AGP Executive Report

Coastal Climate Adaptation: A new Florida-focused look at how architects and planners are redesigning homes, parks, and infrastructure to handle sea level rise, storm surge, saltwater intrusion, and heat impacts—using “build for the aftermath,” not just the storm itself. Energy & Solar Savings: FPL says its solar buildout has generated more than $1.3 billion in customer savings and now runs 120 solar centers across 30 counties, with added local tax and job impacts. Water Supply Stress: Central Florida’s aquifer remains in a declared “extreme” deficit despite recent rains, with Marion County still short of expected rainfall and conservation steps still in effect. Wildlife & Invasive Species: Sarasota Bay scallop volunteers surveyed the ecosystem’s health, linking nitrogen pollution from wastewater/septic to algae and seagrass loss; elsewhere, Florida’s python problem remains a recurring theme as invasive reptiles spread. Hurricane Watch: The National Hurricane Center is tracking three Atlantic systems with low development odds for two and a higher chance for a wave emerging off Africa. Community Environment Angle: A Riverview church handed out $20,000 in free gas to 1,000 cars at a back-to-school event, highlighting local cost pressures alongside climate and resilience stories.

Renewables & Permitting: NextEra has withdrawn its wind turbine application for the Swan Lake Wind Project, ending a federal NEPA review tied to a planned 248-megawatt project in South Dakota. Tropical Watch: The National Hurricane Center is monitoring three Atlantic areas for possible development, with none posing an immediate threat to Florida. Climate Outlook: NOAA says a strengthening El Niño could become the strongest in modern history, with Florida likely seeing around-normal to above-normal temperatures and a higher severe-weather risk later in winter. Coastal & Wildlife: A loggerhead sea turtle, “Timmy,” returned to the Atlantic after weeks of rehabilitation, while a waterspout formed over Lake Okeechobee during afternoon storms. Invasives Risk: Researchers warn that stranded ships in the Strait of Hormuz could act like a “super-spreader” for invasive marine species once traffic resumes. Local Nature Restoration: Punta Gorda officials outlined a long permitting-and-construction timeline to restore the nature trail, boardwalk and pier at Ponce de Leon Park. Red Tide Update: Red Tide was detected along Florida’s Atlantic coast in Nassau County.

Red Tide Watch: Florida officials found Karenia brevis in 25 Atlantic samples, including Nassau County where bloom levels topped 100,000 cells per liter. Storm-Ready Water Systems: Tampa is installing stationary generators to keep wastewater running during outages after past hurricane-linked permit exceedances. Public Health Alert: Walton County reported a locally acquired West Nile Virus case, urging mosquito control and bite prevention. Wildlife Conservation: The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation kicked off 2026 public sea turtle hatchling releases with bilingual outreach, and the Florida Aquarium released four rehabilitated juvenile green sea turtles near Palm Coast. New Protected Land: Alachua County opened the 287-acre Black Lake Preserve with hiking trails and wetland habitat. Waterway Repair: The Wysong Water Conservation Structure lock near Lake Panasoffkee is back in service after repairs. Climate Signal: NOAA forecasts above-normal fall temperatures for Florida, tied to a strengthening El Niño. Food Safety: A multi-state alfalfa sprout outbreak has reached 15 states, with Florida among reported locations.

Emergency Management: Florida’s emergency chief Kevin Guthrie resigned as peak hurricane season begins, with DOT Secretary Jared Perdue named interim director—raising concerns about leadership continuity during the state’s most dangerous weeks. Privacy Backlash: People are vandalizing Flock automated license-plate cameras amid growing anger over AI surveillance. Heat & Climate Impacts: A new discussion on rising extreme heat highlights how hotter nights are changing daily life and safety. Water Shortage: The Suwannee River Water Management District issued a Phase II water shortage order affecting most district counties, with key exclusions. Coastal Restoration: Cape Coral is stabilizing shoreline at Seven Islands after protected mangroves were removed without required permits, with replanting planned after approvals. Pollinators: UF/IFAS extensions invite Floridians to join the Great Southeast Pollinator Census this weekend. Algal Bloom Research: FAU received a $600,379 DEP grant to develop 3D-printed materials to remove phosphorus and help prevent harmful algal blooms. Wildlife: A sea turtle study in the Keys is tracking migrations to better understand global travel routes. Aviation Wildlife Safety: Key West International Airport won a sustainability award for bird-friendly glass designed to reduce bird strikes. Hurricane Outlook: Forecast updates note El Niño strengthening and continued monitoring for Florida impacts.

Coral & Shellfish Conservation: Scientists produced over 100,000 larvae with eggs collected from rare coral spawn in the Florida Keys, as reef rebuilding efforts continue. Coastal Wildlife & Public Health: Florida reports more dengue fever cases, with mosquito bite prevention urged as warm-weather risk rises. Local Land & Water Planning: Stewart, Wald & Smith is hosting complimentary meetings for adjacent landowners to learn about the proposed Wekiva Trail Extension corridor in Lake County. Environmental Litigation Watch: The “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention site in the Everglades is shut down, but the environmental lawsuit keeps moving through federal court. Habitat Protection vs. Infrastructure: Gateway neighbors are pushing FPL to preserve a wooded buffer as transmission line designs advance within an existing easement. Reef Tourism Spotlight: A Florida-linked dive story highlights the Keys’ marine life draw, including giant clams and reef biodiversity. Beaches & Safety: Duval red tide alerts warn beachgoers to be cautious as blooms are detected along parts of Florida’s coast.

Climate Education Pushback: Florida officials asked publishers to water down or remove climate change content from textbooks, including edits that replaced “climate change” with softer wording. Heat & Storm Impacts: A statewide heat advisory and Panhandle-to-South Georgia pop-up thunderstorms are bringing dangerous heat, lightning, and heavy rain. Water Stress in SW Florida: Southwest Florida drought persists even during rainy season, with wells running dry and freshwater supplies tightening. Wildlife Protection Wins: A Florida couple bought a 45-acre swamp to stop development; it now hosts about 275 nesting wood storks and other wildlife. Panther Safety Tech: ZooTampa and fStop’s trail-camera network is guiding Florida panther road-crossing planning, including an I-4 wildlife overpass opening targeted for 2027. Marine Life Response: Firefighters helped stranded manatees back into water after hours on shore, with FWC reminding the public not to handle marine mammals without trained guidance. Reef Innovation: A Florida teen’s recycled-glass artificial reef project is advancing oyster habitat restoration.

Wildlife & Fisheries: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission modified Gulf recreational seasons, adjusting gag grouper and greater amberjack dates to better match NOAA rules and reduce quota paybacks. Invasive Species: A new look at decades of Everglades surveys highlights how Burmese pythons have helped drive massive declines in native mammals like raccoons, opossums, and bobcats. Conservation Education: Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens is inviting K-12 students to design lanterns for its Spring Lantern Festival, with themes tied to vulnerable, threatened, or endangered species. Pollinators: A regional pollinator census is calling on citizen scientists across Florida and the Southeast to spend 15 minutes counting insects that support flowering plants. Climate & Weather: Tropical outlooks remain below-normal for now, but forecasters still warn a damaging hurricane strike is possible as El Niño strengthens. Local Land Use & Water: Pensacola is exploring an inland port plan near a Superfund site to support jobs and reuse land; in Bonita Springs, voters approved $35M for a rail-trail project. Energy & Tech: Amazon says Prime Air drone delivery will expand to nearly 500 U.S. cities by end of 2026, including Florida.

Alligator Management Fight: Rep. Greg Steube filed a bill pushing the federal government to study whether Florida’s “threatened” alligator (and lookalike caiman) protections are complicating nuisance removals after five this summer attacks, including a fatal one. Keys Marine Tech: Unique Group helped deliver “Vanguard,” the first open-ocean human habitat in 40+ years, installed in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary for long-duration underwater missions. Water Resilience Funding: Tampa approved a $2.2M upgrade to the Forest Hills wastewater pump station after Hurricane Milton, part of its PIPES storm-infrastructure program. Local Land-Use Pressure: Lakeland approved a speculative warehouse on environmentally sensitive land near Green Swamp, despite a recent moratorium on data centers and large industrial uses. Manatee Safety: Wakulla-area reports of manatee deaths are renewing calls for boaters to slow down and stay vigilant. Election Climate Signals: Florida’s governor primary is set for November after Byron Donalds won the GOP nod and David Jolly won the Democratic nomination. Development Enforcement: Cape Coral is considering a licensing investigator and a $5 permit surcharge to crack down on unpermitted projects.

Water Quality Watch: Sarasota County lifted a fecal-bacteria advisory for North Lido Beach after tests showed Enterococcus levels met state guidelines. Everglades & Water Resilience: SCCF brought teen campers to the Everglades to learn how the water system supports clean water and coastal reefs. Habitat Restoration: Indrio Savannahs Preserve reopened after an 18-month restoration reconnecting a historic marsh system to boost stormwater capacity and freshwater habitat. Pollinator-Friendly Landscaping: UF/IFAS launched the FFL Plants & Pollinators app, merging plant and pollinator guides to help Floridians choose native-friendly, water-saving plants. Invasive Species Control: FWC announced the first Pensacola Lionfish Removal Tournament and Festival (Sept. 24–27) to reduce invasive lionfish impacts. Marine Life Research: New study using an acoustic recorder found dolphins use different sound patterns for socializing versus hunting along Florida’s Atlantic coast. Heat & Public Safety: Dangerous heat continues across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, with heat index warnings reaching extreme levels. Local Environment & Community: Reef balls are bringing oysters and other marine life back to the Manatee River, aiming to improve water quality.

Sargassum Solution: A University of Miami study is testing whether black soldier fly larvae can “bioconvert” Florida’s seaweed blooms into useful products like aquaculture feed and fertilizer, aiming to shift the state from cleanup-only to value-added recovery. Red Tide Watch: K. brevis was detected at background to low levels in Manatee County near Longboat Pass, with additional low concentrations reported across several other counties, keeping coastal monitoring front and center. Heat & Water Stress: Fort Myers hit a record high heat index of 108 amid hot, dry conditions, while a Southwest Florida Water Management District update flagged the Central Region aquifer at the 21st percentile—below normal for late July. Local Land-Use Fight: Lee County commissioners are set to consider changes to the Southeast Lee Community Plan that environmental groups say could harm Florida panther habitat. Conservation Funding Pressure: Pinellas County residents are pushing back against proposed budget cuts that could defund Weedon Island and Shell Key preserves. Wildlife & Habitat: A Florida couple’s 45-acre swamp purchase helped protect nesting wood storks, a reminder that private land decisions can quickly become public conservation wins.

Alligator safety: Florida wildlife officials are urging people to treat waterways as alligator habitat after recent serious attacks, including a woman losing an arm in the Silver River; experts stress there’s no such thing as “alligator-infested waters” because gators have lived there for generations. Reef building: A new artificial reef was sunk off Jacksonville using concrete culverts and pipes, aiming to revive offshore habitat and boost recreational fishing. Sargassum research: University of Miami scientists are testing a system that turns beached sargassum into aquaculture feed and fertilizer using black soldier fly larvae, with a goal to scale beyond Miami. Red tide alerts: Duval County reported season’s first red tide bloom levels, with advisories for nearby beaches. Recreational fishing rules: Florida opened greater amberjack and gag grouper seasons for Sept. 1, aligning state waters with federal seasons to help prevent quota overages. Heat risk: A heat advisory remains in effect for parts of Central Florida, with guidance to protect people from dangerous heat. Tampa Bay Rays stadium: AECOM Hunt Turner was selected to lead construction of the new Rays stadium in Hillsborough County, targeting a 2029 opening. FAA vs. local noise: The FAA defended around-the-clock flight restrictions over Mar-a-Lago after local governments challenged them over jet noise and pollution.

Miami Stadium Vote: Miami voters will decide Tuesday whether the city can partner with a private company to revive the long-shuttered Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key, a National Register-listed powerboat landmark left fenced off and vandalized since Hurricane Andrew. Wildlife Protection Success: A Tallahassee couple’s 45-acre cypress swamp refuge is credited with supporting 275 nesting wood storks (plus herons, egrets, otters and more), showing how private land stewardship can safeguard habitat near a growing city. Sea Turtle Tragedy: Brevard Zoo says two loggerhead sea turtles were euthanized after “ghost gear” and derelict fishing equipment caused irreparable injuries, while a third is recovering after a flipper amputation. Alligator Safety Data: Florida wildlife records show nearly 500 alligator attacks since 1948, including 33 fatal cases, with deadly encounters tied to routine activities like swimming and even dog-walking near water. Drought Update: Hydrologists report Poe Springs has stopped flowing as groundwater pumping and a rainfall deficit keep Florida’s aquifer under strain, urging conservation. Legal Fight Over Wildlife Detention: Updated claims in the Alligator Alcatraz lawsuit say state and federal officials withheld key information from judges about federal involvement, raising questions about whether environmental review was required.

Sea Turtle Recovery in Key West: Timmy, a 270-pound loggerhead sea turtle rehabilitated at Turtle Hospital, was released back into the Atlantic at Fort Zachary Taylor, drawing hundreds of onlookers and highlighting how public compassion can support conservation. Everglades Legal Fight: Environmental groups say state and federal officials withheld key information from judges in an updated lawsuit over “Alligator Alcatraz,” arguing the detention center should have faced federal environmental review under the Endangered Species Act. Wildlife Science: A Florida bonnethead shark study finds the species’ unusual sex-specific head shapes develop through growth, with females changing snout shape as they mature. Florida Conservation Watch: Wildlife advocates report record sea turtle nest counts, but warn recent federal moves to weaken the Endangered Species Act could stall recovery. Coastal Ecology Spotlight: A Southwest Florida piece looks at barnacles as major coastal water “cleaners” and notes the real-world costs they can impose on boats and ships.

Lake Okeechobee Revival: Florida’s prolonged drought is lowering water levels and letting state crews dredge muck while native plants rebound in clearer shallows—though experts warn a single hurricane could undo gains. Sarasota Resilience Build: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens has started vertical construction on Phase Two of its $60.9M downtown Sarasota expansion, including a hurricane-resilient conservatory designed to protect collections from extreme storms. Wildlife Rescue & Protection: Deputies rescued nearly 75 baby sea turtles after they headed inland on a Volusia beach; meanwhile, The Villages reports a gopher tortoise population boom that’s now creating roadkill and crowding pressures. Coastal Hazards: Red tide alerts continue along Florida’s east coast, including new warnings near Jacksonville. Local Government Watch: Punta Gorda officials say tire-tracked asphalt tack coat caused dark marks on decorative crosswalks and outline steps to address it with the contractor. Climate & Water Infrastructure: A Florida congressman flagged Lake Okeechobee water-management efforts and a St. Lucie lock closure after a lightning strike. Conservation Science: La Brea Tar Pits researchers announced a newly identified Ice Age amphibian species from the fossil record, adding to climate-change clues from the end of the last ice age. Oil Spill Risk Beyond Florida: Reuters reports new oil slicks in the Strait of Hormuz region, raising concerns about Gulf marine impacts.

Coastal Wildlife & Public Safety: 55 newborn loggerhead sea turtles died on Anna Maria Island after nearby lights pulled hatchlings off course toward a road instead of the Gulf, renewing calls for turtle-friendly lighting. Marine Pollution Risk: Reuters reports a grounded tanker off Oman is leaking Russian crude in a protected marine area, while additional oil slicks appear inside the Strait of Hormuz—raising fears of wider Gulf damage. Rare Florida Habitat: A Walton County story spotlights 30A’s coastal dune lakes, brackish freshwater pockets found only in a few places worldwide. Local Landfill Oversight: Sumter County residents are pressing for clarity on a landfill’s future capacity, outside waste commitments, and how leachate is planned to be managed. Heat & Weather: Florida heat advisories continue statewide as humidity pushes “feels like” conditions above 108°F, with guidance to limit outdoor strain. Conservation Access: Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary will close Aug. 17–20 for maintenance, with guided experiences still available by online ticket. Community Climate Resilience: A new project highlights community-led resilience hubs and support for local climate adaptation efforts, including in Florida.

Red Tide Watch: Duval County issued a second red tide alert in a week near Fort George River/Kingsley Plantation, with Florida Fish and Wildlife saying blooms are currently limited to Northeast Florida. Water Safety: Milton warned residents to avoid the creek at Carpenter’s Park after E. coli was detected following heavy rain and storm surge; the splash pad and Blackwater River were reported unaffected. Sea Turtle Update: On some Southwest Florida beaches, sea turtle nest counts are up, but hatch rates remain a concern as predators like coyotes take eggs. Conservation Settlement: Audubon and Kingston developer Camerratta reached a settlement ending a federal lawsuit and removing easements that had raised fears about an evacuation route through Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Personalized Cancer Care: Florida lawmakers approved $2M for FIU’s myFORCE program to expand personalized cancer treatment recommendations using patients’ tumor responses to FDA-approved therapies. Heat & Storm Risk: Forecasts point to continued extreme heat statewide, with North Florida and the Panhandle facing spotty downpours and an elevated flash-flood risk. Tropics: The National Hurricane Center said two Atlantic disturbances (Invest 92L/94L) have decreased development chances, though heavy rain and gusty winds could still affect parts of the Lesser Antilles.