Policy & Advocacy - FY 2021-22 SCCF Annual Report

Policy & Advocacy

Sound Science Ensures LOSOM Success

Starting with the March 2021 hiring of Paul Julian, Ph.D., as Hydrologic Modeler, in partnership with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, then-SCCF Environmental Policy Director James Evans and his team were laser-focused on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM). Along with regional partners, they rallied around sound science as a basis for the most equitable distribution of water among all stakeholders. During the planning process, after evaluating hundreds of thousands of possible schedules for water releases in concert with our partners, our work led to the selection of the current preferred alternative that protects the health of the Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, and the northern estuaries.

DePaolis Hired as Evans Becomes CEO

In March 2022, Matt DePaolis started as SCCF’s new Environmental Policy Director, taking on the critical role that opened up when James Evans became the nonprofit’s CEO in January. With a master’s degree in marine biology and a Juris Doctorate with certificates in both environmental and ocean and coastal law from the University of Oregon, DePaolis discovered SCCF while working at the University of Florida’s Center for Coastal Solutions.

Evans Honored as Citizen of Year

For his efforts over the past two decades to protect coastal ecosystems, SCCF CEO James Evans was named the Citizen of the Year by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce in May 2022. With more than 22 years of experience working in South Florida ecosystems and expertise in water quality, environmental policy, marine biology, estuarine ecology, and environmental restoration, Evans was lauded for his relentless dedication.

CEPD Funds Coastal Resilience Manager

In August 2021, Coastal Resilience Manager Carrie Schuman, Ph.D., came on board thanks to our partnership with the Captiva Erosion Prevention District. She regularly writes and speaks about the future impacts of climate change including flooding risks while also championing possible solutions such as using the protective capacity of our natural ecosystems. In addition, she provides scientific advice to local planning partners, collaborates with SCCF’s policy team, and more.

2022 Florida Environmental Legislative Summary

SCCF provides weekly updates during the legislative session so that your voices can have a real-time impact on the bills being passed that affect our community. The 2022 session largely demonstrated a lack of commitment to the environment, while the post-session period was nothing short of supercharged this year as it included two special sessions and a record $3.1 billion in budget line-item vetoes. Here are the positive takeaways for the environment:

NOTABLE VETOES

SCCF opposed SB 2508 Environmental Resources, a controversial multi-issue, budget-conforming bill that allowed it to bypass the normal public comment process. This bill would have undermined the extensive work by SCCF and our partners to base the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) on sound science by taking decisions about the equitable distribution of water out of the hands of experts and handing them to politicians and special interest groups. A determined effort by thousands of water quality advocates aided the governor’s decision to veto this ill-conceived bill.

SCCF opposed SB 1024/HB 741 - Net Metering. Passed by the legislature, this bill took aim at net metering, the practice whereby utility customers who have installed rooftop solar are able to feed excess energy they produce back into the electrical grid in exchange for account credits. Thousands of renewable energy advocates helped lead the charge to get it vetoed.

FLORIDA'S ENVIRONMENTAL BUDGET

The final budget of $109.9 billion includes these notable environmental items:

• $100 million for Florida Forever Land Acquisition

• $86 million for Water Quality Restoration Strategies/Regional Water Quality Plan

• $202.1 million for Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan

• $6 million for Caloosahatchee River Water Quality Basin Management Action Plan

• $400,000 for Wulfert Reclaimed Auxiliary Supply Tank