Save Our Water 2019: Hundreds gather to hear Gov. DeSantis, experts talk water quality

Hundreds of politicians, business leaders, agency heads and environmental advocates met Wednesday in Bonita Springs to try to find solutions to Southwest Florida's water woes. 

The 2019 Save Our Water summit, hosted by The News-Press and Naples Daily News, drew about 600 people to the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa. 

Gov. Ron DeSantis was at the top of a long list of impressive speakers, including Lt. Col. Jennifer Reynolds from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Noah Valenstein from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. 

"It was very clear to me years ago that this was an issue that really affected a really, really broad cross-section of people in our state," DeSantis told the crowd. "I said 'Let's just go after it and not hold back and swing for the fences.'"

This is the third Save Our Water summit held in Southwest Florida since El Nino rains in January 2016 led to massive algal blooms in the historic Everglades system, which stretches from just south of Orlando to the Florida Keys. 

A panel dedicated to Everglades restoration and other water quality and quantity projects focused on three reservoirs and the completion of reinforcements to the 143-mile Herbert Hoover Dike that surrounds and contains Lake Okeechobee. 

Reynolds, of the Corps of Engineers, said lowering the lake during the dry season this year allowed the Army Corps to keep water in the lake as a blue-green algae bloomed developed on it. 

Reynolds said sending lake water to the Caloosahatchee River earlier this year helped avoid discharges during a the bloom, which has been documented across much of Lake Okeechobee this summer. 

She also said lowering the lake was also good for Okeechobee's ecology. 

"We knew we had several high water years in a row, so we worked together to come up with a way we could change, in small ways, how we manage the water," Reynolds said. "So we looked at an opportunity, with Mother Nature's help, to be able to put the lake at a level to allow submerged aquatic vegetation to really revive itself." 

The group talked about Everglades restoration projects like the Caloosahatchee Reservoir, also called C-43, which will store, treat and later release about 55 billion gallons of water that would otherwise flow straight to the Gulf of Mexico. 

That water is needed to make sure the delicate estuary has enough freshwater flow during the dry season. 

Currently, that water comes from Lake Okeechobee, which is often plagued with blue-green algae blooms in the summer. 

Charlette Roman, a Marco Island resident and member of the South Florida Water Management District, said many Everglades restoration and water quality and quantity projects could have been completed earlier, and that the plans to fix Florida's water problems have been in place. 

"Not only is it key to our economic prosperity but it's also key to our quality of life," Roman said. "They knew what to do. There are projects on the books and they know what policies to work with."

Previously:Army Corps reaching out for public input on Lake Okeechobee releases

And:Army Corps mulls lower Lake O level to curb discharges, harmful algal blooms 

Drew Bartlett, executive director of the South Florida Water Management District, said ridding Florida's waters of pollution and harmful algal blooms starts with an engaged public. 

"It all starts with a water management district that's engaged with the public, that listens to the public, is transparent and wants to know what the public needs," Bartlett said. 

Rae Ann Wessel with the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation said moving forward with water quality projects is mandatory if Floridians want cleaner waters. 

Save Our Water:Gov. DeSantis says state, feds must complete restoration projects

"What we ultimately want is clean water and healthy, resilient habitat," Wessel said. "It's not just an achievable goal, it's what we have to do." 

The legislature report card panel consisted of State Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, Florida representatives Dane Eagle and Bob Rommel, and Aliki Moncrief, executive director of Florida Conservation Voters. Eve Samples of USA TODAY Network-Florida moderated the discussion.

Valenstein, secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, took the stage before the panel began.

Valentine opened with stories from the past year that stuck out in his mind: a dead manatee washing up onshore during a presentation he was giving, and a lunch at a waterfront restaurant on the Caloosahatchee River with barely any customers.

"Algal blooms are not just a Florida issue," Valenstein said. "We've seen this issue throughout the U.S."

More:Coast is clear, for now, as wildlife begins comeback from devastating red tide bloom

And:June's Saharan dust setting up right conditions for red tide, but still too soon to tell

Valenstein said the state is in the right place to face these water issues. There's an environmental challenge, but we also have the collaboration to take it head-on, he said.

"We have the resources; our Legislature appropriated the money," he said. "Governor DeSantis said we have to enforce the laws we have and we have to make sure what we know is working."

Samples opened the panel talking about the fact that almost every bill espousing stricter environmental regulations failed in the 2019 Legislature.

Eagle said that DeSantis is stepping up to the plate and making area water issues a statewide issue.

"Seeing the ground swelling of support is great," Eagle said. "We had the most Everglades friendly budget in history this past year — $682 million going to our environment is unprecedented."

Eagle said there is work being done, but there were complications with the bills being proposed this year.

"Some policy we would've liked to see passed did not get finished," he said. "A lot of those bills got combined into one bill and that bill died on the very last day of session."

Rommel had a straightforward answer about whether more regulations are needed to quell the adverse effects of poor water quality.

"I don't know if we need more regulations," he said. "It's very simple: we need to stick to the plan we have and the regulations we have."

Moncrief took a broader approach to the discussion on regulations.

"The single most important thing our lawmakers can do is to prioritize natural solutions," she said. "When we protect land, we protect water. I think a much healthier infusion of dollars has to go into key conservation programs."

There was a lot of energy in the room with occasional laughter despite the serious subject matter, spontaneous applause and even a few standing ovations.

Large-scale concepts were the order of the day, but some panelists made those personal.

“If you moved to Florida since 1880, you’re part of the problem,” said Reynolds at the Army Corps. "If you’ve eaten food you didn’t grow yourself, you’re part of the problem. If you’ve used the bathroom in the last 24 hours, you’re part of the problem. If you’ve driven on a road or lived anywhere there’s concrete or shopped in a store, you’re part of the problem,” she said. “So we’re all part of the problem.”

On the other hand, “If you’ve voted, if you’ve paid your taxes, if you’ve gone to a public meeting, if you've attended a water summit, you’re part of the solution,” Reynolds said.

Watch:Save Our Water: Legislative Policy Panel

Save Our Water:State representatives discuss water quality policy

It all got even more granular at a panel on personal agency moderated by the Greater Naples Chamber’s Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster.

Simply put, it was a what’s next discussion. Participants had a plethora of ideas for keeping the summit’s momentum going – everything from planting Florida natives in the home landscape to using bamboo toothbrushes.

Some were large-scale: FGCU assistant professor and aquatic ecologist Serge Thomas and his wife are building an environmentally friendly earth-sheltered dome home, complete with composting toilet.

Others were day-to-day: Keep Lee County Beautiful’s Trish Fancher brings her glass leftover containers  when she eats out, so restaurants don’t have to give her a single-use doggie bag.

John Lai, president and CEO of the Sanibel Captiva Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that businesses need to walk the talk – especially businesses that depend on a healthy environment. “We used to buy bottles of water by the case,” he said. “That’s not sustainable.”

Daniel Andrews, one of the founders of the nonprofit Captains for Clean Water, emphasized influencing others – especially the next generation, as did Fancher.

“Find your tribe,” Fancher said, looking around at the crowd.

Editorial:We're challenging Florida to put public health at heart of environmental policy