Miami Waterkeeper

Kelly Cox, Staff Attorney and Program Director for Miami Waterkeeper, spoke with students in Environmental Science classes. Kelly discussed her work on a wide range of programs to ensure swimmable, drinkable, and fishable water for south Florida.

Water is an integral part of Miami’s culture, economy, and ecology. However, our spectacular resources are continually threatened by pollution. Water once flowed naturally into Biscayne Bay from the Florida Everglades. It became necessary to drain the land when people wanted to farm and live on it. As a result, a big system of canals was built, changing the flow of fresh water coming into Biscayne Bay.

During her presentation, Ms. Cox told the students what can happen if too many nutrients enter the water. She discussed the current red tide that began in October 2017, and the blue-green algae bloom in Lake Okeechobee. When algal blooms occur, they threaten the ecosystems and an economic base of the city.

From the discussion with Ms. Cox, students learned more about South Florida’s ecology and the environmental challenges facing our communities.

The presentation was part of the Blue Stewards Speaker Series.