BISCAYNE BAY WATERKEEPER INC

CLEAN WATER IS WHAT MAKES MIAMI, MIAMI. BISCAYNE BAY IS A VITAL PART OF MIAMI-DADE'S ENVIRONMENT AND ECONOMY. STRETCHING FROM HAULOVER INLET TO KEY LARGO, ITS SHALLOW WATERS PROVIDE CRITICAL HABITAT FOR SEAGRASS AND MARINE LIFE, INCLUDING IMPORTANT RECREATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL FISHERIES. THE BAY FORMS PART OF THE INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY AND IS PROTECTED THROUGH BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK AND THE BISCAYNE BAY AQUATIC PRESERVES, HIGHLIGHTING ITS ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE. BEYOND ITS NATURAL VALUE, BISCAYNE BAY PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY. A 2023 STUDY FOUND THAT IT CONTRIBUTES 64 BILLION ANNUALLY, SUPPORTING TOURISM, RECREATION, AND BUSINESSES THAT RELY ON CLEAN WATER (HAZEN AND SAWYER, "BISCAYNE BAY ECONOMIC STUDY UPDATE," SEPT. 15, 2023). HOWEVER, INCREASING POLLUTION, HABITAT LOSS, AND SEA LEVEL RISE THREATS PUT THE BAY AND ITS FISHERIES AT RISK. AT MIAMI WATERKEEPER, WE ENVISION A RESILIENT SOUTH FLORIDA THAT IS A GLOBAL LEADER IN CLEAN WATER SOLUTIONS, WHERE THRIVING COMMUNITIES AND NATURE COEXIST. TO ACHIEVE THIS VISION, WE WORK TOWARD OUR MISSION OF PROTECTING SOUTH FLORIDA'S WATERS BY ADVOCATING FOR RESILIENT SOLUTIONS GROUNDED IN SCIENCE, ROOTED IN NATURE, AND DRIVEN BY COMMUNITY. FOCUSING ON CLEAN WATER, HABITAT PROTECTION, AND SEA LEVEL RISE RESILIENCE, WE IMPLEMENT A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH THAT INCLUDES SCIENCE AND RESEARCH, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. FROM WETLANDS TO REEFS, COURTROOMS TO CLASSROOMS, WE'RE PROTECTING THE WATER AND WHAT MAKES SOUTH FLORIDA UNIQUE. SCIENCE OUR WORK ALWAYS STARTS WITH A STRONG FOUNDATION ROOTED IN SCIENCE. WE ANALYZE EXISTING RESEARCH AND LEAD LARGE-SCALE, COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECTS TO FILL IN KNOWLEDGE GAPS. WATER QUALITY MONITORING: EVERY WEEK, OUR TEAM OF DEDICATED WATER QUALITY TECHNICIANS TEST OVER 25 POPULAR WATERFRONT SITES THROUGHOUT MIAMI-DADE AND BROWARD COUNTIES. ALONG WITH CHECKING BACTERIA LEVELS, WE MEASURE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS LIKE TEMPERATURE, SALINITY AND TURBIDITY. WE REPORT ALL OUR FINDINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, OUR WEBSITE AND THE EASY-TO-USE SWIM GUIDE APP. THIS HELPS YOU KNOW WHETHER YOUR FAVORITE BEACHES AND WATERWAYS ARE SAFE TO ENJOY. COMMUNITY POLLUTION REPORT LEADS TO REDUCTION OF CHEMICAL SPRAYING IN OUR WATERWAYS: THANKS TO A COMMUNITY POLLUTION REPORT, WHICH WE COLLECTED THROUGH OUR 1,000 EYES ON THE WATER PROGRAM (DESCRIBED BELOW), WE BECAME AWARE OF THE COUNTY'S LONG-STANDING PRACTICE OF SPRAYING WATERWAYS WITH HERBICIDES TO CONTROL THE ALGAE GROWTH FUELED BY SEPTIC TANKS, STORMWATER, AND FERTILIZER RUNOFF. THIS TYPE OF CHEMICAL CONTROL KEEPS THE ALGAE IN THE WATER AND ADDS THE CHEMICALS ON TOP OF IT, LEADING TO EVEN WORSE WATER QUALITY - BOTH IN OUR CANALS AND BISCAYNE BAY. FOR YEARS, WE WORKED WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO END CANAL SPRAYING AND SWITCH TO MECHANICAL HARVESTING. IN JANUARY 2024, WITH THE SUPPORT OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY MAYOR DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA, THE COUNTY FINALLY MADE THE SWITCH IN 80% OF THEIR CANALS. WE'RE THRILLED WITH THIS OUTCOME AND WILL CONTINUE WORKING TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR COMMUNITY'S CANAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. ADVOCACY BACKED BY SCIENCE, WE DEVELOP POLICY SOLUTIONS THAT SOLVE PROBLEMS FACING OUR COMMUNITY. WE TAKE A GRASSROOTS-TO-GRASSTOPS APPROACH, ENGAGING THE PUBLIC WHILE WORKING WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THE GOVERNMENT. OUR POLICY TAKES THREE PRIMARY FORMS: LEGISLATION, LITIGATION, AND ADVOCACY. PROTECTING WILDLIFE: NASSAU GROUPER POPULATIONS HAVE BEEN DWINDLING FOR DECADES DUE TO COASTAL DEVELOPMENT, POLLUTION, AND RISING OCEAN TEMPERATURES. SPECIES WITH FEDERALLY PROTECTED HABITATS ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO RECOVER, BUT THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE (NMFS) HAD FAILED TO MEET DEADLINES TO DESIGNATE CRITICAL HABITAT FOR THIS THREATENED SPECIES. IN 2020, WE JOINED THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND WILDEARTH GUARDIANS IN A LAWSUIT TO HOLD THE NMFS ACCOUNTABLE. THIS WAS STRATEGIC, AS THE NASSAU GROUPER IS A KEYSTONE SPECIES WHOSE PRESENCE IS LINKED TO HEALTHY REEF ECOSYSTEMS. AS A RESULT OF THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT, ON JANUARY 2, 2024, NMFS PROTECTED MORE THAN 900 SQUARE MILES IN THE WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC, WHERE THE NASSAU GROUPER AND OTHER MARINE LIFE CAN FLOURISH. SUCH DESIGNATION IDENTIFIES THE MOST IMPORTANT AREAS FOR THE SPECIES AND PREVENTS ACTIVITIES WITH ADVERSE MODIFICATIONS AND DESTRUCTION IN THE GROUPER'S ESSENTIAL HABITAT. PIVOTING TO NATURE-BASED RESILIENCY SOLUTIONS FOR MIAMI'S FUTURE: WORSENING HURRICANES POSE AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO MIAMI'S COASTAL COMMUNITIES. WE MUST ADAPT, BUT HOW WE DO SO WILL GREATLY AFFECT THE QUALITY OF OUR LIVES. IN 2020, THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS SHARED THE RESULTS OF THEIR BACK BAY COASTAL STORM RISK MANAGEMENT FEASIBILITY STUDY (AKA THE "BACK BAY STUDY"), WHICH AIMED TO PROTECT MIAMI-DADE FROM STORM SURGE - A MILES-LONG, MASSIVE WALL AT THE SHORES OF BISCAYNE BAY. THIS PROJECT WOULD HAVE EXACERBATED FLOODING FROM RISING SEAS AND INCREASED RAINFALL, WORSENED WATER QUALITY, AND LEFT SOME COMMUNITIES COMPLETELY UNPROTECTED FROM RISKS. ALONGSIDE PARTNERS, WE RALLIED TO SEND THE CORPS BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD. WE FORMED A COALITION OF ADVOCATES TO EXAMINE THEIR PROGRESS IN DETAIL AND TRANSLATED TECHNICAL JARGON INTO ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENGAGE IN THE PROJECT'S RE-DESIGN. RATHER THAN UGLY GRAY WALLS THAT DIVIDE COMMUNITIES AND HARM BISCAYNE BAY, WE ADVOCATED FOR NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS TO COMBAT STORM SURGE. WE WORKED TO ENSURE THE PLAN ADDRESSED THE NEEDS OF ALL COMMUNITIES, ADVOCATING FOR INVESTMENTS IN FLOOD PROTECTION AND RESILIENCE WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED MOST. AS A RESULT, THE CORPS HAS PIVOTED ON THIS 6 BILLION PROJECT AND IS NOW WORKING TO INCORPORATE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL CONSIDERATIONS. AS OF AUGUST 2024, THE CORPS HAS AUTHORIZED 180 MILLION FOR NATURE-BASED PILOT STUDIES LIKE CORAL REEF RESTORATION. WE ARE WORKING TO GET AN APPROPRIATION TO FUND THIS PROJECT. WHILE THIS PROJECT IS STILL EARLY IN ITS DESIGN PHASE, WE AND OUR ALLIES - EVERGLADES LAW CENTER, EVERGLADES FOUNDATION, ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND, NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION, AND TROPICAL AUDUBON SOCIETY - LOOK FORWARD TO EVEN MORE SUCCESS IN FINDING SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO STORM SURGE AND FLOODING RISKS. SECURING AN ORDINANCE TO PROTECT AGAINST MUNICIPAL STORMWATER POLLUTION: ROADS, SIDEWALKS, PARKING LOTS ALL PREVENT WATER FROM SOAKING INTO THE GROUND. THIS LEADS TO INCREASED STORMWATER RUNOFF, WHICH CARRIES POLLUTANTS INTO OUR WATERWAYS AND EXACERBATES FLOODING. AFTER MONTHS OF ADVOCATING ALONGSIDE THE COMMUNITY - AND ARMED WITH DATA FROM AN AUDIT WE COMPLETED OF MUNICIPAL STORMWATER PERMIT COMPLIANCE THROUGHOUT MIAMI-DADE COUNTY - WE SUCCESSFULLY COMPELLED THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO PASS NEW RULES. THESE CHANGES WILL REDUCE HARD SURFACES AND INCREASE GREEN SPACES, SWALES, AND RAIN GARDENS, TO KEEP STORMWATER WHERE IT BELONGS - SOAKING INTO THE GROUND. IMPORTANTLY, THEY INCLUDED THE KEY TERM "GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE" TO SIGNAL THAT THE ORDINANCE AIMS TO RETURN STORMWATER MANAGEMENT TO MORE NATURAL METHODS, LIKE GREEN SPACES AND PERVIOUS MATERIALS. THIS IS A KEY STEP TO REDUCE FLOODING THAT DISRUPTS OUR DAILY LIVES. ADDRESSING INDUSTRIAL STORMWATER POLLUTION: ALONG WITH FERTILIZER, OIL, AND HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS, INDUSTRIAL WASTE IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO STORMWATER POLLUTION. IN 2023, MIAMI WATERKEEPER LEARNED OF AN INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY IN OPA-LOCKA VIOLATING ITS DISCHARGE PERMITS. TO SAFEGUARD THE COMMUNITY'S WATER QUALITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH, WE PARTNERED WITH EVERGLADES LAW'S CENTER, THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF LAW ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CLINIC, AND THE SUPER LAW GROUP TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION UNDER THE CLEAN WATER ACT. IN 2024, WE SUCCESSFULLY REACHED A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT THAT WILL BRING THIS PROPERTY INTO COMPLIANCE, REDUCE POLLUTED RUNOFF, AND FUND A LOCAL COMMUNITY PROJECT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS. PROTECTING FLORIDA'S WETLANDS: FLORIDA'S ONCE-PRISTINE WETLANDS, HOME TO THOUSANDS OF SPECIES, ARE BEING RAPIDLY CONSUMED BY DEVELOPMENT. DESPITE LIMITED RESOURCES, THE STATE OF FLORIDA WAS GIVEN THE REINS OF THE PERMITTING PROGRAM TO DREDGE AND FILL WETLANDS BY THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. THAT'S WHY WE JOINED EARTHJUSTICE AND OTHER PLAINTIFFS IN A LEGAL ACTION TO CHALLENGE THIS ROLLBACK AND REINSTATE FEDERAL OVERSIGHT OF WETLAND PROTECTION. IN FEBRUARY 2024, WE WON IN FEDERAL COURT. THIS CASE SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE TO OTHER STATES CONSIDERING THEIR OWN TAKEOVER OF THIS PERMITTING PROCESS. KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE FROM NUCLEAR POWER RISKS IN AN ERA OF CLIMATE CHANGE: AT THE EDGE OF BISCAYNE BAY, TURKEY POINT'S TWO NUCLEAR UNITS, OPERATED BY FLORIDA POWER & LIGHT (FPL), PROVIDE POWER TO MILLIONS. IN 2018, FPL REQUESTED AN UNPRECEDENTED LICENSE EXTENSION TO RUN TURKEY POINT UNTIL 2053, ANOTHER 20 YEARS FROM THE CURRENT LICENSE, WHICH ENDS IN 2032. THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION APPROVED THIS LICENSE EXTENSION WITHOUT A FULL REVIEW OF THE CLIMATE RISKS. THAT'S WHY MIAMI WATERKEEPER AND OUR CO- PETITIONERS CHA