Locals take future in their own hands at Climate Action event during Miami Climate Month
June 26 event takes place at historic Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is hosting Climate Action: Inform and Empower on Wednesday, June 26 at 6:00 p.m. Climate Action a community discussion with hands-on activities designed to inform and empower locals around climate ac...
On April 15, 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency issued an Interpretive Statement (“Interpretive Statement on Releases of Pollutants from Point Sources to Groundwater”), which states that: “releases of pollutants to groundwater are categorically excluded from the Clean Water Act’s permitting requirements because Congress explicitly left regulation of discharges to groundwater to the states and to the EPA under other statutory authorities.”
What does this mean? Well, the agency would be formally reversing its longstanding interpretation of the Clean Water Act. If pollutants are discharged from point sources through groundwater before they reach surface waters -- those pollutants would be EXEMPT from Clean Water Act regulation. Meaning, pollutant discharges to Waters of the United States from things like pipelines, wells, mines, deep well injection, animal feeding operation, and other pollution sources through groundwater would be near impossible to regulate under the CWA. It could also create an incentive for polluters to discharge waste into the groundwater, instead of getting the proper permits to dispose of it otherwise.
Kristen Ranges, a current J.D./Ph.D. student at the University of Miami, started her higher education at the University of Delaware, College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment where she majored in marine sciences with a concentration in biology and minor in public policy. After research-based experiences in marine biology, Kristen decided to focus her studies on the conservation of the marine environment through policy and law. Kristen began her legal studies at the University of Miami in 2017 where her curriculum has focused on environmental, coastal, and maritime law. Wanting to further her interdisciplinary education, Kristen recently matriculated into the Ph.D. program at the University of Miami’s Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy.
Meet 6 Women Fighting for Clean Water
Featuring voice recordings from celebrities like Lupita Nyong'o and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, an online photo gallery published today profiles 20 clean-water activists who have fought and won significant court battles in sites around the world. The "Waterkeeper Warriors" photo project celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Waterkeeper Alliance, a global nonprofit that focuses on increasing accessibility to clean water.
Before their graduation, our Junior Ambassadors' final task was to deliver a public presentation about an environmental topic of their choice. Some of our Ambassadors decided to complete this program requirement by participating in a panel discussion of threats to South Florida's waterways.
The theme of the panel was threats to South Florida's waterways. The Junior Ambassadors shed light on the issues, while also providing attainable solutions that they have learned about throughout the year long program.
Three Recent Studies Point to Alarming Health Trends in Florida's Oceans | Miami Beach Times
By Theresa Pinto, Contributing Reporter MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - The results of three recent studies show alarming trends for the health of the planet's oceans, and in particular South Florida's oceans. What emerges from these studies is that the oceans are ill and humans are the main cause.
We have some exciting news! Miami Waterkeeper has been selected to receive a Community Grant from the Miami Foundation in the Resiliency category! The Miami Foundation's community grants invest more than $1.3 million in Miami-Dade non-profits. This year, 71 non-profits are sharing the $1.3 million. Community grants provide support to Greater Miami organizations whose initiatives improve local quality of life in three areas: Opportunity, Creativity, and Resiliency.
Our Executive Director, Rachel Silverstein was interviewed by CNN about sea level rise and pollution threats. Sea-level rise is already impacting Miami by way of flooding, ecosystem and habitat loss, and saltwater intrusion. Sea-level rise is also impacting our wastewater infrastructure -- including our sewage system and many backyard septic tanks.
Executive Director and Waterkeeper, Rachel Silverstein, provided a keynote address for Sierra Club Miami at their "Saving Seagrass" event at the Sacred Space Miami. Rachel discussed the state of seagrass in Miami as well as the Miami-Dade County Report on the ongoing seagrass die-off in Biscayne Bay.
Biscayne Bay is home to many ecologically important habitats, including seagrass. Seagrasses provide a host of benefits to the ecosystem, both directly and indirectly benefitting humans. They provide habitat and shelter for juvenile species of recreationally and commercially important fish. Both recreational and commercial fishers make their living on Biscayne Bay collecting species such as baitfish, stone crab, blue crab, shrimp, and lobster. Seagrasses support the diving industry in South Florida by providing habitat to juvenile fish that colonize reefs later in their development. Seagrasses enhance shoreline protection and prevent erosion by stabilizing sediments with their roots. In addition to this, they absorb nutrients. They attenuate wave energy from storms as well. Seagrasses help maintain water quality and clarity and are also a food source to several different species.
Join Miami Waterkeeper in welcoming our new Digital Marketing Specialist, Kayla Hauge! Kayla joined our team in April 2019, and we’re very excited to be working with her!
