Presentation Summary
Water quality impacts everything in the Everglades ecosystem, which includes vegetation, wildlife, and humans. The Miccosukee Water Resources Department is dedicated to studying and monitoring water quality, and addressing pollution concerns in Tribal wetlands and waterbodies. One of the most effective ways to reduce pollution is to prevent it from entering our waters via surface runoff. Managing the resources in a large area requires collaboration and partnerships between the Tribe, government agencies as well as the greater Florida community. Using the best available scientific information, we as a community must develop a deeper understanding of the causes of pollution in the Everglades in order to protect the water, and provide safe and clean habitat for a thriving ecosystem.
Speaker Biography
Julian Douglas is an environmentalist and advocate for conservation of wildlife and marine life. He is an Environmental Specialist in the Water Resources Department for the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida. He received a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology from the University of Vermont, and he received an M.S. in Coastal Zone Management from Nova Southeastern University. He strongly believes in the power of education and stewardship of natural resources.