Lakes, wetlands, and rivers bring life to Florida’s most important natural features: the Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, and the state’s mangrove forests and beaches.

Florida’s waters are critically important to the state’s economic well-being and its residents’ quality of life. But water quality across the state has been declining for decades, due to unchecked agricultural pollution, rapid development, and cattle operations. Many of the state’s freshwater springs, rivers, and lakes are now stagnant and choked with algae.

We have a vision of Florida waters restored to the astounding natural resource they once were. We’re working for a future where the state’s aquatic ecosystems function naturally and healthily, support wildlife populations, help to meet the state’s drinking water needs, and offer safe and beautiful places for recreational activities.

Highlights of our work include:

Stopping the Poisoning of Waterways with Phosphorus and Nitrogen Pollution

The Florida office is dedicated to curbing the widespread contamination of Florida waters by sewage, fertilizer, and manure.

This pollution, which contains high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen that skew the natural balance of aquatic ecosystems, results in toxic algae outbreaks that cover waterways with green slime and cause rashes, breathing problems, stomach disorders, and even death. These outbreaks kill dolphins, manatees, birds, and fish.

A complex litigation campaign by Earthjustice attorneys worked to compel state and federal agencies to comply with the Clean Water Act and set numeric limits for phosphorus and nitrogen pollution. Victories include:

• In 2010, our work forced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to finalize the first-ever numeric limits on phosphorus and nitrogen in Florida’s lakes, rivers, and streams.
• In 2012, pursuant to our federal consent decree, the agency proposed similar rules for estuarine and coastal waters. The consent decree required that these protections apply to 85% of Florida’s waters.
• In 2019, a federal court rejected a petition by the South Florida Water Management District requesting that the consent decree be invalidated or vacated. Earthjustice, on behalf of conservation groups, argued that the consent decree is still needed because excessive pollution is still wreaking havoc on the Everglades, and the state has failed to stop it. The court ruling means that important protections for the Everglades will continue.

Reopening the Ocklawaha River to Sturgeon and Manatees

The Rodman Dam on the Ocklawaha River in the Ocala National Forest is a useless relic of the Cross-Florida Barge Canal project that was abandoned long ago. It blocks access to important Ocklawaha River habitat for endangered shortnose sturgeon, Southern Atlantic sturgeon, and manatees.