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Once every three years, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) must conduct a comprehensive review of all water quality standards for the state. This review is called a Triennial Review-- AND IT'S HAPPENING NOW! 

Miami Waterkeeper is taking this opportunity to raise concerns about turbidity impacts on coral reefs -- and we need you to join us! 

A huge plume of sediment produced during the Port of Miami dredging project. This suspended sediment eventually settled on corals and smothered them.

If you’ve been following our challenges against FPL, you know that in September Miami Waterkeeper traveled up to our nation’s capital, Washington D.C., for oral arguments before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board. The hearing focused on whether or not Miami Waterkeeper and our partners would be entitled to a hearing to formally challenge the license renewal application for FPL's Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant. This license renewal would allow the plants to operate for an additional 20 years - which would make them the oldest reactors in the United States.

Miami Waterkeeper, in partnership with the Natural Resources Defense Council and Friends of the Earth, has challenged the granting of the operating license on the grounds that FPL is not adequately considering listed species, sea-level rise scenarios, and ongoing groundwater contamination.

Photo Credit: Keys News

We have had a very hot Fall here in Miami! 

According to University of Miami Researcher, Brian McNoldy, we have been experiencing some unprecedented conditions in our area.

In November 2018, Hydro Flask, the award-winning leader in high performance, insulated stainless steel flasks, announced that Miami Waterkeeper was one of the recipients of its 2018 Parks for All Charitable Giving Program. With this support, we have been busy engaging community members in our educational programs and providing volunteer service events to keep South Florida’s green and blue spaces healthy and accessible to all!

We are honored and excited to announce that we have been chosen to participate in a special charitable giving campaign, sponsored and funded by Target. And you have the chance to help direct a portion of Target’s donation to us!

Miami Waterkeeper's Digital Marketing Specialist, Kayla Hauge, had the opportunity to give graduate students at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science a unique perspective on social media use and science communication.

At the start of the school year, Miami Waterkeeper partnered with faculty and staff at Ransom Everglades School to train their students to be a part of our water patrol team, part of our “1000 Eyes on the Water” program. They learned about local ecosystems, pollution, and other issues facing Biscayne Bay. We kicked off this year’s water patrols on October 6th alongside 2 teachers and 13 students!

Good fertilizing practices are essential for near-shore water quality improvement. But, there are other things you can do that can further help the environment, including Florida-friendly landscaping! 

Images Courtesy of Knoll Landscape Design & PlantsMap

This August, a kayaker reported water bubbling up under a bridge near Oleta River State Park. An inspection revealed a crack in a 50-year-old iron sewer pipe which was causing raw sewage to escape into the Oleta River. More than a million gallons of sewage spilled into the river where the pipe is buried in the river bottom. When the Miami Dade Water and Sewer Department tried to plug the crack, it grew by 50%. Workers tried to divert the sewage to another line, but the other line was also in danger of failing because it was very old as well. As it turns out, repairs to this pipe had been delayed several times over the past ten years. In fact, the pipe should have been replaced more than 5 years ago according to budget records from the County. Five years too late as this pipe failure resulted in approximately 1.6 million gallons of raw sewage being spilled into our waters and no-swim advisories being issued for a 40-block area around the spill. 

Oleta River spill spotted by a kayaker in August 2019 -- Photo by Greg Clark

This summer was riddled with concern about emerging threats from flesh-eating bacteria in our coastal waters. Here's what you need to know about the bacteria and how to stay safe while swimming!