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FL Environmental Protection

@fl.dep

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Official Instagram of the FL Dept of Environmental Protection, the state’s lead agency for environmental stewardship💧🌿

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It starts at Lake Okeechobee, but it doesn’t end there.

Algae blooms and water discharges flow downstream through the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie, reaching estuaries and shorelines miles away. Cleaning the water in Lake O isn’t just about one lake, it’s about protecting the entire state. We’re proud to join the effort!

Thank you Florida lawmakers, @fl.dep, and Gov. Ron DeSantis for making this project possible.

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🌊🪸 From Classroom to Coral Reef: Citizen Science in Action! 🤿

Our Ransom Everglades Marine Field Research students began their SEAFAN BleachWatch journey with classroom training before heading underwater for their first citizen science research dives! Working alongside @diversparadisemiami students conducted coral bleaching surveys and earned their PADI SEAFAN BleachWatch Diver Distinctive Specialty Certification! 🎉

A special thank you to Mo Morrow and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection @fl.dep for providing this incredible training opportunity, sharing their expertise, and speaking with our class about coral reef monitoring and conservation.

Thank you also to Delali and Gabi at @diversparadise for leading our underwater training and certification program and helping our students become confident citizen scientists! 💙 Thank you to our favorite captain anisdiveadventures__ for keeping us safe.

Thank you to Bill @grovescuba for taking photos of our dive trip!

We’re proud to continue contributing to coral reef conservation by submitting bleaching surveys as trained SEAFAN BleachWatch observers. We’re hopeful that Florida’s corals will recover from this summer’s bleaching stress—and that we’ll have very little bleaching to report on future dives! 🪸🐠

Learning science. Doing science. Protecting our reefs. 🌎

#SEAFANBleachWatch #CitizenScience #CoralReefConservation #MarineFieldResearch ransomeverglades

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How field trips can look when you're a student at @floridastateuniversity... 😎

Ming Ye, a professor in @fsueoas and faculty affiliate of @fsuscicomp, recently provided students in his Principles of Hydrology course the opportunity to kayak and canoe the Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve — only a 20-minute drive from FSU.

Lake Jackson is the only freshwater lake system in Florida unaffected by engineering constructions such as dams and canals. Instead of using manmade means to manage the ecosystem, Lake Jackson periodically dries out, which spurs a self-cleansing process that hinders invasive plants and restores conditions for native fish breeding, for example.

In getting up close and personal with the lake, students learned more about watersheds and how their quality and quantity can evolve over time. The field trip was preceded by a guest lecture from @friendsoflakejackson850's Sophie Wacongne-Speer, who spoke about the lake’s past, present and future conditions. The students' kayaks and canoes were provided by the Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve under @fl.dep.

To learn more about Ye's hydrology research, which was recently funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, visit: fla.st/OMVOHZMT.

📸 Ming Ye and Laura Short Image of Ming Ye and his students kayaking and canoeing at the Lake Jackson Aquatic Preserve.

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🔊Volume up 🔊to learn about the coordinated network experiment we are part of

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It’s National Estuaries Week!

Our Pensacola crews have had a blast working alongside students at the Beulah Academy of Science through Grasses to Classes and Vertical Oyster Garden building activities!

The Northwest Florida Aquatic Preserves’ Grasses to Classes program helps students discover the important role that native salt marshes play in healthy coastal ecosystems. Through hands-on learning, students explore how salt marshes provide valuable wildlife habitat, filter and improve water quality, and help protect shorelines from erosion.

These hands-on projects give students the opportunity to learn about our local waterways while taking an active role in restoring the environment. From planting native grasses to building oyster habitats, every project is a chance to make a positive impact on our estuaries!

#floridacorps #beulahacademyofscience #floridaaquaticpreserves #franklinspromisecoalition

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Our Annual DXDivers Pompano Beach Pier Clean-Up! 🧼

Last weekend we pulled 500+ pounds of marine trash and debris from the Pompano Beach Pier 🌊

365 people showed up to make a difference!

We’ll see you in June for the next one 🙌

#PompanoPierClean #PompanoBeach #OceanCleanup #MarineConservation #DXDivers

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STOP throwing trash 🗑️ ♻️ into the ocean 🌊
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We don’t own the Earth—we’re made of it. Yet we treat this planet 🌎 like a foreign object to exploit and control, forgetting that it is our home and a living part of us.
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We talk about escaping to Mars while destroying the only planet we can actually survive on.
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Protect the Earth like you protect yourself—because there is no separation.
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#Ocean #MarineConservation #CoralReefs #conservation #oceanconservation
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( ocean, marine life, ocean conservation, marine conservation, ocean advocate, coral reefs, conservation, ocean life, plastic pollution, save our oceans, ocean wellness, ocean restoration, ocean life, save ocean, plastic )

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ANNUAL DXDIVERS POMPANO BEACH PIER CLEAN RECAP! 🧼

Last Saturday, 365 people came out to clean the Pompano Beach Pier, and together we removed 500+ pounds of marine trash and debris from the ocean and surrounding beach! 💙

What a day! Huge thank you to our DXD staff, our sponsors and everyone who showed up to help make a difference.

We’re already looking forward to our next Pier Clean in June 2027!

This is who we are. This is what we do. Join us! 🙌

#PompanoPierClean #PompanoBeach #OceanCleanup #MarineConservation #DiveAgainstDebris

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I’m honored to serve on the Biscayne Bay Commission, where we had a productive meeting focused on the health, preservation, and long-term sustainability of Biscayne Bay.

It was a valuable opportunity to work alongside fellow commissioners, community leaders, and stakeholders on issues affecting our bay. Yesterday’s agenda included presentations on flooding, the County’s Reasonable Assurance Plan, and Biscayne Bay Water Quality Improvement Grants.

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Today we celebrated International Coastal Cleanup Day, the largest coastal cleanup effort in South Florida, with more than 65 cleanup locations across the region! 🌊

Friends of Biscayne Bay, together with @fl.dep and @ridepadl , brought together more than 40 incredible volunteers to get their hands dirty and protect Biscayne Bay.

Together, we removed hundreds of pounds of trash from our waterways, helping protect marine life, their habitats, and the health of our Bay. 🐬🌱

A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered, our amazing partners, and @volunteercleanup for helping make this day possible.

Thank you for showing up for the Bay! 💙

#ICC2026 #InternationalCoastalCleanup #BiscayneBay #KeepMiamiBeautiful ProtectOurWaters

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What a beautiful morning of volunteering & marine conservation at the annual International Coastal Cleanup at Mizell Johnson Park with the @newriversharks Thank you to all of the volunteers who came out and helped to make the 🌎 a little cleaner today! Thank you to Neil @nymarinadeli for the amazing lunch & Victoria @diversdirect for the great swag!Thank you @4Ocean for bracelets and @NSUOcean for some sweet giveaways. We look forward to our next event together soon! 🦈🌎🌊 #internationalcoastalcleanupday #magnetschoolsofamerica #beashark #marinescience #beashark

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TOMORROW! from 9am-11am join Coastlove, @fl.dep , @saveaturtleflkeys of @cityofmarathonofficial for a much needed cleanup of Coco Plum Beach! We will be collecting debris from the coastline and protecting our local wildlife and shores.
Want to join? Sign up using the QR code or go to https://www.coastlove.org/events/international-coastal-cleanup-day-coco-plum-beach

#coastlove #changemaker #createchange #lastingchange #empower #restore #educate #florida #FloridaKeys #cleanup #cocoplumbeach #marathon #marathonfl #wildlife #shorelinecleanup

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