May 2025 Newsletter
HIGHLIGHTS
A Big Year for Our Environmental Ambassadors
As we wrap up our second year of the Environmental Ambassadors program, we’re celebrating a year of learning, leadership, and growth. With 13 dedicated students, mostly freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, this year’s cohort brought fresh energy and strong voices to the group.
This year’s focus was on air quality and extreme heat. Before winter break, students built their own DIY air quality monitors. In the spring, they used a specially designed monitor to conduct three experiments around campus, placing it at the bus circle, tennis courts, and theatre to gather data where students spend the most time.
They also learned about the growing threat of extreme heat and how Newtown is a NASA-recognized heat hotspot. With hot days increasing each year, students are vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. Now, the Ambassadors are using their findings along with results from student polls about drinking water habits to advocate for improved water fountains and regular maintenance, including filter changes.
This year wasn’t just about data and advocacy, it was also about looking ahead. For the first time, we introduced Career Exploration Days, giving students the chance to meet professionals across a wide range of fields. From public interest lawyers at Stetson, to water quality specialists at our lab, to curators at the Ringling Museum and even medical professionals, students got a glimpse into what their futures might hold and how they can shape the world through their work.
We’ll wrap up the year with a kayak adventure through the mangrove tunnels providing an opportunity to unwind, connect, and soak in the natural beauty that inspires their activism. We couldn’t be prouder of this group. The future looks bright and we can’t wait to see what next year brings!
Voices for Water: Turning Passion into Action
This March, we kicked off our Voices for Water Advocacy Program, a new initiative designed to turn community passion into real influence. Our goal is to give volunteers the tools, knowledge, and confidence to speak up about critical water issues directly with local government officials.
We held two hands-on training sessions with one focused on Manatee County, and the other on the City of Sarasota and Sarasota County. Together, we dove into four key topics: Stormwater, Wastewater, Drinking Water, and how protecting land through mangrove preservation and conservation easements protects our water.
To prepare, Dr. Abbey tapped into a network of trusted experts to identify the most urgent issues affecting our local water quality. We used their insights to develop clear, science-backed talking points, and created concise one-pagers that volunteers could leave behind after their meetings with officials. These resources help ensure our message sticks and that decision-makers have the facts right in front of them when it matters most.
Fifteen passionate volunteers joined us in person, with even more reaching out afterward to access the materials and start learning on their own. (You can find those same resources [HERE] and we encourage you to take a look!)
What we couldn’t anticipate was how each volunteer would bring their own voice and approach to advocacy. Together, we’re weaving a network of actions—small and large—that move us toward a future with cleaner water for all on the Suncoast.
Of course, it’s not always easy. As the State continues efforts to strip power from local communities, many of our members have voiced frustration and concern. But that only makes our local advocacy more important. Our city and county officials know what our communities are facing—and they need to keep hearing from us. If we don’t speak up, developers and outside interests will.
Change takes time—but we’re in this together, and we’re just getting started.
Want to take action now? Check out our latest email campaign on Sections 18 and 28 of SB 180. There’s still a chance to remove harmful language from the bill.
Hands Off Our Hometowns: Fix SB 180 and Restore Local Power
In a last-minute move, Florida lawmakers added language to SB 180 that would strip local governments of the power to strengthen protections for wetlands and natural storm defenses. These provisions would freeze stronger land-use and building standards until 2027, blocking communities like Manatee County from restoring safeguards against flooding and storm damage.
The purpose of SB 180 is to provide emergency planning support, but this last-minute language addition ultimately prioritizes unchecked development over public safety and climate resilience.
Tell your legislators: Remove Sections 18 and 28 from SB 180—before it’s too late.
Don’t Swim There!
Central to Suncoast Waterkeeper’s mission is keeping our community informed about where it’s safe to swim. While the Florida Department of Health tests popular Gulf beaches for fecal indicator bacteria through the Healthy Beaches program, many beloved local spots remain unmonitored, especially in bays and inlets. Suncoast Waterkeeper conducts weekly sampling at 11 high-use but unmonitored locations across Sarasota and Manatee counties to address this gap. Using the same rigorous procedures and certified labs as government agencies, our trained team collects and tests for enterococci bacteria—a strong indicator of fecal pollution that can cause illness, rashes, or infections when present at high levels.
Results are published every Friday on our website, Water Reporter map, Instagram, and Facebook. We follow the Florida Department of Health’s water quality categories: water is considered unsafe when average bacteria levels exceed 70 colony-forming units (CFU) per 100 mL of water.
Rain and Bacteria: What We Found
Our 2024 data showed that water quality declines significantly during the rainy season. August was especially troubling following Tropical Storm Debby, when all sites recorded unsafe levels due to stormwater runoff and overwhelmed wastewater systems. Several popular locations, including Palma Sola Bay north of the Causeway, Bridge Street Pier, and Robinson Preserve, frequently exceeded safety thresholds. These sites had unsafe bacteria levels in most sampled weeks, prompting us to discontinue monitoring in areas where swimming is discouraged or not permitted (e.g., Bridge Street Pier and Robinson Preserve). Nevertheless, many visitors and residents fish or paddle in these waters, where bacteria can still pose health risks. On a positive note, Sarasota Sailing Squadron, Longboat Key’s Bayfront Park, Longboat Key Town Boat Ramp, and Emerson Point showed consistently good results with 80 - 87% swimmable weeks throughout 2024—a promising sign for those seeking reliable access points.
Microbial Source Tracking – What the DNA is going on here?
We wanted to investigate the causes of bacterial contamination at a few locations, and thanks to the generosity of the Mote Scientific Foundation, we were able to conduct quantitative PCR testing at three of our most popular monitoring sites—Indian Beach, Caples Bayfront, and Palma Sola Bay.
At Caples, we found low levels of enterococci bacteria traced back to birds. We need to resample during the rainy season to assess how the concentration of enterococci and potential contributors shift. The concentration of enterococci at Indian Beach was at the highest quantifiable level by the method of analysis used, and the DNA found in the sample was attributed to dogs and humans (more human than dog). Why is human fecal DNA present in the sample? We are not sure, but we intend to investigate further. Finally, for the first time, the DNA results from Palma Sola Bay did not indicate horses. Instead, the low levels of enterococci found on the day the sample was taken could be attributed to birds. These findings suggest that while horses are a frequent source of bacteria, they are not always present where we dip our hands into the bay to collect the sample. This is because variability in enterococci levels in water has been reported over relatively short spatial scales.
Furthermore, it also means that horses are not the only contributing source of bacteria in Palma Sola, north of the Causeway, as birds are also present. Our long-term dataset shows us that horses contribute to high levels of contamination, which may be why our monitoring location does not meet state standards for Class III waters (see our 2024 report). Over the years, we have observed that when the horses are not present at the shoreline, the concentration of enterococci is reliably low. When horses are present, 9 times out of 10, the enterococci concentrations will exceed 70/100mL. As a result, we have recommended that the City of Bradenton place a sign warning people about swimming in that area.
Know Before You Go
Even waters that appear pristine can hide risks after heavy rainfall. Before you swim, fish, or paddle, check recent water quality results from Suncoast Waterkeeper or the Healthy Beaches Program. Our findings highlight the importance of staying vigilant and informed.
What’s Next?
Thanks to growing community interest and increased funding, we’re expanding monitoring to southern Sarasota. Clean water is vital—not only for recreation but also for public health and environmental stewardship.
Follow Suncoast Waterkeeper on social media and visit our website each Friday for updates on your favorite water spots. Do you want to see a popular bay-side location be monitored for harmful bacteria? If so, email us to let us know about the location you have in mind and why it should be monitored.
Together, let’s keep the Suncoast swimmable, fishable, and safe for all.
Introducing Peyton!
Peyton Faulk is joining Suncoast Waterkeeper as our Water Quality & Pollution Specialist (Southern Region) after completing her studies at Texas A&M University and Texas A&M University at Galveston. Peyton holds a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Conservation Biology and a Master of Science in Marine Biology. As a high school student, Peyton started her journey in water conservation when she attended the Dauphin Island Sea Lab summer program, where she spent a summer researching microplastic presence in the Mobile Bay, Gulf of Mexico, and the Mississippi Sound. Peyton has spent time working in Middle Tennessee identifying and removing invasive plant species. For the past two years, Peyton has volunteered with the Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research on Galveston Island. Peyton conducted weekly beach talks, rescued both live turtles and deceased turtles, and patrolled Galveston Island during nesting season. Peyton has been an environmental monitor on construction sites overseeing endangered birds and turtle nest protection.
Growing up in a military family, Peyton embodies the love for public service. Peyton spent her summers enjoying the beaches of Florida. When Peyton is not working, she enjoys reading, crocheting, traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her cat, Mako.
STATE & NATIONAL WATER NEWS:
Florida’s Water Needs YOU: Speak Up Before Session Ends
All water is connected, from the streams in your neighborhood to the Gulf. That’s why decisions made in Tallahassee ripple through every watershed in our state. As the 2025 Florida Legislative Session comes to a close, there are 4 priority bills that we need YOUR voice for:
Save Our Swamps
Swamps and other wetlands are integral to clean water. Wetlands filter out pollutants, provide habitat for native wildlife, and absorb water during flood events. Senate Bill 492 / House Bill 1175 will make it easier for developers to destroy these important ecosystems by allowing them to offset destruction (aka purchase mitigation credit) in areas far away from the development. We need you to contact Governor DeSantis and ask him to veto this bill.
Protect Our Parks
Last summer, thousands of Floridians rallied together to oppose a ridiculous proposal to build hotels, golf courses, and pickleball courts in State Parks across Florida. In response to that outcry, legislators have filed Senate Bill 80/ House Bill 209 - the "State Park Preservation Act" - to prevent similar threats in the future. This bill still needs approval from the Governor's office to become law. We need you to contact Governor DeSantis and ask him to sign this bill into law.
Bad Boating Bill
If passed, Florida Senate Bill 1388/ House Bill 1001 (entitled “Vessels”) could undermine vital safety and environmental protections for boaters and Florida’s waterways. This bill would make it more difficult for FWCC officers to stop vessels from illegally discharging sewage into our waterways and it would make it harder for them to establish 'Springs Protection Zones,' which preserve and restore fragile springs ecosystems. Email Governor DeSantis and ask him to veto this bill.
Hands Off Our Hometowns
At the 11th hour, FL lawmakers quietly added language to SB 180 that strips local governments of their ability to strengthen protections for wetlands and other natural storm defenses. Provisions in the bill would freeze stronger land-use and building standards statewide until 2027, blocking communities like Manatee County from restoring safeguards against flooding and storm damage. The purpose of SB 180 is to provide emergency planning support, but this last-minute language addition ultimately prioritizes unchecked development over public safety and climate resilience. Urge your legislators to remove the harmful provisions in Sections 18 and 28 before it’s too late.
Suncoast Waterkeeper Urges Stronger Federal Protections for Florida Wetlands
During a recent Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Listening Session for environmental and conservation stakeholders, Dr. Abbey Tyrna—wetland scientist and Suncoast Waterkeeper Executive Director & Waterkeeper—delivered compelling remarks calling for a science-based definition of WOTUS that reflects the realities of Florida’s unique landscape while still upholding the Clean Water Act within the limits established by Sackett.
Dr. Tyrna explained how Florida is covered in seasonal, isolated, and ephemeral wetlands that are essential to water quality and storm resilience. These include cypress domes, wet prairies, marshes, and headwater wetlands that initiate flow in rivers like the Peace and Myakka.
Under a narrow interpretation of WOTUS, such as the one suggested in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Sackett decision, these wetlands could be excluded from federal protection. Dr. Tyrna pushed back, citing the EPA’s 2015 Connectivity Report to show that intermittent and ephemeral waters play measurable and vital roles in the health of downstream systems. These systems move surface water, nutrients, and sediment, and provide habitat for wildlife—even without year-round flow which is common in Florida’s seasonally dynamic hydrology.
She outlined three key recommendations:
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Expand “relatively permanent” to include intermittent and ephemeral streams and wetlands with recurring surface or shallow subsurface flows.
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Apply “continuous surface connection” realistically to include seasonal overbank flooding, flow through swales or berms, and shared groundwater tables.
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Define “adjacent” wetlands based on functional connectivity, not just proximity. Wetlands don’t lose their value because of culverts, tide gates, or infrastructure, especially when those features allow regular water flow.
Dr. Tyrna closed by urging agencies to use a field-based, practical framework that considers flow regime, landscape position, biological indicators, and construction history.
“This is the clearest, most scientifically defensible way to uphold the Clean Water Act’s goal: to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation’s waters.”
No Relief from "Forever Chemicals" Coming Anytime Soon
On May 14, 2025, the EPA announced it will maintain existing limits for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water but will delay enforcement and weaken oversight. This move risks increasing PFAS pollution and reducing protections for human health. By extending the compliance deadline from 2029 to 2031 and introducing exemptions, the agency is giving polluters and water systems more time to delay action while contaminated water flows into communities, particularly those already burdened by limited resources. Additionally, the EPA’s decision to rescind and reconsider regulations for other PFAS chemicals further undermines progress toward addressing these toxic “forever chemicals.”
In 2023, researchers at the University of Florida tested 448 drinking water samples from all 67 counties and found PFAS levels exceeding the federal standards for PFOA and PFOS in 101 taps. Fourteen of those samples were submitted by Suncoast Waterkeeper and revealed high PFAS concentrations in drinking water from the City of North Port. As a result, this summer we will begin working with North Port residents to test their tap water, better understand their exposure risks, and identify the most effective ways to protect their health from these harmful contaminants.
LOVE YOUR BAYS CONSCIOUSLY:
Annual Meeting Highlights
This spring, we gathered at the Sarasota Garden Club to celebrate another year of protecting Suncoast waters with our first Annual Meeting! The evening was filled with fun—SCWK Bingo, trivia, updates on our advocacy and water quality work, and exciting ways to get involved like our Eyes on the Suncoast video training and Mangrove Rangers program.
Thanks to your generosity, we raised $800 for the Environmental Ambassadors College Fund—helping students cover costs like textbooks and transportation. We wrapped up the night with a glowing kayak tour led by one of our board members.
A huge thank you to our sponsors and members—your support keeps our waters clean and our mission strong.
To get involved, send an email to [email protected]
Like we are doing? Join our clean water mission!
https://www.suncoastwaterkeeper.org/
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