Once in a Lifetime - A Chance to Save the Everglades
To say that the Everglades and the animals that call it home are at risk would be an understatement. It is vital that we change the way we manage Florida's waters to ensure that we don't lose these precious resources before it's too late. Since 2016, Captains for Clean Water has been fighting to make that change happen. A group of captains in Florida has banded together to ensure that the waters they love are protected.
“For decades, Everglades restoration was missing something. It was missing the voice of the people. It was missing heart and passion. It was missing Captains for Clean Water”
Photo Credit: Noah Miller
"For decades, Everglades restoration was missing something. It was missing the voice of the people. It was missing heart and passion. It was missing Captains for Clean Water" - Capt. Benny Blanco
From algae blooms to disrupted flows, the waters of Florida have seen one disaster after another in recent years, and it all stems from decades of prioritizing farmlands over the natural habitat. Since the mid-1800's, the Everglades and surrounding areas have been seen as swamplands and a "waste of space" with many working to drain the area and create farmland out of it. For nearly a century now, efforts to drain these lands have been damaging this delicate ecosystem without much attention paid to the impacts of these actions.
Now we understand the importance of these lands and their impact on not only our economy, but the environment as a whole. "In 2015, the Everglades lost 50,000 acres of seagrass. One acre of seagrass sequesters the same amount of carbon as an acre of rainforest. That's like losing 50,000 acres of rainforest." - Chris Whitman.
Capt. Benny Blanco is one captain that refuses to give up the fight. A Florida native, fishing guide, and father, he has watched as these places changed for the worse and is fighting to ensure that his children and grandchildren won't have to suffer the same fate. As the host of Guiding Flow, Capt. Benny has used his platform to help spread the message of Everglades restoration and educate those who aren't face-to-face with the reality of the situation. Recently, Capt. Benny has become a passionate advocate for federal funding of this Everglades restoration project. With the Federal Government falling short on its promise of restoration funding in the past. He believes that now is the time to ensure they put their money where their mouth is and match the funds promised and more.
"Since CERP (Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan) was approved by Congress back in 2000, the state of Florida has spent about $4.5 billion on the plan, while Congress has only invested $1.7 billion—a far cry from the equal share agreed to 20 years ago."
“It’s important that we educate people, so they can see that these things are important and relevant, even if they have never been to the Everglades.”
In this special episode of Guiding Flow, Capt. Benny talks with expert fishing guides and conservation advocates about the importance of preserving these lands and funding the projects needed for doing just that.
"It's important that we educate people, so they can see that these things are important and relevant, even if they have never been to the Everglades." - Chris Whitman.
Watch this episode and visit captainsforcleanwater.org to learn more about this issue and how you can help.
