critically endangered right whale. In the Atlantic Ocean, lobster and crab fishing are pushing right whales to extinction. North Atlantic Right Whale (Source: NOAA Fisheries) Commercial fishing lines connecting traps on the seafloor
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Ecosystem Protection
Water Win! Feds Agree to Protect Nassau Grouper Habitat
December 23, 2020
Water Win alert! As a result of a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, WildEarth Guardians and Miami Waterkeeper, the National Marine Fisheries Service agreed today to protect critical habitat for the Nassau grouper. The nearshore ocean habitat of the Nassau grouper faces threats from pollution and climate change impacts such as ocean warming and
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Ecosystem Protection
Waterkeepers Florida Weighs in on FDEP Stormwater Rules
October 1, 2020
Waterkeepers Florida, along with a strong coalition of Florida environmental organizations, banded together to provide extensive support for clean water positive stormwater regulations on the FDEP’s 2020 Stormwater Rulemaking after the Department’s request for public input. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) since 2007 has acknowledged the necessity of updating its stormwater regulations to match
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Ecosystem Protection
What’s in a Watershed? A Look Into the Waterways We Protect
June 19, 2020
Miami Waterkeeper operates in the two most populous counties in the State of Florida, Miami Dade and Broward Counties. These counties have more than 4.5 million residents combined. Our region has over 470 miles of waterways, including South Florida’s coastline, canals, rivers, streams, and other bodies of water. Where we work is important to our
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Ecosystem Protection
Saving the Seagrass!
June 10, 2019
Executive Director and Waterkeeper, Rachel Silverstein, provided a keynote address for Sierra Club Miami at their “Saving Seagrass” event at the Sacred Space Miami. Rachel discussed the state of seagrass in Miami as well as the Miami-Dade County Report on the ongoing seagrass die-off in Biscayne Bay. Biscayne Bay is home to many ecologically important habitats,
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Ecosystem Protection
An Ultra Mistake?
March 14, 2019
Ultra is an annual electronic music festival that was founded in 1999 in Miami. This annual event has brought hundreds of thousands of people to Downtown Miami over the past several years, but residents complained about the noise and crowds. At the end of last year, the City of Miami City Commission voted against a
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Ecosystem Protection
Natural Barriers Provide Effective Storm Protection
January 25, 2018
Hurricane Irma brought to light a precarious position for Floridians in flood zones. Irma has shown that natural barriers, as opposed to artificial, engineered ones, are the best defense Florida’s coastal communities have against floods and rising waters. Coral reefs, mangrove forests, dunes, and wetlands are all examples of natural barriers that, for too long,
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