Friends of the Everglades

Friends of the Everglades
Name	Friends of the Everglades
Formation	1969
Type	Nonprofit
Headquarters	Miami, Florida
Region served	Everglades National Park, Florida Bay, South Florida
Leader title	Executive Director

Friends of the Everglades

Friends of the Everglades is an American environmental advocacy organization founded in 1969 dedicated to protecting the Everglades National Park and the larger South Florida watershed. The group has engaged in litigation, public education, and policy advocacy involving federal agencies such as the National Park Service and state entities like the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Its work intersects with major conservation efforts involving U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Army Corps of Engineers, and regional partners including the South Florida Water Management District.

History

Friends of the Everglades was established in response to proposals affecting Everglades National Park and growing development pressures in Miami-Dade County and the Florida Keys. Early actions involved opposing projects promoted by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and supporting litigation under statutes such as the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The organization participated in public debates alongside entities like the Sierra Club, Audubon Society, and local groups concerned with impacts on Florida Bay, the Big Cypress National Preserve, and the Calusa and Tequesta historical sites. Over decades, Friends of the Everglades collaborated with academics from institutions including University of Florida, Florida International University, and University of Miami on hydrologic and ecological analyses.

Mission and Objectives

The group's stated mission emphasizes restoration of natural water flow across the Everglades National Park and protection of habitats for species such as the American crocodile, Florida panther, and West Indian manatee. Objectives include enforcing environmental laws like the Clean Water Act and promoting implementation of large-scale projects such as the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan supported by the United States Congress and administered by agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Friends of the Everglades also advocates for policy alignment with international frameworks cited by organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy.

Campaigns and Advocacy

Friends of the Everglades has led campaigns opposing infrastructure proposals by the Florida Department of Transportation and certain United States Army Corps of Engineers initiatives that would alter sheetflow into Everglades National Park. The organization filed lawsuits and administrative petitions challenging permits issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District and engaged with processes tied to the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and state-level programs like Restudy and Plan 6. Its advocacy has involved coalition actions with Earthjustice, Natural Resources Defense Council, and regional citizen groups during controversies over projects related to C-38 Canal, Tamiami Trail, and proposed diversions impacting Florida Bay fisheries and Biscayne Bay estuaries.

Restoration and Scientific Work

Friends of the Everglades supports restoration science addressing hydrology, water quality, and habitat connectivity in landscapes involving Big Cypress National Preserve, Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, and the Ten Thousand Islands. The organization has commissioned studies referencing hydrologic models used by United States Geological Survey researchers and collaborated with scientists at Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute affiliates and university programs involved in Everglades Restoration. Work emphasizes reducing nutrient loading affecting phosphorus-sensitive communities and improving conditions for species listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 such as the Snail kite and Cape Sable seaside sparrow.

Organizational Structure and Funding

Friends of the Everglades is governed by a board of directors and operated by staff including an executive director, legal counsel, and outreach coordinators. The organization’s funding sources have included membership dues, grants from foundations such as those associated with Ford Foundation-era philanthropy and conservation funders, individual donations, and support from environmental networks including National Parks Conservation Association allies. It has retained outside counsel from environmental law organizations and coordinated with nonprofit partners like Sierra Club and Audubon Society on joint litigation and public engagement campaigns.

Notable Achievements and Impact

Friends of the Everglades helped influence modifications to projects affecting the Tamiami Trail and advanced litigation that clarified application of the Clean Water Act and National Environmental Policy Act in South Florida contexts. The group contributed to scientific and policy discussions that informed phases of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and supported actions by National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect critical habitat for the Florida panther and American crocodile. Through public education and coalition work with organizations like Environmental Defense Fund and The Nature Conservancy, Friends of the Everglades has maintained a persistent role in debates over water management, development in Miami-Dade County, and conservation of Everglades National Park, Florida Bay, and associated ecosystems.

Category:Environmental organizations based in Florida Category:Everglades