Urge Governor DeSantis To Safeguard Florida's Aquatic Environment

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Governor Ron D. DeSantis

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Please Safeguard Florida's Aquatic Environment

Dear [Decision Maker],

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Governor, our waters are sick from decades of abuse and bad policy.  We need your leadership to safeguard our environment, which is the foundation of our state's heritage and economy.  Specifically, please:

1. support improved protection for our springs, which suffer from reduced flow and nutrient pollution.   Better practices must be implemented at the springshed level to reduce groundwater consumption and nutrient runoff.

2. encourage DEP to set protective Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs), and the Water Management Districts to set Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) that restore historic flows to our rivers and springs.  These two agencies should be working together to implement water quality and quantity rules in concert.  We cannot continue to treat these as separate issues.

3. work with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to improve Best Management Practices (BMPs) for agriculture.

4. ensure that local governments have the authority and encouragement to set strong fertilizer ordinances.

5. implore the Army Corps of Engineers to improve its management of releases from Lake Okeechobee and allow state agencies a role in setting the release schedule.

6. work with our Water Management Districts to better incentivize, or mandate if necessary, water conservation in all sectors: residential, industrial, and agricultural.

We cannot achieve the recovery we need for our state's waters by maintaining the status quo and then throwing money at problems to try to clean up our mess.  We need to prioritize our water quality and quantity, because without it, our state will become unlivable.  Florida's citizens and visitors need your leadership on these crucial issues.

Sincerely,