Florida Defenders of the Environment

Directions Website

Florida Defenders of the Environment In 1969, led by Marjorie Harris Carr, members of the Audubon Society and others created Florida Defenders of the Environment (FDE).

Protecting Freshwater Resources
Founded in 1969, Florida Defenders of the Environment was instrumental in halting the Cross Florida Barge Canal. It might have seemed far-fetched that a relatively small group of concerned citizens could stop a massive federal project already in progress to connect the Atlantic Ocean with the Gulf of Mexico but the work was halted in 1971. In their pioneering effort to stop the canal, FDE members completed one of the nation's first environmental impact statements. The Cross Florida Barge Canal was finally deauthorized in 1990 and, since that time, FDE has focused its efforts on repairing the damage caused by that project. Especially at a time when sprawl and development threaten valuable ecosystems all over the state, the restoration of 16 miles of river, 20 natural springs, and 7,500 acres of hardwood floodplain forest, one of the most biologically diverse, but rapidly disappearing habitats in the southeastern United States, will be a tremendous victory for the environment. FDE has contributed to the protection and restoration of many of Florida’s major rivers, including the Suwannee, St. Johns and Apalachicola rivers. FDE organized and serves as the coordinator of the Withlacoochee River Alliance. Conservation of Public Lands
FDE has long been involved in the management and conservation of public lands. FDE has worked to protect Osceola National Forest from mining and has worked to improve management of Ocala National Forest and several state parks. FDE played a key role in getting the former barge canal lands designated a greenway and managed for conservation. The corridor is named the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway in honor of one of FDE's founders.

10/21/2026
Thank you to everyone who attended our Meet & Greet. We appreciate you taking the time to join us and look forward to st...
10/16/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended our Meet & Greet. We appreciate you taking the time to join us and look forward to staying connected!

Rodman Dam sends a second flood downstream putting a lot of homes at risk of flooding. A restored Ocklawaha would provid...
10/08/2026

Rodman Dam sends a second flood downstream putting a lot of homes at risk of flooding. A restored Ocklawaha would provide natural flood control and remove the risk of flooding form the aging dam.
59s

You are all invited!
10/07/2026

You are all invited!

Springs Protectors, Please join us at the Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board meeting in Live Oak ...
10/01/2026

Springs Protectors,

Please join us at the Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board meeting in Live Oak on October 13. We need advocates like you to attend the meeting with us to show strong support for protecting our springs from overpumping.

We ask that you come to the meeting, bring a friend, and together, be a voice for Poe Springs and other springs along the Santa Fe and Suwannee Rivers that have stopped flowing because of overpumping and the ongoing drought. Join us in calling for a a mandatory 20% reduction of all consumptive use permits in the basin.


Click here to let us know we can count on seeing you at the October SRWMD meeting
🏛️ Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board Meeting
🗓️ Tuesday, October 13, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM
📍 District Headquarters: 9225 County Road 49, Live Oak, FL 32060

We hope to see you there! Please fill out this form to give us a heads up that you plan to attend the meeting, and we'll follow up with more information about organizing and preparing comments for the meeting: https://mstr.app/signup/01bc3e27-95bd-415c-a2da-c5312028fa3e


Email the SRWMD before Oct. 13
If you haven't already, be sure to send your email to the Suwannee River Water Management District today. Whether you can attend the meeting or not, we ask that you email your comments to the governing board urging them to reduce ALL consumptive use permits until the current drought is over. We've made it easy for you to send an email to the SRWMD today - just click the button below, fill out your information & the email is sent to the right decision-makers. Thank you to the over 1,300 advocates who have sent emails through our system so far on this issue!

Our springs are drying up, and we need those who have a duty and the power to protect our water supply to cut back all pumping, including what is permitted for agriculture, water bottling and public supply, in order to save our springs.
Email the SRWMD Governing Board - Tell them to STOP over-pumping

Thanks for advocating with us,

Chloe Dougherty
Communications Director
Florida Springs Council

Dear FDE supporters,First, I wish to share with you news of the resignation of our Executive Director, Nina Bhattacharyy...
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

Address

Gainesville, FL
32635

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Florida Defenders of the Environment posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category