WATER QUALITY

Sustaining Ecosystems Through Environmental Conservation

Water Quality:

Last Stand is dedicated to raising awareness about critical water quality issues and research findings throughout the Florida Keys. The waters of the Florida Keys may appear crystal clear, but beneath the surface there are excessive nutrients, contaminants, and pharmaceuticals polluting our waters and hurting our marine life, including our fisheries, seagrass beds, and corals. They also pose a health risk to humans. Last Stand is also committed to sharing up-to- date information with our community on a range of topics, including nearshore waters, potable water issues, canal restoration, sources of upstream pollutants, and wastewater management.

In pursuit of our mission, Last Stand will help to identify problematic shallow injection wells and lend support to partnering organizations in their legal initiatives aimed at reducing pollution in these areas. We recognize the importance of collaborative efforts and are proud to work with the Water Quality Protection Program (WWQPP) and the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary to further strengthen our impact and enhance the protection of our environment.

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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.

In light of the recent hurricanes Helene and Milton, which spared the Florida Keys from devastating impacts, we must recognize the urgency of addressing the threats within our control. The phenomenon of rapid intensification (RI) is becoming increasingly common, as demonstrated by Milton's swift transformation from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in just 24 hours. This raises critical concerns about our evacuation strategies, which rely on outdated assumptions about the time needed for safe evacuations.

The Monroe Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is considering granting up to 8,000 additional residential building permits (ROGOs), further straining our already limited evacuation capacity. With Florida's models indicating we've exceeded safe evacuation limits, this decision poses a significant risk to our community's safety.

Join us on October 16 at the Marathon Government Center at 9:00 a.m. to make your voice heard. Together, we can advocate for policies that prioritize the safety and well-being of our residents.

For more information, visit Monroe County Calendar and learn about the Florida Keys ROGO Coalition at Keys Last Stand.

Upcoming Meetings on New Building Allocations (ROGOs)

Join us for critical discussions about New Building Allocations (ROGOs) at the following meetings:

October 16: Regular BOCC meeting at 9 am with ROGO discussion at 10 am. Key topics include ROGO survey results, hurricane evacuation presentations, and updates on buildable lots in the Keys.
November 4, 6, 7: Town halls in Key West, Key Largo, and Marathon at 5:30 pm (locations TBD).
November 20: Special BOCC meeting at 10 am in Marathon to discuss town hall feedback and online survey results.
December 11: Regular BOCC meeting in Key Largo featuring an analysis of infrastructure costs for additional ROGOs.
December 19: Special BOCC meeting at 10 am in Marathon for the final ROGO vote.

For more details, visit Last Stand’s Calendar.

To sign our petition, click here.