Waterkeepers from all over the state gathered in Gainesville this week for a strategic meeting to identify our collective priorities in order to amplify our voice when it comes to restoring and protecting fishable, swimmable and drinkable water. We all share a myriad of issues across the state like declining water quality, harmful algal blooms, emergency management response, development pressures, and more! And with those issues, there are plenty of opportunities we identified in moving forward to take on a proactive approach to driving effective statewide solutions. For 2025 (and beyond!) you will see Apalachicola Riverkeeper working within Waterkeepers Florida to build our relationship with elected officials, expand collaborations, collectively enforce the accountability of government agencies, all while amplifying our collective voice to effectively advocate for Florida’s watersheds.
Our Mission: Waterkeepers Florida works to protect and restore Florida’s water resources including water quality and quantity, the flora and fauna that depend on our water, and the aesthetic, recreational, and economic values of water resources through education, advocacy, and community engagement.
Our Strategic Pillars:
- Increase WKFL ability to communicate with collective voice
- Influence policy to better protect and restore Florida’s waters
- Strengthen enforcement efforts to hold polluters and agencies accountable
- Resource/ information sharing amongst smaller WKOs
Cameron Baxley is Riverkeeper at Apalachicola Riverkeeper. She can be reached at [email protected]