Capt. Daniel Andrews, co-founder and executive director of Captains for Clean Water: "It's good to see the new leadership at the South Florida Water Management District take these important steps forward with expanded water quality monitoring. More data enables scientists to better identify the sources of pollution that exacerbate the harmful algal blooms. These algal blooms have caused economic crises across South Florida, and we can work together towards solutions."
Dr. Paul Gray, science coordinator for Audubon Florida: "Audubon is really excited about the significant expansion of the water quality monitoring network in the Northern Everglades region. Getting the best information possible about water quality--where it is good, where it is bad, how bad, what areas need the most attention, is the first step in effectively addressing our water issues and putting together an effective plan to solve them. It is not just scientifically sound to understand the problems before you try to fix them, it is economically sound."
Mark Perry, executive director of the Florida Oceanographic Society: "I applaud this action by the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board. Florida's coastal ecosystems are an incredible natural treasure, and today's move to increase water quality monitoring gives water managers the tools to make better decisions based on science."
Gary J. Ritter, assistant director of government and community affairs for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation: "The Florida Farm Bureau continues to support environmental and restoration initiatives that are based on scientific data and data collection methods. Expanding the in-lake and watershed monitoring networks in collaboration with the coordinating agencies (FDACS, FDEP, and UF/IFAS) will ensure a more robust, scientific, and balanced approach in evaluating projects and supporting the complex restoration challenges throughout the basin."
Sanibel Mayor Kevin Ruane: "The City of Sanibel commends the SFWMD for expeditiously implementing the water quality measures outlined in Governor DeSantis' Executive Order 19-12. The expansion of water quality monitoring within Lake Okeechobee, and the Caloosahatchee, St. Lucie, and Lake Okeechobee watersheds is critical for assessing and solving our water quality problems in South Florida."
Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein:
"Under the leadership of Gov. DeSantis, the State of Florida is working hard to make targeted water quality improvements. As part of these efforts, we are working to expand Florida's water quality monitoring network. The work that South Florida Water Management is doing complements the increased monitoring efforts that we are implementing at DEP. Our collaboration and joint efforts will ensure that measures taken to protect and improve water quality and reduce harmful algal blooms are working."
Rae Ann Wessel, natural resource policy director, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation: "We are glad to support the South Florida Water Management District's bold expansion of water quality monitoring stations and increased nutrient sampling throughout the Caloosahatchee, Lake Okeechobee, and St. Lucie watersheds. This data is absolutely critical to understand where nutrients are flowing into our water so the District can design and apply solutions in the right places to achieve the highest benefit at the best cost."
