The Florida Right to Clean Water Campaign is collecting signatures to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November 2024. After years of Red Tide, Blue Green Algae, and other harm to our waterways, it is time to protect the vital environment.
What does the petition say?
The summary:
This amendment creates a fundamental right to clean and healthy waters. The
amendment may be used to sue State executive agencies for harm or threatened harm to Florida’s
waters, which include aquatic ecosystems. This amendment defines terms, identifies affected
constitutional provisions in Article IV governing the executive branch, provides for civil action
enforcement, allows attorney’s and expert witness fees to prevailing plaintiffs, and provides equitable
remedies including restoration of waters.
You can download the full petition here.
Why do Floridians need an amendment for clean water?
Too many of Florida’s waterways are too polluted to swim in or support marine life. Data from the EPA shows that 70% of our bays, harbors, and estuaries have been assessed, and 99.6% of them are impaired. More than 89% of Florida’s lakes and reservoirs are impaired.
Florida’s beautiful springs have been heavily hurt by human impact. The state has not been fulfilling its commitments to restoring Florida’s springs.
Red Tide and Blue Green Algae is just getting worse in Florida. These toxic algae blooms harm the waterways, marine life, birds, animals and humans.
Manatees are starving to death in record numbers. The Gulf and adjacent waters are heating up, which (in addition to all the other problems) makes them lose oxygen. Less food for manatees, less oxygen for marine life, more dead fish, birds, and manatees.
There are a lot of other reasons. If you have questions about the petition, you can find the FAQ here. If you would like to know more about it, there is lots of information on the campaign’s website. You can print and sign the petition, and mail it to:
FloridaRightToCleanWater.org
13300 S. Cleveland Ave, Suite 56
Fort Myers, FL 33907
or drop it off at one of their locations, found through any of the FRCWC links above.
