Water For Fighting

In this episode, Brett Cyphers sits down with Temperince Morgan, a fourth-generation Floridian who brings both personal roots and professional expertise to Florida's most pressing environmental issues. Temperince shares her story, beginning with her upbringing alongside a father with deep roots in ranching. Raised in Jacksonville and spending time with family in Lake Okeechobee, her love for nature was shaped by family trips around Florida. Her childhood was deeply connected to water and land—where cattle ranches, the St. Johns River, and Florida's state parks sparked a lasting bond with the landscape and laid the foundation for a career dedicated to its restoration and protection. She walks Brett through her time as a biology major at Florida State University and how that led to a career in environmental science. The conversation explores her roles at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management District, where she helped lead early efforts in Everglades restoration. Now, as Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy's Southern U.S. Division, she oversees large-scale environmental strategy across 10 states. They also dive into projects close to her, like the Pensacola East Bay Oyster Project. Rich in personal insight and professional depth, this episode offers an intimate look at one of Florida's most respected environmental leaders—and what it takes to protect the state's natural future. To explore the broader mission behind the work Temperince leads—conserving lands and waters across the U.S. and beyond visit The Nature Conservancy To hear more about the Florida-based initiatives Temperince references, including coastal resilience, water management, and Everglades restoration visit The Nature Conservancy in Florida To take a closer look at the project that Temperince highlights as an example of measurable, on-the-ground restoration visit Pensacola East Bay Oyster Project Temperince discusses values that are essential to future conservation success; this center reflects TNC's focus on science, outreach, and education. Find out more here Center for Conservation Initiatives As discussed in the episode, long-term land conservation is key to protecting Florida's water—to learn how TNC is doing it click here Florida Land Protection | The Nature Conservancy If Temperince's story inspired you, consider supporting the work she and her team are doing to build a more resilient Florida by visiting Donate Now to Protect Nature | The Nature Conservancy This episode is brought to you by our friends at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES). RES is the nation's leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida's natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us This episode is also brought to you by our friends at Sea and Shoreline. Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast's leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com. Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and Brett as part of the environmental news and discussion brought to you by the Florida Specifier. To learn more about our flagship print publication, weekly newsletter and more, visit The Florida Specifier. You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach us directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who Brett should be talking with in the future. Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance.

In this episode, Brett takes the show on the road to moderate a discussion at the OneWater Summit in Winter Haven. His conversation partners included Lynn Spivey, the City of Plant City Utilities Director; David MacIntyre, the President of AquaSciTech Consulting; and Frank Bernardino, Partner Ameritus with Anfield Consulting. They discuss the definition of One Water; how the regulatory structure of water in Florida may be exacerbating its resource issues; what's missing in how environmental issues are being communicated to policy makers and the public; what the real cost of water and environmental restoration is; and even some talk about how to pay for it all. Special thanks and recognition goes out to Gary Hubbard and Amy Jenkins with the City of Winter Haven for organizing the summit and to Eric Draper for allowing Brett to hijack his panel for the show. To visit the OneWater Summit website and see the agenda and panels, go here. This episode is brought to you by our friends at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) RES is the nation's leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida's natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us This episode is also brought to you by our friends at Sea and Shoreline. Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast's leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com. Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and Brett as part of the environmental news and discussion brought to you by the Florida Specifier. To learn more about our flagship print publication, weekly newsletter and more, visit The Florida Specifier. You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach us directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who Brett should be talking with in the future. Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance.

In this special episode, released under the Water for Fighting as well as the Florida Specifier banner, Brett gets to sit down with Bartow's favorite son, Adam Putnam. At the time he served, Putnam was the youngest person ever to be elected to the Florida House of Representatives at barely twenty-two years old. He would go on to serve as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for five terms, becoming the 3rd ranking member of that body, and he was elected statewide as Florida's 11th Commissioner of Agriculture where he served two terms. He is now the CEO of Ducks Unlimited but still splits time between Tennessee and Florida. They discuss his deep roots in Imperial Polk County; growing up in the family's citrus and cattle business; his long-term, successful participation in the 4H Club and Future Farmers of America (FFA) and the leadership tools he developed there; how he drifted into politics at such a young age; how he brought the character and challenges of his community to Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. as he pursued fresh perspectives on old problems; his appreciation for the expansion of the Rural and Family Lands program; his frustration with the federal government's opaque and overbearing nature as it relates to Waters of the U.S.; and what it's like to have one of the coolest jobs you can imagine. This episode has plenty to capture the attention: a story about how his grandparents kept truck tires inside with them because they were so vital to their livelihood; some incredible stats on what Ducks Unlimited is accomplishing; a University of Florida shoutout (if you're into that sort of thing); flashbacks to the citrus freezes from the 80s that captured hearts of area communities; a solid Alexis de Tocqueville reference; a simultaneously optimistic and realistic view on the future of citrus in Florida; and how he has no plans on getting back into politics again (see above re: coolest job ever). To visit the Ducks Unlimited website, go here. To learn more about Florida's Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, go here. This episode is brought to you by my friends at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) RES is the nation's leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida's natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us This episode is also brought to you by my friends at Sea and Shoreline. Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast's leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com. Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and Brett as part of the environmental news and discussion brought to you by the Florida Specifier. To learn more about our flagship print publication, weekly newsletter and more, visit The Florida Specifier. You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who I should be talking with. Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance. And finally, a very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for this podcast. The song is called Doing Work for Free, and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold.

In this episode, Brett sat down with his friend and fellow Southwest Florida Water Management District alum, Eric Sutton. Before his current role, Eric has spent his entire career in public service. He's worked for Sarasota County; the water management district where he and Brett met; and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, where he would eventually get to serve as the organization's Executive Director. He's currently a Vice-President with Garcia Land Management and Environmental Services. They discuss his family's deep roots in rural Western Kentucky; a childhood spent outdoors; how he changed paths at the University of South Florida and wound up working in the natural sciences; his desire to learn, improve, and take on new challenges; his management philosophy as his responsibilities grew; the love he had for his staff, board, and organization – and when he knew it was time to move on; his new role with Garcia and the challenges of working in the private sector; and a flirtation with the “RV Life”. They also share a glass of whiskey from the Green River Distillery, an historic institution in Owensboro, Kentucky, near walking distance from his childhood hometown of Henderson. Did we mention that Eric is a long-time musician and jingle writer, and a one-time professional elephant washer (we mean, zoologist) at Busch Gardens as well? Well, he is. Special Note: To our fellow Floridians (and even to our listeners and readers in Georgia and North Carolina) who are recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, our hearts are with you, and we won't forget you in the hard months to come. The Florida Specifier/Water for Fighting team is pulling for you and hoping for a safe and speedy recovery for your families and communities. If you'd like to share your story with us, we'd love to hear from you. Just reach out to Brett at flwaterpod@gmail.com or Patrick Gillespie at PatrickGillespie@floridaspecifier.com. To visit the Garcia Land Management and Environmental Services website, go here. To check out the Green River distillery, go here. This episode is brought to you by our friends at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) RES is the nation's leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida's natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us This episode is also brought to you by our friends at Sea and Shoreline. Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast's leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com. Water for Fighting is part of the Specifier media family – Florida's home for environmental news, discussion, and personalities. Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and Brett as part of the environmental news and discussion brought to you by the Florida Specifier. To learn more about our flagship print publication, weekly newsletter and more, visit The Florida Specifier. You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach us directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who Brett should be talking with next. Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance. And finally, a very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for this podcast. The song is called Doing Work for Free, and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold.

For this episode, Brett sat down with his friend, colleague, and fellow DEP alum Andrew Ketchel as Hurricane Helene barreled toward its collision with the Southeast United States. Andrew is a former Legislative Affairs Director for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; college football player for the University of South Florida; and an Eagle Scout. He's currently a partner with Capital City Consulting, one of the largest lobbying firms in the state of Florida. They discuss his parents' forays into national and local politics; growing up in a military town; why he chose USF for college; the challenges of a student athlete who sees a life after football; how he ended up in the “family business”; how lobbying government is different than lobbying for government; and his philosophy for how to be an effective, and more importantly - ethical, lobbyist. Special Note: To our fellow Floridians who are recovering from the impacts of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, our hearts are with you. The Florida Specifier/Water for Fighting team is pulling for you and hoping for a safe and speedy recovery for your families and communities. To visit Capital City Consulting's website and find out how to reach Andrew, go here. Watch Andrew score a touchdown versus the Florida Gators here. This episode is brought to you by my friends at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) RES is the nation's leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida's natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us This episode is also brought to you by my friends at Sea and Shoreline. Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast's leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com. Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and myself as part of the environmental news and discussion brought to you by the Florida Specifier. To learn more about our flagship print publication, weekly newsletter and more, visit The Florida Specifier. You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who I should be talking with.

In this episode, Brett has a conversation with Mark Merkelbach, the CEO of Green Earth Operations and COO of Sustainable Water Infrastructure Group (SWIG).  Mark has dedicated his career to water quality improvement all over the world including India, Mexico, Haiti, and China.  He's now using his creativity and experience to solve water quality problems right here in Florida.  They discuss growing up around the Jersey Shore; a love of the outdoors passed down from his father; a professional wanderlust that has taken him all over the globe; his need to solve environmental problems; the secret sauce that he and SWIG are using to impact water quality in Florida; and of course, they talk about the Merkelbach family's rescued one-eyed and three-tooth Shitzu name Button.   To visit SWIG's website and find out what Mark and his team are doing to make Florida (and the world) a better place, head here.  To see more information about SWIG's Doctor's Lake project as reported in the Florida Specifier, head here: To read the Florida Specifier article that introduced the work of SWIG to Florida's environmental scene, go here. This episode is brought to by my friends at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) RES is the nation's leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida's natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us  This episode is also brought to you by my friends at Sea and Shoreline.   Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast's leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com.   Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and myself as part of a new venture where we're striving to become Florida's first source for environmental news, educational tools, and unique perspectives on our state's natural environment and the events that shape it.  To learn more about its flagship print publication and more, visit The Florida Specifier. You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who and/or what you'd like to know more about. Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance.   And finally, a very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for this podcast.  The song is called Doing Work for Free, and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold. 

The Season 4 kickoff features Brett sitting down with his friend and former boss, David Rathke.  David is currently the Executive Director of Resiliency Florida and Executive Director of Florida Association of Mitigation Bankers, but he has decades of experience working in many facets of state government.  That experience includes working for former Congressman, Dan Miller; working as an aide for former Senate President, John McKay; a community affairs role with The Peace River Manasota River Water Supply Authority; a sixteen-year stint at the Southwest Florida Water Management District, culminating in his service as chief of staff; and leadership roles at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Florida Department of Management Services. They discuss his early life in the outdoors; the gift of music given to him by his mother and grandmother; the winding path that led him to government service; how he has used his experiences to learn and create successes later; his theory for success in government relations which includes community and the importance of friendship; how he has overcome life-threatening strokes to end up better than ever; and of course, Brett makes David explain what a Hammer Dulcimer is.   You still have time to attend the 3rd Annual Florida Resilience Conference starting on September 11.  To learn more and get registered, go here: https://floridaresilienceconference.org To get involved in Resiliency Florida's mission, visit their website here: https://www.resiliencyflorida.org To learn more about the Florida Association of Mitigation Bankers, why not visit their website here: https://floridamitigationbanking.org And because we know you're going to look it up anyway, here's the Smithsonian Institutes page on the Hammer/Hammered Dulcimer.  This episode is brought to by my friends at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) RES is the nation's leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida's natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us  This episode is also brought to you by my friends at Sea and Shoreline.   Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast's leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com.   Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and myself as part of a new venture where we're striving to become Florida's first source for environmental news, educational tools, and unique perspectives on our state's natural environment and the events that shape it.  To learn more about its flagship print publication and more, visit The Florida Specifier. You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who and/or what you'd like to know more about. Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance.   And finally, a very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for this podcast.  The song is called Doing Work for Free, and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold. 

In this episode, Brett closes out Season 3 with former Deputy Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and current Executive Director of the South Florida Water Management District – Drew Bartlett. While Drew was born and raised in Georgia, he has made a real name for himself in the water management and environmental restoration world here in the far superior state of Florida. He was pivotal in the creation of Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs), and a new path to success, in some of Florida's most impaired waters. He's also been a catalyst in the continuing effort to restore iconic places like the Florida Everglades, Biscayne Bay, and the Indian River Lagoon. They discuss his pedigree for public service passed down from his parents; how his career brought him to Florida; his need to be challenged and overcome challenges; the challenges he's tackling with his incredible staff, board, and wide array of communities and stakeholders; what South Florida looks like with a rising ocean and aging flood control system; and how he leans on science, experience, confidence, and boundless optimism to face the future. Drew is one of the absolute best at what he does, and we're happy that he agreed to share his experience and insights with us. We hope you enjoy the conversation! To learn more about what the South Florida Water Management District is doing to serve its communities and make the world a better place, go here: https://www.sfwmd.gov To learn more about Drew's work at DEP, especially as it relaltes to Basin Management Action Plan, head here:https://floridadep.gov/dear/water-quality-restoration/content/basin-management-action-plans-bmaps This episode of Water for Fighting is brought to you by my friends at Sea and Shoreline. Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast's leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com. This Episode is also thanks to my friends at Resource Environmental Solutions. RES is the nation's leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida's natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and myself as part of a new venture where we're striving to become Florida's first source for environmental news, educational tools, and unique perspectives on our state's natural environment and the events that shape it. To learn more about its flagship print publication and more, visit The Florida Specifier. You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who and/or what you'd like to know more about. Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance. And finally, a very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for this podcast. The song is called Doing Work for Free, (Apple Music | Spotify) and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold.

In this episode, Brett sits down with former four-term member of the Florida House of Representatives, Florida Keys champion, and current mayor of Monroe County – Holly Raschein. Holly was born and raised in Alaska, but she has ultimately made her home over 5,000 miles away in the Florida Keys. Holly got her start in the legislative process working for lobbying legend Bob Levy, working with now-Florida Senator, Ana Maria Rodriguez. She would go on to work as an aide to two House members from Monroe County (Ken Sorensen and Ron Saunders) before staking her own claim on Florida's Southernmost seat in the legislature for four terms. In addition to being a county commissioner and the county's mayor, she is also the Director of Government Affairs for AshBritt, a well-known operator in the world of disaster recovery. They discuss her parents' individual journeys to end up in Alaska; her childhood amongst the moose; the decision to head for the opposite side of the country for college at Florida State University; how she ended up in the “Fabulous Florida Keys”; the interesting and quirky similarities between the Keys and Alaska; how she decided to run for state office and the massive impact she made there; what the passage of the Florida Keys Stewardship Act means for the future of her community; what she brought back home to make her more effective as a county commissioner; and the challenges that lie ahead for The Keys. Holly is as active as ever in her many philanthropic endeavors, and even with an incredibly busy life, she still makes her son her biggest priority. If you want to find out what makes the Keys special and what it takes to make a difference there, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Plus, you'll get some advice on what to do if you get chased by a moose. We hope you enjoy the conversation! To check out Holly's Wikipedia page, go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_Merrill_Raschein To see what's in the Florida Keys Stewardship Act, head here: https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/721/Florida-Keys-Stewardship-Act If you'd like to know more about Holly's important work at AshBritt, go here: https://www.ashbritt.com While you're here, why not check out a few fun facts about Alaskan Moose here: https://www.alaskatourjobs.com/blog/useful-tips/five-fun-facts-about-alaskan-moose/ This episode of Water for Fighting is brought to you by my friends at Sea and Shoreline. Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast's leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com. This Episode is also thanks to my friends at Resource Environmental Solutions. RES is the nation's leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida's natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and myself as part of a new venture where we're striving to become Florida's first source for environmental news, educational tools, and unique perspectives on our state's natural environment and the events that shape it. To learn more about its flagship print publication and more, visit The Florida Specifier. You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who and/or what you'd like to know more about. Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance. And finally, a very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for this podcast. The song is called Doing Work for Free, (Apple Music | Spotify) and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold.

This week, Brett sits down with professor, researcher, and award-winning author, David Sedlak to talk about his latest book, Water for All – Global Solutions for a Changing Climate. David started his career as a researcher looking to solve our world's water quality challenges but eventually shifted his focus to working on how to cope with, or even prevent, water scarcity in the United States and throughout the world. They discuss the “Six Water Crises”; the “Great Acceleration”; the difference in the scope of challenges between rich and poor countries, as well as rich and poor within a country; the role of dams in a post-Acceleration nation and world; salinization of farmland soils out West and what we need to do about it; and his artful distinction between optimism and hopefulness as it relates to the future of water. To buy Water for All, try here before you go to Amazon or the other big guys: https://www.midtownreader.com/book/9780300256932 You can get his first book, Water 4.0, there as well. Here's the link for it: https://www.midtownreader.com/book/9780300212679 Why not check out David's TED Talk. It's really good, and it'll give you a sense of what he's about while you're waiting for your copy of his books to arrive. Find it here: https://www.ted.com/talks/david_sedlak_4_ways_we_can_avoid_a_catastrophic_drought?language=en David talked about what got him interested in working on water issues, and one of the motivators was an environmental disaster that was discovered in the late 70s, known as Love Canal. If you're not familiar it, here's a decent place to start: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Canal To keep up with the other good work David is doing, including as director of the Berkeley Water Center at the University of California, Berkeley, check out his page here: https://ce.berkeley.edu/people/faculty/sedlak This episode of Water for Fighting is brought to you by my friends at RES. RES is the nation's leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida's natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us This Episode is also thanks to my friends at Collins Land Services. When it comes to your disaster recovery and land management needs, you're looking for the perfect combination of competence, reliability, and affordability. And that means you're looking for Collins Land Services. Check them out at www.collinsland.com Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and myself as part of a new venture where we're striving to become Florida's first source for environmental news, educational tools, and unique perspectives on our state's natural environment and the events that shape it. To learn more about its flagship print publication and more, visit The Florida Specifier. You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who and/or what you'd like to know more about. Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance. And finally, a very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for this podcast. The song is called Doing Work for Free, (Apple Music | Spotify) and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold. 4

This week, Brett had the privilege of sharing some time with Tampa and Florida legend – Governor Bob Martinez. He was Tampa's 54th mayor and Florida's 40th governor; both positions held as the first of Spanish descent. He also has deep roots in Tampa, his grandparents having immigrated from Spain at the turn of the 20th Century during a great boom in the cigar industry there. His father worked in the restaurant business, including as a long-time employee at the famed Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, and then later at the family-owned Café Sevilla in West Tampa. Martinez was a star athlete at Jefferson High School, a graduate of the University of Tampa, and got his professional start as a classroom teacher before becoming the Executive Director of the Hillsborough County Classroom Teachers Association. He was called upon by Governor Ruben Askew to serve on the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District and chair three Basin Boards there: The Hillsborough River, Northwest Hillsborough, and Alafia River. They discuss his childhood in Old Tampa where he enjoyed school, excelled at sports, and spent his free moments fishing with his father and his friends; how Café Sevilla became the birthplace of a mayor's race and the campaign to be Governor of Florida; how his service as head of the teachers union gave him his first taste of real politics; his time at Swiftmud gave him a taste for the water and environmental needs of a region; and a mayorship that gave him the opportunity to restore, innovate, and move his home city forward. His term as governor would be marked by enacting some of the most consequential environmental policy in Florida history including the enactment of the Preservation 2000 conservation land acquisition program, the Growth Management Act, and the Surface Water Improvement and Management Act. He also implemented the Florida Lottery, created Florida's Turnpike Authority, and created Space Port Florida. There are a few other achievements in particular that hold a more personal value to Brett including Martinez's restoration of the Lowry Park Zoo from the ground up as mayor; the creation of Florida Prepaid College; the rebirth of Nature's Classroom in Hillsborough County; an amazing nearly 70-year (and counting) partnership with his beloved wife Mary Jane; and of course, his analysis of why the Tampa Cuban sandwich is superior to the one from Miami (it's the bread). He's still as active as ever, serving on many boards and clubs, is a Senior Policy Advisor with the Holland & Knight Law Firm, and at 89 years-old, you can still find him on his daily walks or on the tennis court. We hope you enjoy the conversation! To visit Governor Martinez's page at the Holland & Knight law firm, go here: https://www.hklaw.com/en/professionals/m/martinez-bob To see his useful, but woefully incomplete Wikipedia page, head here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Martinez To see a decent history of Florida's land conservation programs, including Governor Martinez's efforts which led to Preservation 2000, go here: https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/IR/00/00/19/42/00001/FE33100.pdf To see an image of the menu from the Governor's family restaurant, check it out here: http://ciadigitalcollections.culinary.edu/digital/collection/p16940coll1/id/14253 The Governor was a star athlete at the University of Tampa, and the sports facility there is even named in his honor. To get a look at that, head to their site here: https://www.tampaspartans.com/information/athletic_info/facilities/Martinez/index This episode of Water for Fighting is brought to you by my friends at Sea and Shoreline. Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast's leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com. This Episode is also thanks to my friends at Resource Environmental Solutions. RES is the nation's leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida's natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and myself as part of a new venture where we're striving to become Florida's first source for environmental news, educational tools, and unique perspectives on our state's natural environment and the events that shape it. To learn more about its flagship print publication and more, visit The Florida Specifier. You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who and/or what you'd like to know more about. Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance. And finally, a very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for this podcast. The song is called Doing Work for Free, (Apple Music | Spotify) and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold.

This week, Brett got to share some time with a true gentleman, friend, and public servant - Hugh Thomas. Hugh has been the Executive Director of the Suwannee River Water Management District for over seven years, and he has brought a wealth of experience to that role which was earned in the private sector as well as his various roles at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. He's a big believer in the innovative work of the Suwannee River Partnership, and he shares some insights on how the “Fifth Largest Water Management District in Florida”, is tackling the water quantity and quality challenges of today and tomorrow. They talk about his family's roots in Gilchrist County; the shocking news that Hugh was born in Tampa; how his professional path has crossed a few times with mutual friend and guest of the podcast, Ann Shortelle; his philosophy for partnership with the agricultural community; his appreciation for governing boards, and his in particular; his questionable advice on whether to build a house with your spouse as a young couple; and of course, his likeness to the mythical lumberjack - Paul Bunyan. Hugh was generous with his time and insights, and we hope you enjoy the conversation. To find out more about the Suwannee River Partnership, head here: https://suwanneeriverpartnership.com To learn about the Suwannee River Water Management District, go here: https://www.mysuwanneeriver.com To see the cost-share opportunities available through the District's portal, go here: https://www.mysuwanneeriver.com/366/Agricultural-Cost-Share-Program and here: https://www.mysuwanneeriver.com/374/RIVER-Cost-Share-Program And because you probably don't know where Bell, Florida is (or that the town was named after the winner of a beauty contest, Bell Fletcher), check out the town's website here: https://www.townofbellflorida.com This episode of Water for Fighting is brought to you by my friends at Sea and Shoreline. Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast's leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com. This Episode is also thanks to my friends at Resource Environmental Solutions. RES is the nation's leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida's natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and myself as part of a new venture where we're striving to become Florida's first source for environmental news, educational tools, and unique perspectives on our state's natural environment and the events that shape it. To learn more about its flagship print publication and more, visit The Florida Specifier. You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who and/or what you'd like to know more about. Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance. And finally, a very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for this podcast. The song is called Doing Work for Free, (Apple Music | Spotify) and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold.

This week, Brett goes on a deep dive with a friend who exemplifies what this podcast is all about – Ansley Tilley. Ansley is one of the most talented engineers in Florida who has a wide array of experience from her time with the United States Air Force, the City of Palm Beach Gardens, and the South Florida Water Management District. But her real talent and passion is for service and problem-solving, so they discuss how her experiences have culminated in her current role as the Director of Alternative Delivery Solutions with our friends, Resource Environmental Solutions (RES). They delve into the “milk story”, and how her parents sacrificed to provide her with the tools to succeed in later life; her dream of being an astronaut and the early disappointments surrounding that dream; a change in heart while attaining massive success in ROTC at the University of Miami; her brief but poignant experience serving her country in Ukraine; the love of family and the heartbreaking losses that have brought her back home over the years; her philosophy for work and service that have carried her since childhood; and how a brain built for problem-solving approaches the challenges of an ever-changing environmental landscape. This conversation was very emotional at times and dealt with some sensitive subjects, but the lessons that can be drawn from it on a personal and professional level are priceless. We hope you find it as meaningful as we did. To learn more about Ansley's work and how she can help solve your environmental problems too, go here: www.res.us or email her at: atilley@res.us This Episode is brought to you by our friends at Collins Land Services. When it comes to your disaster recovery and land management needs, you're looking for the perfect combination of competence, reliability, and affordability. And that means you're looking for Collins Land Services. Check them out at www.collinsland.com Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and Brett as part of a new venture where they're striving to become Florida's first source for environmental news, educational tools, and unique perspectives on our state's natural environment and the events that shape it. To learn more about its flagship print publication and more, visit The Florida Specifier. You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who and/or what you'd like to know more about. Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance. And finally, a very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for this podcast. The song is called Doing Work for Free, (Apple Music | Spotify) and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold.

This week, Brett sits down with his friend and Executive Director of the Florida Land Council, Ernie Barnett.  Ernie has a wealth of experience from his days in leadership positions at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, as well as the South Florida Water Management District.  They discuss his long and consequential public service career; how a scientist ends up as an effective communicator and policy expert; his eventual shift into a successful career in the private sector; and Florida's shifting understanding of the science behind water quality impairment in South Florida and beyond.  Oh, and did we mention that Ernie grew up in a friend group that included dolphins?  More on that, too.   To learn more about Everglades restoration, head here: https://www.evergladesrestoration.govTo see how the dolphins in Ft. Walton Beach are doing today, check out the Gulfarium's website here: https://gulfarium.comThis episode of Water for Fighting is brought to you by my friends at RES.  RES is the nation's leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida's natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us This episode is also thanks to my friends at Collins Land Services.When it comes to your disaster recovery and land management needs, you're looking for the perfect combination of competence, reliability, and affordability.  And that means you're looking for Collins Land Services.  Check them out at www.collinsland.comPlease be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and Brett as part of a new venture where they're striving to become Florida's first source for environmental news, educational tools, and unique perspectives on our state's natural environment and the events that shape it.  To learn more about its flagship print publication and more, visit The Florida Specifier.You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who and/or what you'd like to know more about.Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance.  And finally, a very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band  for giving permission to use his music for this podcast.  The song is called Doing Work for Free, (Apple Music | Spotify) and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold. 

This week, Brett shares some time with friend and Florida's Environmental Curmudgeon-in-Chief, Estus Whitfield. Estus has a wealth of experience working for SIX Florida governors where he played an integral role in the creation of the Save Our Everglades, Save Our Rivers, and Preservation 2000 programs – just to name a few. In addition to his service to Florida, he also spent over thirty years serving his country in the Florida National Guard, U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Navy Reserves where he retired at the rank of Captain. Estus offers a unique perspective from his time serving so many governors and provides his thoughts on them; the dawn of widespread environmental restoration programs; some thoughts on current water quality issues related to septic tanks; and his somewhat pessimistic view of the future of the environment in Florida. Agree or disagree - Estus is never shy about his thoughts, pulls few punches, and is always generous with his time. We hope you enjoy the conversation. To find out more about the Save Our Everglades Program and other Everglades restoration initiatives, head here To learn about the history of the Preservation 2000 (P2000) land acquisition program, head here To learn more about the Conservation and Recreational Lands (CARL) program, go here: Because we know you want more Boggy, Florida history: This episode of Water for Fighting is brought to you by my friends at Sea and Shoreline. Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast's leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com. This Episode is also thanks to my friends at Resource Environmental Solutions. RES is the nation's leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida's natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and myself as part of a new venture where we're striving to become Florida's first source for environmental news, educational tools, and unique perspectives on our state's natural environment and the events that shape it. To learn more about its flagship print publication and more, visit The Florida Specifier. You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who and/or what you'd like to know more about. Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance. And finally, a very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for this podcast. The song is called Doing Work for Free, and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold.

In this episode, Brett sits down with his good friend and Anfield alumnus, Pepper Uchino. Pepper is now the President of the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association, but he has a wealth of experience from his days as the staff attorney, and then Staff Director, of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Pepper is unique in that he's the direct descendant of Japanese Samurai as well as Mayflower passengers who landed at Plymouth Rock. They discuss his early life in New England as the son of an environmental activist; the health struggles that nearly derailed his future early on; the successful and growing Resiliency Conference he hosts; and they commiserate on the life of legislative committee staff and how laws are made from the perspective of someone on the “inside”. Did we mention his childhood home was haunted? More about that as well. To find out more about FSBA's 37th Annual Conference on Beach Preservation Technology National Conference coming up in February, head here: https://www.fsbpa.com/tech-conference.html And save the date for the 3rd Annual Florida Resilience Conference coming in September. To learn more and get registered, go here: https://floridaresilienceconference.org To keep up with Pepper's old Senate Committee and their deliberations, visit the Senate's website here: https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/Show/EN/ Pepper talked about his work with the Trust for Public Land before he joined the Senate. To find out more about what they do, go here: https://www.tpl.org/state/florida When you're in Connecticut, why not visit some of New Haven's most haunted sites? Perhaps Pepper's childhood home is on the list somewhere. To learn more about that, go here: https://blog.gardencommunitiesct.com/blog/most-haunted-places-new-haven-county-ct/ This episode of Water for Fighting is brought to you by my friends at Sea and Shoreline. Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast's leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com. This Episode is also thanks to my friends at Resource Environmental Solutions. RES is the nation's leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida's natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and myself as part of a new venture where we're striving to become Florida's first source for environmental news, educational tools, and unique perspectives on our state's natural environment and the events that shape it. To learn more about its flagship print publication and more, visit The Florida Specifier. You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who and/or what you'd like to know more about. Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance. And finally, a very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for this podcast. The song is called Doing Work for Free, and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold.

The long-awaited return of Water for Fighting is here! In the first episode of Season 3, Brett travels to Tampa to record live in front of the National Association of Administrative Law Judiciary's (NAALJ) National Conference. His conversation partners were Elizabeth Fernandez and Doug Manson. Elizabeth is the Deputy General Counsel at the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Doug is President of the Manson, Bolves, Donaldson, Tanner Law Firm. They discuss Western versus Eastern Water Law, and where Florida's water resource philosophy fits on that spectrum. They also talk about the genesis of conflict as it relates to water resources in Florida, and more importantly, the path to conflict resolution when stakeholders disagree. To learn more about what Elizabeth's great organization is up to and how they're working to protect West Central Florida's water resources, head here: https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us To find out how Doug and his partners can put their decades of legal expertise in water resource regulation and conflict resolution, visit them here: https://www.mansonbolves.com/attorneys/douglas-manson/ A special thank you goes out to Judges Brian Newman, Bruce Culpepper, Francine Ffolkes, and Bill Horgan from the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings for inviting me to the conference and for supporting the mission of the show. To learn more about my gracious hosts from the NAALJ, please visit their website here: https://www.naalj.org To learn more about the Southern Water Use Caution Area (SWUCA) with Swiftmud, go here: https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/projects/southern-water-use-caution-area Brett and his guests talk about the Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC) and its goal of meeting water resource needs and protection goals in a place where the demand for water has outpaced supply. To learn more about that, go here: https://prwcwater.org West-Central Florida has been a hotbed for water resource conflict over the decades, but the path to cooperative resolution really culminated with the creation of Tampa Bay Water over 25 years ago. To find out more about its creation, go here: https://www.tampabaywater.org/about-tampa-bay-water This Episode of Water for Fighting is brought to you by my friends at Resource Environmental Solutions. RES is the nation's leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida's natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us Please be sure to check out a relatively new podcast Brett hosts with his friend and colleague, Ryan Matthews, called the Florida Specifier Podcast. It's part of a new venture that is striving to become Florida's first source for environmental news, educational tools, and unique perspectives on our state's natural environment and the events that shape it. To learn more about its flagship publication and more, visit The Florida Specifier. If you're enjoying this show, please be sure to subscribe on whatever platform you use, and don't forget to leave a 5-star rating and review. You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who and/or what you'd like to know more about. Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance. A very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for this podcast. The song is called Doing Work for Free, and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold.

In this episode, Brett gets to talk with Mary Szafraniec, a Florida scientist with a remarkable personal story. They talk about her grandparents' survival in Nazi work camps during World War II and her parents' eventual escape from communism in Europe to arrive in the United States, ready to start a new life; how a chance meeting at a music festival changed her career path toward environmental issues and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; how she moved into the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) program at the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the importance of mentorship there; how her time in government created value in the private sector; and of course, her new role at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) and how she strives to do good by creating accountability in her work and measuring long-term outcomes for Florida's natural systems. To check out the things Mary and her colleagues at RES are doing to restore and protect water quality and habitat all over the U.S., visit their website here: res.us To find out what Mary can do to help you and your community, email her at this address: mszafraniec@res.us While Mary is batting cleanup for Season 2 of Water for Fighting, there's a connect between her work partners and the first guest of this season, Steve Hawley. In Steve's book, Cracked, he discusses the restoration of the Klamath River out west. To see what RES is doing to bring life back to that natural treasure, go here: https://res.us/home/restoring-at-scale/klamath-river-restoration/ and here: https://res.us/news/res-swiftwater-films-release-restoring-balance/ To learn more about Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) planning and implementation are going at Mary's old stomping grounds at the Southwest Florida Water Management District, go here: https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/projects/swim Please support our sponsors, RES and Sea & Shoreline. Sea & Shoreline is a Florida-based aquatic restoration firm that is on a mission to restore Florida's water bodies and to protect our coastline communities against severe storms. You can check out their projects at www.seaandshoreline.com RES is a national leader in ecological and hydrological restoration, offering nature-based solutions with guaranteed performance through innovative delivery options. Discover more about their work and commitment to Florida and its environmental challenges by visiting www.res.us. Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

In this episode, Brett heads to the empire headquarters of Florida's most prolific environmental professional, Jeff Littlejohn. Jeff is a principal at the National Stormwater Trust, OnSyte Performance, and the Florida Environmental Network (host of the Environmental Permitting Summer School in Marco Island); a Senior Advisor with the Adams and Reese Law Firm; and the Founding Editor of the newly revamped Florida Specifier. They talk about growing up the son of Florida environmental royalty; how Top Gun and his step-father influenced his decision to attend the U.S. Naval Academy; what brought him back to Florida to work as an engineer; his sometimes controversial tenure at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; and whether he's the Nicolas Cage of Florida environmental entrepreneurs. To check out The Florida Specifier – Jeff's latest endeavor, visit the website here: Floridaspecifier.com To learn more about what Jeff is doing at the National Stormwater Trust, go here: Nationalstormwater.com To find out how if Jeff can help you from his chair at the Adams and Reese Law Firm, email him here: Jeff.littlejohn@arlaw.com If you're looking to see how Jeff and his team at OnSyte Performance are innovating the way we think of wastewater management in Florida, go here: www.onsyte.com If you want to see what's going on at the 37th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School, look here: www.floridaenet.com Please support our sponsors, RES and Sea & Shoreline. Sea & Shoreline is a Florida-based aquatic restoration firm that is on a mission to restore Florida's water bodies and to protect our coastline communities against severe storms. You can check out their projects at www.seaandshoreline.com RES is a national leader in ecological and hydrological restoration, offering nature-based solutions with guaranteed performance through innovative delivery options. Discover more about their work and commitment to Florida and its environmental challenges by visiting www.res.us. Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

In this episode, Brett gets a visit from his friend and President of Sea & Shoreline – Carter Henne. They talk about growing up outdoors and on the water in Polk County; how his desire to create sustainable marine ecosystems drew him first to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and then Sea & Shoreline founder Jim Anderson; the things we've been getting wrong about seagrass restoration in the past and how that's changed; and a look at some of the work he's doing to now to protect coastlines and natural systems that extend far beyond just seagrasses. On a lighter note, they also discuss the importance of securing boat's motor before reaching the middle of a lake as well as the world of competitive underwater bicycle racing (yes, that's a real thing). If you want to hear Carter's alligator stories, you'll have to ask about those in person. To check out the things Carter and the good folks at Sea & Shoreline to make Florida better, visit their website here: https://seaandshoreline.com To check out some stories about the great work Sea & Shoreline are doing to restore manatee habitat in the Crystal River, go here: https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/full-circle/saving-our-springs-a-day-with-the-underwater-gardeners-at-sea-and-shoreline and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HscircgSUFU and here: https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/gma3/video/rehabilitation-efforts-protect-dying-groups-manatees-98730763 and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwANZ9GOI2Y and here: https://www.chronicleonline.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-l-state-officials-tour-waterways-under-restoration/article_bd29bf3b-bcca-5cf4-9900-c35af44b7d40.html Want to see Carter's team feed manatees? Go here: drive.google.com/file/d/1QmpruTsRWwX8TsejsopOgj0-Hhf6EH5C/view You can also see what the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are doing to restore vital habitat here: https://floridadep.gov/dear/water-quality-restoration/content/impaired-waters-tmdls-and-basin-management-action-plans What is the Southwest Florida Water Management District doing to help this habitat? Plenty – so check out their partnering efforts here: https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/projects/swim/crystal-river-kings-bay Please support this episode's sponsor, RES. RES is a national leader in ecological and hydrological restoration, offering nature-based solutions with guaranteed performance through innovative delivery options. Discover more about their work and commitment to Florida and its environmental challenges by visiting www.res.us. Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

In this episode, Brett gets to spend some time with the former top attorney for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Matt Leopold.  In addition to his time at the EPA, Matt served as General Counsel at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; handled environmental issues for Governor Jeb Bush; and was an environmental attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice.   They talk about growing up in West-Central Florida; split(?) allegiances between his undergrad and law schools; his consequential tenures as the top environmental lawyer on the state and national stages; what happened in the Sackett v. EPA case; and what the Supreme Court's decision means for regulators and the regulated moving forward. If you want to get in touch with Matt, email him here: mleopold@hunton.com To check out the Hunton, Andrews, Kurth Law Firm, go to their website here: https://www.huntonak.com/en/ To read the Sackett v. EPA decision, go here: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/22pdf/21-454_4g15.pdf To get a quick view of how the United States Department of Justice's case against BP turned out in relation to the Deepwater Horizon disaster, follow this link: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/bp-exploration-and-production-inc-agrees-plead-guilty-felony-manslaughter-environmental Please support our sponsors, RES and Sea & Shoreline. Sea & Shoreline is a Florida-based aquatic restoration firm that is on a mission to restore Florida's water bodies and to protect our coastline communities against severe storms.  You can check out their projects at www.seaandshoreline.com RES is a national leader in ecological and hydrological restoration, offering nature-based solutions with guaranteed performance through innovative delivery options. Discover more about their work and commitment to Florida and its environmental challenges by visiting www.res.us.  Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

In this episode, Brett travels to Pensacola for a conversation with the prolific Executive Director of the relatively new Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program – Matt Posner. They talk about growing up in Pensacola; the value of the education and experiences he gained on the way to his current role; the importance of fostering partnerships as the head of a small agency; and the exciting new programs his team is spearheading that could breathe new life into the region's estuaries. See for yourself how things are going at the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program Check out the remarkably well done 2023 State of the Bays webpage. See how the Estuary Program's work relates to that of the Northwest Florida Water Management District, and here. You can also review the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's interactive map showing the water quality challenges in the Pensacola and Perdido bays area and beyond. Please support our sponsors, RES and Sea & Shoreline. Sea & Shoreline is a Florida-based aquatic restoration firm that is on a mission to restore Florida's water bodies and to protect our coastline communities against severe storms. You can check out their projects at www.seaandshoreline.com RES is a national leader in ecological and hydrological restoration, offering nature-based solutions with guaranteed performance through innovative delivery options. Discover more about their work and commitment to Florida and its environmental challenges by visiting www.res.us. Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

In this episode, Brett is joined by lobbyist, consultant, policy expert, and former Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection – Jon Steverson. They talk about growing up the son of an accountant and an English teacher; working for three different governors; his unintentionally controversial tenure as the DEP Secretary; and his approach to working in the legislative process. And of course, no conversation with Jon is complete without a mention of the Williams/Steverson Family Reunion and the Bonifay Rodeo. Learn more about Jon's work as Senior Policy Advisor with the Holland & Knight law firm and how he can help you. See what all the fuss about the Bonifay Rodeo is. Jon talks about his time with the Florida Association of Counties. See what those good folks are up to. Florida Department of Environmental Protection's State Parks website Please support our partners, RES and Sea & Shoreline. Sea & Shoreline is a Florida-based aquatic restoration firm that is on a mission to restore Florida's water bodies and to protect our coastline communities against severe storms. You can check out their projects at www.seaandshoreline.com RES is a national leader in ecological and hydrological restoration, offering nature-based solutions with guaranteed performance through innovative delivery options. Discover more about their work and commitment to Florida and its environmental challenges by visiting www.res.us. Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

Learn more about the work Greg did to help restore the Everglades and its associated natural systems with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Learn all about The Nature Conservancy's presence and mission in Florida. Learn more about how you can help support the mission of The Nature Conservancy Please support our sponsors, RES and Sea & Shoreline. Sea & Shoreline is a Florida-based aquatic restoration firm that is on a mission to restore Florida's water bodies and to protect our coastline communities against severe storms. You can check out their projects at www.seaandshoreline.com RES is a national leader in ecological and hydrological restoration, offering nature-based solutions with guaranteed performance through innovative delivery options. Discover more about their work and commitment to Florida and its environmental challenges by visiting www.res.us. Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

In this episode, Brett travels to Palatka to sit down with the Executive Director of the St. Johns River Water Management District – Mike Register. They discuss how a young engineer out of the University of Florida charts a path to a more than three decade-long career at the agency he now runs; his approach to solving problems and working with stakeholders; the complicated processes involved in the development of Regional Water Supply Plans and Minimum Flows and Levels; and his thoughts on the future of water in Florida. Learn more about Regional Water Supply Plans. Learn more about how the District is working with farmers to meet their needs and the needs of the environment. Learn about the Indian River Lagoon, its challenges, and the District's role in restoration. If you want to find out how you can protect drinking water supplies in the St. Johns River and beyond Don't forget to support our sponsors, RES and Sea & Shoreline. Sea & Shoreline is a Florida-based aquatic restoration firm that is on a mission to restore Florida's water bodies and to protect our coastline communities against severe storms. You can check out their projects at www.seaandshoreline.com RES is a national leader in ecological and hydrological restoration, offering nature-based solutions with guaranteed performance through innovative delivery options. Discover more about their work and commitment to Florida and its environmental challenges by visiting www.res.us. Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

In Episode 2 of Season 2, Brett travels to Lakeland for the opportunity to hear from the person who brought the idea of conservation easements (they called it something different in the early 90's) to Florida: 8th generation Floridian, long time real estate broker, and former member of the Florida House of Representatives - Dean Saunders. They talk about his time with Senator and then Governor Lawton Chiles; how conservation easements and Bright Futures were born; and how a young pancake dinner salesman became one of the most prolific land brokers in the state. If you'd like to learn more about conservation lands in Florida, including easements, check out the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) Learn more about the Bright Futures Scholarship program. Get to know who Senator and then Governor Lawton Chiles was. If you're buying or selling real estate and want Dean's help, find him here: https://www.saundersrealestate.com You can also reach Dean directly by email If you're interested in finding out more about my day job and the amazing folks I work with, head here: www.anfieldflorida.com This season of Water for Fighting is brought to you by my friends at Resource Environmental Solutions and Sea & Shoreline. Sea & Shoreline is a Florida-based aquatic restoration firm that is on a mission to restore Florida's water bodies and to protect our coastline communities against severe storms. You can check out their projects at www.seaandshoreline.com. RES is a national leader in ecological and hydrological restoration, offering nature-based solutions with guaranteed performance through innovative delivery options. Discover more about their work and commitment to Florida and its environmental challenges by visiting www.res.us.

In our Season 2 opener, Brett has a conversation with noted filmmaker and author, Steve Hawley. Steve has a brand new book out called, Cracked: The Future of Dams in a Hot, Chaotic World. They discuss the mythology surrounding the benefits of many of the world's dams; the benefits of restoring once-dammed rivers; Dam Removal 101; and why he's cautiously optimistic about the future of the world's natural systems. Go buy Steve's new book here: To get it straight from the publisher, Patagonia To buy it from Steve's favorite book store To find it at Amazon Read Steve's first book, Recovering a Lost River. Watch Steve's film, Dammed to Extinction Watch on Amazon Prime Watch on Vimeo To learn more about restoration work being done on the Klamath River, check out this amazing video. I encourage you to find out more about what my friends at Sea & Shoreline and RES are doing to restore and protect Florida's natural places and communities here: https://seaandshoreline.com and here: https://res.us Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

In the last episode of the season, Brett sits down with limnologist, business owner and two-time water management district executive director – Ann Shortelle. They talk about building a family and career in Florida; being one of only three people to serve as executive director of two different water management districts; how she wants young women and girls to embrace math and science more; Notre Dame super fandom; and how she became a “Lake Doctor”. To learn more about the North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership, go here: https://northfloridawater.com To learn more about the Central Florida Water Initiative, check here: https://cfwiwater.com and here: https://floridadep.gov/water-policy/water-policy/content/central-florida-water-initiative-cfwi To find out more about DEP's Office of Water Policy and Ecosystems Restoration, head here: https://floridadep.gov/water-policy To see what they're up to at the Suwannee River Water Management District these days, check out their website here: https://www.mysuwanneeriver.com To wade through the Wikipedia page on the Rodman Dam and Reservoir, go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodman_Reservoir You can email Ann directly here: abshortelle@gmail.com Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

In his second-to-last episode of the season, Brett sits down with attorney, lobbyist, and former secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection – Ryan Matthews. They discuss his family's deep roots in Upstate New York; the example left behind by a renowned attorney and lobbyist father; the joys and challenges of leadership; and his flirtation with a life of crime. To learn more about Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, go here: https://floridadep.gov/water/submerged-lands-environmental-resources-coordination/content/state-404-program To learn more about the Central Florida Water Initiative, check here: https://cfwiwater.com and here: https://floridadep.gov/water-policy/water-policy/content/central-florida-water-initiative-cfwi To reach Ryan at his law firm, Gray-Robinson, head here: https://www.gray-robinson.com/offices/tallahassee-fl You can email Ryan directly here: Ryan.matthews@gray-robinson.com Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

In this episode, Brett has a conversation with recently retired Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Chief of Staff – Jennifer Fitzwater. They discuss how a kid from the Midwest makes her way to law school and a career in resource protection; what it's like to have been the Chief of Staff for two separate state agencies; the difficult and complicated work going into solving challenges like manatee habitat loss and red tide; and what life's been like since she rowed off into the sunset. To learn more about what the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission does, go here: https://myfwc.com To learn more about manatee protection efforts, check here: https://myfwc.com/research/manatee/rescue-mortality-response/ume/ and here: https://www.manateerescue.org To learn more about where Red Tide is appearing and the research to help stop it, head here: https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/ and here: https://myfwc.com/research/redtide/taskforce/ Jennifer also spoke about her concerns regarding Lyme Disease and its potential impact on state workers who spend their days outside. To learn more about the disease and those risks, go here: https://www.floridahealth.gov/diseases-and-conditions/lyme-disease/index.html and here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2213078018300100 Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

In this episode, Brett sits down with the Northwest Florida Water Management District's executive director – Lyle Seigler. They discuss Hurricane Michael recovery; springs restoration and protection efforts; the district's relationship to the regulated community; and what happened to change a town in Walton County from the county seat to a trivia question. To see tools used by the Northwest Florida Water Management District to track Hurricane Michael damage and recovery go here. https://nwfwater.com/water-resources/hurricane-michael/ To learn more about the district's spring restoration and preservation efforts, head here. https://nwfwater.com/water-resources/springs/ To reach out to Lyle directly, email him at: Lyle.Seigler@nwfwater.com Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

In this episode, Brett talks with well-known environmental attorney and former DEP general counsel, Fred Aschauer. They discuss Florida's U.S. Supreme Court fight to save the Apalachicola River and Bay; growing up between Florida and New York; and how joining a heavy metal band led to a music scholarship and a haircut. To learn more about Florida's case against Georgia in the U.S. Supreme Court, head here. First Special Master's Report Second Special Master's Report Florida's Response to Second Report More Resources on the case To find out more about Fred's environmental law practice. To get in touch with Fred directly, email him at: faschauer@llw-law.com Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

 In this episode, Brett sits down with national water quality data expert – Julie Espy. They discuss her rise through the ranks at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; whether Florida's Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) are still the best tool to remediate water quality degradation; and why one should never, ever, call her a SoonerTo learn more about the state's Basin Management Action Plans, go here: https://floridadep.gov/dear/water-quality-restoration/content/basin-management-action-plans-bmapsTo find out more about SAS, visit their webpage here: https://www.sas.com/en_us/home.htmlTo reach out to Julie directly, email her at: Julie.espy@sas.com Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

In Episode 4, Brett sits down with his partner: long time water policy and budget guru, Frank Bernardino. They talk about the history of wetland mitigation in Florida; the water resource funding gap and how he proposes we close it; and his life as a young song writer in Miami. Here's the best way to reach Frank: Frank@anfieldflorida.com If you'd like to learn more about what Frank and I do at Anfield Consulting, check us out at: www.anfieldflorida.com To learn more about how Florida regulates wetland mitigation, and stormwater in general, check out this handy Florida Department of Environmental Protection page. Check out a few resources explaining “SB 444”, the Water Protection and Sustainability Program and Trust Fund from 2004 Data and analysis regarding the “needs gap” from the Office of Economic and Demographic Research Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

In this episode, Brett talks with one of the most renowned environmental advocates in Florida – Eric Draper. Draper is most known for his advocacy on behalf of Everglades protection and the Florida Forever land-buying programs, but he recently served a successful tour as the Director of the Florida State Parks Service. They talk about effective environmental advocacy; Eric's continued concern about the global effects of climate change; and the importance of developing partnerships instead of enemies. Get a transcript of this episode. Here's the best way to reach Eric. Email, LinkedIN Here's a link to the Florida Forever land buying program statute. Florida Forever Land Acquisition Program As advertised, Eric has dedicated an entire career to the environment, and he was recognized for that by Audubon in 2021. Eric Wins 2021 Audubon Florida's Teddy Roosevelt Award Here's a link to one program that Eric is excited about these days.Florida Wildlife Corridor Act Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

In this episode, Brett sits down with Southwest Florida Water Management District's Executive Director – Brian Armstrong. Armstrong has a career in water management spanning 25 years, nearly all of them at the same water management district. They discuss growing up on the water; the importance of alternative water supplies; who's cooler, geologists or engineers; and an incredible story of lake and wetland restoration that doesn't get nearly the recognition it deserves. Water Wars History Southern Water Use Caution Area Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) Springs Restoration and Protection Program Our theme song is “Doing Work For Free”, by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

In the very first Water for Fighting podcast, Brett has a conversation with the Godfather of Florida water management – Henry Dean. Dean currently serves on the St. Johns County board of county commissioners, but his thirty-year career in water resource protection spans five governors, two water management districts, and various other committees and agencies. They discuss the dawn of water management districts and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; management styles; and a career ultimately defined by its successful relationships. Download a transcript of this episode. ELMS Committee – (Environmental Land Management Study) Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) Kissimmee River Restoration Project Indian River Lagoon (IRL) Restoration Program St. Johns County Commission Our theme song is "Doing Work For Free", by Bo Spring Band (Apple Music) (Spotify) (Pandora)

Mark Twain is said to have quipped, “Whiskey is for drinking, and water is for fighting." And in Florida, the subject of water can bring out the strongest of opinions. The Water for Fighting podcast will discuss the past, present, and future of water in Florida with the people who make it happen. The host, Brett Cyphers spent over 20 years working throughout Florida government getting to know the people who've made water their life's work and created this podcast to allow you, the listener, to get to know them as well.