In a mere six years, Captains For Clean Water has gone from a couple of fishing guides trying to save their livelihoods amid recurring algae outbreaks and seagrass die-offs to a full-fledged nonprofit dedicated to the long-term health and protection of the state’s water.
The anglers-turned-activists spurred momentum in stalled Everglades restoration projects, including the construction of a 16,000-acre reservoir near Lake Okeechobee, considered the linchpin in the 50-year, $23 billion Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. What happens at the lake directly impacts Southwest Florida because the Caloosahatchee River serves as one of its drainage pipes. Too much or too little Lake O water hurts the estuaries. The same holds true for communities along the St. Lucie River, the lake’s eastern discharge route.
Earlier this year, a bill filed quietly and outside the typical legislative process threatened to unravel all Captains had fought to achieve. Senate Bill 2508 would prioritize the sugar industry’s irrigation needs over reducing the damaging discharges to the coasts.
The team leapt into action. Their messages reached more than 9 million people on social media; website traffic surpassed 735,000 views; almost 100 guides showed up in Tallahassee (even at the height of tourist season); and nearly 50,000 supporters signed petitions and lobbied state lawmakers. “People were seeing this [bill] as something that was going to jeopardize the impact their efforts had made—tangible things that were happening because they got involved. And that did not sit well,” says Chris Wittman, who co-founded the organization with fellow fishing guide Daniel Andrews.
Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed the legislation.
The group had been gearing up to celebrate more good news—a new, estuary-friendly management plan for Lake Okeechobee, which was years in the making—when Hurricane Ian walloped Southwest Florida. Captains, which tallies some 135,000 guides, supporters, and donors, sprung to action. Guides on the east coast launched a drive to help those on the west. The organization also established a long-term relief fund. “Our mission to restore and protect our waterway s is dependent on something we’ve taken for granted—a safe community with the infrastructure necessary to live in paradise,” Daniel says. “... We will continue to support any way possible until we rebuild stronger than ever.”
Daniel remembers the triple punch that gave rise to Captains: the 2016 Lake Okeechobee releases that chased away mid-winter tourists; 2017’s Hurricane Irma; and 2018’s red tide and blue-green algae disaster, in which fish and sea mammals washed up on shore, residents along afflicted canals retreated indoors, travelers abandoned Southwest Florida, and food banks fed a suffering workforce.
That’s why Captains remains ever-vigilant. “We’re not going to redirect hurricanes,” Daniel says. “But we can direct the water. That’s something that’s attainable.” Adds Chris: “I’m optimistic … We have an amazing movement of people that is growing by the day.” —J.R.