Shallow Wells

Recently, Last Stand stood against the expansion and continuation of shallow-well sewage disposal at a wastewater treatment facility in Marathon and also worked to ensure the use of a deep well at Cudjoe Regional [2013-2017]. Last Stand fought the use of shallow wells on Stock Island and sued Key West Resort Utility [2015-16]).

Last Stand’s work was successful because:

● Educated and informed the public and did public speaking on this subject for many years.

● Supported other organizations like FOLKs, who drove the most recent Federal Clean Water Act lawsuit against Marathon. Had more direct involvement with the 3 other sites, including legal action.

● Participated with the Water Quality Protection Program group of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

● Urged people to write to the Marathon City Council(most recently) and supported a petition to stop the use of shallow sewage wells.

● Previously, gathered the best scientific information on Keys nearshore water studies to share with policymakers and the public.


Shallow WeLLS

Last Stand worked with 30+ Florida organizations to stop permitting shallow sewage wells in the Keys to improve nearshore water quality (list includes Florida Keys Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, Florida Keys Citizens Coalition, Florida Keys Environmental Fund Inc., Friends of the Lower Keys (FOLKs), Key Deer Protection Alliance, Inc. (KDPA), Last Stand, Save Summerland Native Areas, Stock Island Association (SIA), Upper Keys Citizens Association, Cudjoe Gardens Property Owners Association (CGPOA), Sugarloaf Shores Property Owners Association (SSPOA), Coco Plum Beach Owners Association, Inc., Tavernier Community Association, but also includes Fishing Guides Associations (3), Surfrider Foundation of Florida Keys, Reef Relief, Save A Turtle, Florida Bay Forever, Key West Committee for Safer Cleaner Ships, and all FL Water Keepers).

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Ann Olsen Warns BOCC: Overdevelopment Threatens the Future of the Florida Keys

Watch Last Stand President Ann Olsen speak out against overdevelopment at the October 16th Monroe County BOCC meeting. Ann highlighted urgent concerns for the Florida Keys, such as hurricane evacuation safety, declining water quality, and environmental impacts from unchecked growth. She urged the BOCC to rethink building allowances, citing flawed evacuation models that falsely justify growth.

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Last Stand Speaks Out Against Tier Change at BOCC Meeting to Protect North Key Largo

Watch Last Stand Board Member Dottie Moses, along with Last Stand Members Edie Primaver and Nancy Diersing, address the Monroe Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on September 11, 2024, regarding the proposed Wilson-Avirett Tier change in North Key Largo. Last Stand opposes this Tier change as the area, designated as Tier I for its environmental sensitivity, is home to the largest contiguous West Indian hardwood hammock in the U.S. and endangered species such as the Key Largo cotton mouse and Schaus Swallowtail butterfly. For decades, state land acquisition efforts and the Tier I designation have protected this fragile ecosystem from overdevelopment and maintained its vital role in hurricane evacuation. Changing the Tier designation would jeopardize these protections, set a harmful precedent for future development, and undermine ongoing conservation efforts.

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Urgent Appeal: Reject Proposal to Divert Essential ROGOs to Tavernier Publix/Cemex

Last Stand and 15 Keys organizations, representing thousands of Keys residents, are concerned about the County's potential request for additional ROGOs from the State due to fears of significant takings liabilities. Currently, County staff are revising the estimate of buildable lots from the previous count of 2,220, which is expected to be lower. The County holds 444 administrative relief ROGOs, with 300 specifically allocated for early evacuation affordable workforce housing. These ROGOs are intended solely to resolve takings claims and not increase development potential.

The September 11 BOCC agenda includes a proposal to amend the Comprehensive Plan to create Tavernier Workforce Housing Subarea 1, which would allocate 86 early evacuation ROGOs for a new housing project. Approving this would divert 86 ROGOs, valued at over $38.7 million, from addressing takings claims. Given the county’s estimated liability of $1 billion, how can the approval of this proposal be reconciled with the justification for requesting more market rate ROGOs to mitigate taking liability? We urge you to reject the proposed Goal 113 and Policy 113.1.1.

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