Friends of the Everglades

06/15/2026

In a state known for its sunshine, there has been none surrounding the planning, construction, operation or closure of “Alligator Alcatraz”. The secrecy continues, despite taxpayer dollars being spent and vocal opposition to harm inflicted in Big Cypress National Preserve by our government. This secrecy has been used to defy bedrock environmental laws that require evaluation of harm, transparency and public input BEFORE federal projects begin.
Stand with us to stop “Alligator Alcatraz” and defend the sacred and cherished Big Cypress.

06/14/2026

"Will the last person leaving 'Alligator Alcatraz' please turn out the lights?" In just a few sentences, Eve Samples' new op-ed in USA Today captures what’s truly at stake. These poetic opening lines are more than beautiful imagery — they’re a reminder of what we’re fighting to protect and all that we stand to lose every day that “Alligator Alcatraz” is allowed to remain in the heart of the Everglades. — Read the full piece here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2026/06/06/alligator-alactraz-fix-everglades/90296499007/

06/11/2026

Friends of the Everglades Multimedia Producer Leah Voss spent this spring documenting the Indian River Lagoon and the results are stunning.

One year without Lake Okeechobee discharges has made a measurable difference. Oysters at Florida Oceanographic Society monitoring sites are spawning more spat, water clarity has improved and the lagoon's $10 billion annual economic value is rooted in exactly the kind of beauty Leah captured here.

Read more from Leah then join the movement to to help us Rescue the River of Grass by signing the petition 👇

🔗 https://www.everglades.org/i-am-the-mangrove-a-visual-love-letter-to-the-indian-river-lagoon/

06/11/2026

Planned in secret. Built in secret. Operated in secret. Now closing in secret. Read the latest:

06/11/2026

Our latest Moment of Zen: A visual love letter to Florida’s most biodiverse estuary 🌊
"I have spent this spring documenting segments of the Indian River Lagoon, building a story of the estuary using my cameras. The story is as spectacular as the river is resilient." — Leah Voss, Multimedia Producer

After a year without Lake Okeechobee discharges, the signs of recovery are impossible to ignore. Oysters are spawning. Visibility underwater is striking. The mangroves are doing what they've always done, quietly building, filtering, protecting.

But there is more to be done to ensure lake releases are stopped for good — we must Rescue the River of Grass.

🎥 Video coming soon.

Read more from Leah 👉 https://www.everglades.org/i-am-the-mangrove-a-visual-love-letter-to-the-indian-river-lagoon/

06/10/2026

Taxpayers are footing the massive bill for federal immigration detention at “Alligator Alcatraz”. At the request of the federal government, Florida has waged a costly year-long spending spree to build the ICE detention facility in the heart of Big Cypress National Preserve, driven by Attorney General James Uthmeier and Governor DeSantis. The political stunt comes at a hefty price: ~$1 billion in no bid contracts and continuing harm to the Everglades. Adding insult to injury, the state’s emergency fund — typically reserved for storm relief — was raided ahead of hurricane season.

The Miami Herald reports that contracts worth $1 billion have been signed for federal immigration detention in Florida, with the vast majority going toward “Alligator Alcatraz.” Our lawsuit to uncover public records shed light on just how expensive, financially and ecologically, this boondoggle has been. The waste and disregard for our cherished Everglades can’t end soon enough. Our fight to bring “Alligator Alcatraz” to a close continues — we won’t stop until the harm is remediated and the debt to the environment is paid.

06/08/2026

We will keep fighting until the damage done in darkness is brought into the light, the harms to the ecosystem are undone and restoration of the world's only Everglades is back on track." Our Executive Director Eve Samples in USA Today. Read more:

This political stunt by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, at the behest of President Donald Trump's administration, has been a failure by every measure.

06/07/2026

This trail camera footage captured a beautiful bobcat deep in the Everglades — and moments like this remind us exactly why this place must be protected.

The bobcat is one of southern Florida's most elusive wild residents. Shy by nature, rarely seen, and almost impossible to spot in the wild, this fleeting glimpse is something truly special. With their distinctively spotted red-gold fur coat and signature "bobbed" tail, bobcats are one of the Everglades' most unique carnivores — and unlike the Florida panther, they maintain a healthy population throughout the state.

The Everglades is not just a place. It is home to countless species that depend on clean water, healthy habitat, and a protected ecosystem to survive. When we fight for the Everglades, we fight for all of them.

06/07/2026

We are thrilled to welcome our 2026 Karen Mashburn Environmental Scholar, Frances Josma! Frances is a Florida State University student passionate about environmental justice, clean water advocacy and empowering communities through creative storytelling. We can't wait to see what she accomplishes this summer. Welcome to the team, Frances! Read her full story at the link below.

06/06/2026

It's never too late to start. Our founder, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Bill Clinton on November 30, 1993, at the age of 103. A writer, activist and fierce defender of the Everglades, Marjory spent her life proving, with her voice and a pen, that unwavering commitment to the natural world can change everything. The River of Grass endures because she refused to give up. This medal was just one milestone in a lifetime of purpose. Marjory’s legacy reminds us that the work is never finished, and it is never too late to be part of it. The Everglades needs you. It's never too late to start.