Rose Young & Ricki Howie
Retired school teachers and fiber artists

Two local artists inspire others to promote solutions to deteriorating water conditions…

“We want people to wake up to the fact that something’s going on that shouldn’t be going on. Everybody’s got a stake in it.”

Read Their Story

Jeanne Bigos
Director of Sales & Marketing
The Outrigger Beach Resort

A hotel marketer laments the changes she sees…

"You can’t do this to the environment, unless you want to live in the middle of the damage."

Read Her Story

Awilda Rivera
General Manager
Casa Ybel Resort

A hotelier calls for teamwork to address local water issues…

"Unfortunately, nature didn’t cause this, so we have to pull together to get it resolved."

Read Her Story

Kristie Anders
Education Director
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation

A conservation educator sees plenty of cause for concern...

"We're seeing our estuary on miracle grow. Unnatural amounts of nutrients and the unnatural growth of some species are tipping the system out of balance."

Read Her Story

Win Everham
Associate Professor, Ecological & Social Science
College of Arts & Science, Florida Gulf Coast University

An ecology professor explains the dynamics behind water quality issues.

"People come here to vacation and to build homes. If our area ceases to be a beautiful place, the bottom will drop out of our economy. If we degrade our environment enough, people will no longer come here."

Read His Story

Dave Jensen
Owner, Jensen’s Marina & Twin Palm Cottages

A marina owner takes personal responsibility.

"The fishing is not as good. One of our guests who’s been coming here for years to fish has kept a log of what he’s caught over the years. Last year was the first year he’s experienced several days without catching any fish."

Read His Story

Pete Quasius
President, Audubon of Southwest Florida
Local fishing guide

An environmental activist paints a disturbing picture.

"Everyone has a piece of this. Our battle is to convince the legislators and the voters that this is an issue of major significance. We’re at risk of destroying our tourist industry."

Read His Story

Steve Shimp
President, Owens Ames Kimball
Commercial developer

A commercial developer sees the writing on the wall.

"If it's not a dead river, it's on its way to being dead"

Read His Story

Sally Tapager
Owner, Tropic Star Cruises

An ecotourism business owner sees the dire impact on businesses.

"We've seen red tide, dead fish and brown water. It's all affected businesses on the island. The tourist business has been negatively impacted. People are staying away."

Read Her Story

Randy Wayne-White
Author & local resident

A noted author is very troubled by water quality issues.

"I find it very troubling. The first casualty of a failed economy is the environment."

Read His Story

Ralph Woodring
Owner, The Bait Box
Lifetime Sanibel resident

A local fisherman makes a passionate plea for help.

"Business has not been good. I receive lots of emails and inquiries about the quality of the water and whether there are any fish here."

Read His Story