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A bill aimed at making Port St. Joe’s port more accommodating to big cargo ships faces a big backlash from Gulf County residents, but legislators ignored their complaints.
Florida lawmaker pushes port change despite what people want
A proposal to expand the Port St. Joe Port Authority and dredge St. Joseph Bay has ignited backlash from Gulf County residents concerned about environmental risks and local control. Critics warn that disturbing decades-old paper mill pollution could carry serious health and economic consequences. more
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Proposed budgets defund Florida Forever, but do provide for conservation easements
The Florida House’s proposed budget would eliminate funding for Florida Forever, the state’s primary land conservation acquisition program, while shifting hundreds of millions toward agricultural conservation easements. Environmentalists warn the move could limit public access to protected lands and mark a major shift in conservation policy. more
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Florida termite breakthrough research sparks a nationwide surveillance collaboration initiative 
New research from the University of Florida has launched a nationwide collaboration to track and contain destructive invasive termites. The North American Termite Survey brings together scientists and industry professionals across 12 states to improve early detection and protect homes and infrastructure. more
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Thousands of creosote-soaked railroad ties caught fire in Dunnellon, leaving residents to fear for their health and for the impact on the nearby Rainbow River.
Railroad tie fire in Central Florida town shows polluters’ disregard for environment, human life
A massive fire involving tens of thousands of creosote-treated railroad ties in Dunnellon has raised alarms about environmental oversight and public health protections. Residents say they warned officials about the risk long before flames and toxic smoke filled the sky. more
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A major sugar company is harvesting its sugar crop. Big Sugar is pushing a bill that would let it shut up its critics.
Big Sugar wants Florida lawmakers to make its critics shut up
Two bills moving through the Florida Legislature would expand Florida’s “veggie libel” law to include sugar, giving large agricultural producers new legal tools to challenge public criticism. Environmental groups, free-speech advocates, and even some conservative activists say the measures primarily benefit U.S. Sugar and other major growers at the expense of transparency. more
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Wekiva Paint Out marks 20 years of art, conservation, and community along the Wekiva River
The annual Wekiva Paint Out returns Feb. 23–28 to celebrate two decades of artists capturing the natural beauty of the Wekiva River through live, open-air painting. Proceeds from the event benefit Keep Seminole Beautiful and the Wekiva Wilderness Trust, supporting conservation and environmental education efforts across the region. more
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The Spanish first brought cattle to Florida and the cattle industry shaped much of the state’s history. Photo of the Great Florida Cattle Drive.
Florida legislators try to moooove cattle into state parks and forests
A proposal moving through the Florida Legislature would require state parks, forests and other public lands to consider cattle grazing leases — a move critics say could damage fragile ecosystems and pollute springs and waterways. Supporters call it land management; opponents call it a step backward for conservation. more
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Manatee Festival at Blue Spring draws thousands while teaching visitors how clean water protects Florida wildlife
Thousands flocked to Blue Spring State Park for the annual Manatee Festival, where wintering manatees share the spotlight with water education. Interactive exhibits and one-on-one conversations helped visitors understand how aquifers, springs, and water conservation protect both wildlife and drinking water. more
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Guana River Wildlife Management Area.
Bill adding transparency to state land swaps sweeps through House committees
A bipartisan proposal in the Florida House of Representatives would add new guardrails before the state can sell or trade conservation land. The measure follows public outrage over a proposed 600-acre swap near the Guana River that residents say surfaced with little warning. more
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A spreader sprays sewage sludge, which is rich in phosphorus, across a farm in Oklahoma.
Why too much phosphorus in America’s farmland is polluting the country’s water
Phosphorus, long viewed as a safe and essential farm nutrient, has been quietly accumulating in agricultural soils at levels far beyond what crops need. Scientists now warn that this hidden buildup is fueling algal blooms, oxygen-depleted waters, and threats to drinking water across the country. more
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AAA urges Floridians to prepare for freezing temperatures as cold snap moves in
With overnight temperatures expected to fall into the 20s and 30s, AAA is urging drivers and homeowners to take steps now to avoid costly damage and roadside breakdowns. Even short periods of freezing weather can strain car batteries, burst pipes, and lower tire pressure. more
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An image of Hurricane Milton approaching Florida, as seen from NOAA's GOES-16 satellite at 6:30 p.m. EDT on October 8, 2024.
Orange County offers federal funding to help homeowners repair Hurricane Milton damage
Orange County’s Housing and Community Development Division has opened applications for Orange County Recovers, a federal disaster recovery program that helps homeowners repair, rebuild, or replace homes still damaged from Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Ian. Residents can apply online or attend an in-person workshop in Pine Hills or Apopka this week for help with the application process. more
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Cape Coral has more canals than anywhere else in the world, but it’s also under severe watering restrictions because there’s not enough water for drinking and watering lawns.
Lots of new Florida developments are lined up, but what will they drink?
Florida’s booming growth comes with a basic question few leaders want to answer: What will all these new residents drink? With drought conditions spreading and water restrictions already in place, one writer warns the Sunshine State may be heading toward “Dry 2026.” more
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A male Snail Kite carries an Apple Snail on Lake Okeechobee near Okeechobee, Florida on March 14, 2024. Audubon is leading the fight for clean water, exotic plant control, and proper water level management to protect the lake which is a critical habitat for wading birds and the Everglades Snail Kite.
Snail Kite population showing strain in dry years
Florida’s Snail Kite population is declining again after two consecutive dry years disrupted nesting and reduced access to apple snails, its primary food source, according to Audubon. The raptor rebounded over the past decade by adapting to invasive apple snails, but recent monitoring shows that boom-and-bust prey cycles and drought conditions can quickly reverse those gains. more
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December rainfall below average across the region as drought conditions persist
December rainfall across the St. Johns River Water Management District fell below average, with precipitation below normal in 17 of 18 counties, according to a new hydrologic report. District officials say the ongoing drought is contributing to declining aquifer levels and varying spring and surface water flows as Florida enters its dry season. more
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Phosphate miners spend decades digging up the rock used to create fertilizer, and when they put the layers back, they leave the radioactive material exposed. Then developers build on top of it. A bill in the Legislature would block efforts to hold Mosaic liable for the effects of radiation.
Phosphate giant turns to Florida Legislature for help thwarting lawsuits
A phosphate industry-backed proposal moving through the Florida Legislature would make it harder to sue landowners connected to former phosphate mining sites by changing the legal standard for liability. Supporters say it could encourage redevelopment, while critics warn it could weaken accountability for pollution-related harms. more
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A missing eagle nest in Pasco County’s Lake Jovita subdivision led to a bill aimed at shutting down every county and city’s rules against pollution and wetlands destruction.
Florida lawmaker is back with bill promoting water pollution
As the 2026 Florida legislative session begins, one lawmaker’s proposal is already drawing sharp criticism for its potential environmental impact. A bill that would strip cities and counties of authority to protect wetlands and prevent water pollution is being labeled by critics as a serious threat to Florida’s water quality and local governance. more
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Days of heavy rain across the Midwest flooded Frankfort, Ky., in April 2025.
2025’s extreme weather brought intense flash flooding, but no hurricane landfalls in the US – the jet stream is a big reason why
The unusual weather patterns of summer 2025—deadly inland flooding paired with a quiet U.S. hurricane season—were largely driven by shifts in the polar jet stream. Scientists say a weakened, wavering jet stream stalled storms over the same regions while steering hurricanes safely away from the mainland. more
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The FWC announced that 52 Florida black bears were "harvested" during the state-sanctioned bear hunt that took place between December 6th and 28th.
FWC reports 52 bears killed during Florida’s first black bear hunt in a decade
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that 52 black bears were harvested during Florida’s recently concluded 2025 bear hunt, the first such hunt in nearly 10 years. State officials described the hunt as a success rooted in scientific wildlife management, while critics continued to question the data and motivations behind its approval. more
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The impressive Hobe Mountain Tower at Jonathan Dickinson State Park has been closed since last year, just one of the park's facilities that need a huge state investment.
Dear Santa, can you please help our crumbling Florida state parks?
A newly released state report reveals Florida’s award-winning state park system faces a staggering $759 million backlog in repairs, threatening infrastructure, safety, and visitor access across nearly 800,000 acres. Advocates say the findings present a critical opportunity for lawmakers to reinvest in one of Florida’s most valuable natural and economic assets. more
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Passengers on Karen Chadwick’s charter boat, anchored at the now-revealed Blue Spring, hold up a banner calling for saving the lost springs of the Ocklawaha River. From left to right, Matt Keene, director of the “Lost Springs” documentary, Jerry Eller, Jodi Eller, and Kathy Keene.
Rodman drawdown exposes the beauty of Florida’s lost springs
A new Florida Phoenix article shows how the Rodman Reservoir drawdown reveals the Ocklawaha River’s “lost springs,” hidden for decades beneath the Kirkpatrick Dam. What many Apopkans don’t realize is that the water beginning in Lake Apopka ultimately flows into this same river system, making the fight over the Ocklawaha’s future directly connected to Apopka’s own history of environmental damage and recovery. more
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District sees unusually dry November
November brought exceptionally dry weather across the St. Johns River Water Management District, with many counties receiving less than an inch of rain and some northern areas recording none. As rainfall deficits deepen and La Niña persists, District officials are encouraging Floridians to use water wisely and monitor evolving drought forecasts. more
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Studies show PFAS can be harmful to human health, including pregnant women and their fetuses.
PFAS in pregnant women’s drinking water puts their babies at higher risk, study finds
A new study shows that pregnant women who drink well water located downstream from PFAS-contaminated sites face significantly higher risks of low birth weight, preterm birth, and infant mortality. The findings suggest these “forever chemicals” pose far greater reproductive health dangers than previously understood and may justify stronger federal water regulations. more
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Homegrown National Park — not an actual place but a marketing concept with the goal of restoring 20m acres of natural habitat in America — thinks suburbia could be the answer to tackling the biodiversity crisis it’s helped create, by taking conservation efforts private. 
Suburban development may become a surprising tool in America’s fight to restore wildlife habitat
As suburban growth continues to replace natural landscapes, a new conservation movement is turning to private landowners to help reverse biodiversity loss. Homegrown National Park’s first planned community, Sunbridge near Orlando, is attempting to show how sustainable landscaping and native habitats can thrive alongside modern development. more
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Hurricane Ian.
Orange County begins home repairs for Hurricane Ian survivors through recovery program
Orange County announced that repairs to homes damaged by Hurricane Ian will begin this week through its Orange County Recovers program. The initiative provides federally funded grants to low- and moderate-income homeowners still facing unresolved storm damage. more
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