Florida Defenders of the Environment

05/30/2026

Dear FDE supporters,

First, I wish to share with you news of the resignation of our Executive Director, Nina Bhattacharyya, who served ably during her tenure as a major contributor to the recent attempt to pass an Ocklawaha restoration bill. While we regret the loss, we extend to Nina and her family all best wishes.

I have informed the FDE board that after many decades of service to FDE dating back to my work with Marjorie Carr in the 1980s, and for the past several years as board president, I plan to retire as president by year's end and will continue in an advisory capacity. During this critical period, I will work with the board to explore the best pathway forward, participate in strategic planning, and keep members of the FDE community apprised of our efforts.

As we continue to support conservation and environmental education efforts in Florida, we are seeking to reinvigorate and grow our board of directors. I invite you to put forward any suggestions you may have for new board members, or to express your willingness to join us.

It has been a singular honor to work for FDE as we continue to work against the tide of current political forces and one day realize Marjorie Carr's vision of a free-flowing Ocklawaha. I have stood on the shoulders of generations of hard working stewards of Natural Florida and firmly believe that a younger generation of stewards will rise to continue this legacy.

Warmest regards,

Steve Robitaille, President
Florida Defenders of the Environment

04/30/2026

Florida Defenders of the Environment is participating in The Amazing Give, a one-day online giving event supporting nonprofits across our region.

Your support helps us:
💧 Restore rivers like the Ocklawaha
🌱 Protect Florida’s natural lands
🗣 Advocate for science-based conservation
🌎 Build a more resilient future
🕗 Giving is open 8 AM – 8 PM
👉 Donate here: https://www.theamazinggive.org/organizations/florida-defenders-of-the-environment

Every donation counts, and sharing this post helps even more.

Thank you for being part of this work.

04/01/2026

🎶 “All The Way Around” wins the 2026 Will McLean Best New Florida Song Contest

This year’s winning song tells the story of the Cross Florida Barge Canal, a project that would have carved a shipping route across the state.

Inspired by the book Ditch of Dreams, the song reflects on the tension between economic “progress” and the ecological and human costs that often come with it. What could have been a catastrophic loss for Florida’s rivers, springs, and aquifer was ultimately stopped, thanks in large part to the leadership of Florida Defenders of the Environment led by Marjorie Harris Carr and a movement of citizens who stood up for Florida’s future.

Today, the footprint of that proposed canal is something very different: the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, 70,000 acres of protected land and 300 miles of trails.

It’s a powerful reminder that the Florida we know today exists because people chose to protect it.

🎧 Listen to this amazing song and read more about the contest and winners:
https://donnagreentownsend.com/song-contest-winner-and-finishers-in-the-2026-will-mclean-best-new-florida-song-contest/

The winner of the 2026 Will McLean Best New Florida Song Contest is Gainesville songwriter, Daniel Stepp with his original song, All The Way Around. Stepp says he got the idea for the song after reading a book called, Ditch of Dreams written by two of his colleagues- Steven Noll and Stepp’s frien...

03/19/2026

Big moment for the Ocklawaha River - featured in the Associated Press.

This story highlights decades of advocacy to reconnect the Silver, Ocklawaha, and St. Johns rivers, and the growing momentum behind restoration.

We didn’t get a final vote this year because of Senate President Albritton and Senator Leek, but support across Florida continues to build. The movement is far from over.

https://apnews.com/article/florida-silver-springs-restoration-environment-rodman-ocklawaha-63b280aaaa220667cc38fdc5a680c2ed

03/19/2026

Decades after a canal project was abandoned, the push to reunite the Silver, Ocklawaha, and St. Johns Rivers is gaining national attention.

We’re grateful to see the story of the Ocklawaha River reach a broader audience through the Associated Press.

While this year’s legislation did not receive a final vote, the momentum is real and growing. Communities across Florida are coming together around a shared vision: restoring a free-flowing river, investing in local economies, and addressing aging infrastructure like the Rodman Dam.

The movement to reunite the rivers continues and we’re just getting started.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/florida-silver-springs-restoration-environment-rodman-ocklawaha-63b280aaaa220667cc38fdc5a680c2ed

Environmentalists want to permanently open a dam built for a canal that was supposed to cut through the middle of Florida from the Atlantic to the Gulf.

03/11/2026

SB 1066 for Ocklawaha restoration has earned a floor vote. A bill this consequential should live or die in the daylight, not be suffocated in backrooms.

Contact Senate President Albritton and urge him to advance and approve SB 1066! https://reunitetherivers.com/contact-your-senator/

03/08/2026

“Restoring the Ocklawaha River is not picking on Putnam County. It is investing in Putnam.”

This Palatka Daily News op-ed explains how SB 1066 / HB 981 would restore a historic river, support the health of the St. Johns River, and create new economic opportunities for Putnam County.

📣 Now is the time to act.
Contact Senate President Ben Albritton and your State Senator and urge them to support SB 1066.

Take action here: https://reunitetherivers.com/contact-your-senator/

Read the op-ed below. ⬇️

03/04/2026

The Florida House has voted YES for Ocklawaha River Restoration.

But the job isn’t finished.

The Senate must vote to approve the Act and time is running out.

📣 Tell the Senate President to schedule a vote and pass the Northeast Florida Rivers, Springs, and Community Investment Act (SB 1066) before it’s too late: https://reunitetherivers.good.do/reunitetherivers/SB-1066-SenatePresident/

Contact the Senate President TODAY!

This legislation will reconnect the Ocklawaha, Silver Springs, and St. Johns River system, strengthen the Florida Wildlife Corridor, and invest in healthier waterways and communities.

The Senate vote is next and your voice matters.

03/02/2026

Dam safety is about protecting downstream families and communities.

Former FWC Lieutenant Bob H. Lee is raising serious concerns about the structural integrity of the Kirkpatrick (Rodman) Dam and the real risks of catastrophic failure.

Call Senate President Ben Albritton TODAY and urge support for SB 1066. https://reunitetherivers.good.do/reunitetherivers/SB-1066-SenateFloor

My name is Bob H. Lee, and I'm a former lieutenant and 30-year veteran of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This video is the second in ...

02/26/2026

A once-in-a-generation restoration opportunity is on the line. As final votes approach, ask House and Senate leadership to move this bill forward.