MIAMI WATERKEEPER
Protecting the water you love.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The problems we face are complex. Climate change is affecting almost every aspect of life for South Florida’s 4.7M+ residents. We have measured 6" of sea level rise since 1996, and just those 6” have already resulted in over 400% more flooding events. Our stormwater systems are not compliant, our wastewater infrastructure is chronically failing, our 120,000+ septic tanks are being compromised daily by rising water tables, and our power supply - the Turkey Point nuclear plant - is threatened by rising sea levels. These infrastructure failures and risks, combined with a rapidly growing population, are dramatically increasing pollution in our waterways. Biscayne Bay is deteriorating at an alarming rate; we’re experiencing unprecedented algae blooms and fish kills, and our precious coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangrove forests have declined by at least 80%. This is affecting our quality of life, harming the economic driver of our community, and creating an uncertain future.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Legal & Policy Advocacy
Miami Waterkeeper is one of the few environmental organizations in Miami that is willing to use one of the most powerful tools at our disposal to protect our watershed - the law. We take polluters to court to protect our water, wildlife, and health. Through this work, we have improved degraded and high flood risk sewage infrastructure in Miami, pushed for best practices in PortMiami's Deep Dredge Project to protect our coral reefs, and asked for more resilient energy infrastructure at Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant in the face of sea level rise.
Our advocacy team actively engages in the legislative process as well, representing our membership before local, state, and federal governmental bodies. Miami Waterkeeper has been involved in securing municipal fertilizer ordinances, advocating for budget allocations for sewage infrastructure repair, catalyzing straw bans, and securing funding for water quality monitoring in the face of prolific beach closures.
Junior Ambassadors
The Junior Ambassador program engages local high school students in protecting and defending Biscayne Bay and its surrounding waterways. This free, competitive program develops the next generation of environmental stewards through advocacy training and service learning. Junior Ambassadors, who represent different high schools across Miami-Dade County, learn about the importance of our natural environment, the threats it faces, and ways to protect it over the course of a school year. Participants develop skills in critical thinking, creative problem solving, public speaking, and more. At the end of the program year, participants complete an advocacy project, presenting about our watershed, Biscayne Bay, current threats to our waterways, and possible solutions. The Junior Ambassador program engages students in taking an active role in protecting the environment and inspires future environmental leaders in the community.
1,000 Eyes on the Water
Our waterways face multiple sources of pollution, and we cannot spot them all alone. We, therefore, rely on engaged community members to spot and report pollution to us. To equip the community to monitor South Florida’s hundreds of miles of waterways, we host 1,000 Eyes on the Water, which trains individuals to spot, document, and report pollution they see as they go about their daily lives. Offered in both English and Spanish and both in person and online, this program empowers community members to take immediate action when they see a polluter violating environmental laws.
When we receive a pollution report, we triage it to the appropriate regulatory agency and follow up to ensure action is being taken against polluters whenever possible. This program’s impact is twofold; it not only educates the community about pollution but also results in cleaner water by allowing Miami Waterkeeper to respond directly to pollution events.
Water Quality Monitoring
Water pollution not only harms the environment but can also impact public health. Biscayne Bay suffers from chronic episodes of high bacteria levels, but the Department of Health’s Healthy Beaches program samples only two locations in all of Biscayne Bay — and this data is difficult for the public to access. Recognizing a need for broader sampling and public reach, Miami Waterkeeper launched a program to expand weekly bacteria monitoring in Biscayne Bay to generate water quality data and inform the public about water quality issues. Additionally, we monitor temperature, salinity, chlorophyll-a, and more — factors that allow our team to conduct detailed analysis of the water at our sites and have access to real-time data. We immediately post our sampling data for each location on our website, social media, and a free computer and mobile app called Swim Guide, reaching thousands of people each week and attracting more than 75,000 views each year.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total pounds of debris collected
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Adolescents, Children
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our volunteer clean-up events result in the collection of hundreds of pounds of marine debris every year.
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Community members volunteer their time for coastal habitat restorations and clean-ups, working first-hand to protect Biscayne Bay from the threats it faces.
Number of comment letters to government agencies
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Legal & Policy Advocacy
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Comment letters to government agencies inform decision-makers about the impacts of their votes on the environment and encourage them to protect Biscayne Bay in their votes on policies and projects.
Number of program graduates
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Junior Ambassadors
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Junior Ambassador graduates each complete four advocacy trainings, four service events, and an advocacy project demonstrating what they've learned about environmental protection and civic engagement.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
We have a vision of swimmable, drinkable, fishable water for all. To achieve this vision, we work toward a goal of a vibrant and resilient South Florida coastal community that models resiliency solutions for the world. Overall, we will have achieved our goals when:
-Pollution from fertilizer, septic tanks, sewage, and stormwater is abated.
-Wastewater infrastructure is resilient and leak-proof.
-Natural habitats -- corals, seagrass, mangroves -- are restored.
-Biscayne Bay’s endangered species are thriving.
-Everyone has equitable access to clean water.
-Pollution no longer harms or threatens our bodies or environment.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Miami Waterkeeper is the only South Florida organization that combines science, advocacy, and outreach to protect our coastal environment. No other entity is protecting our waterways from pollution in all forms and from all sides, using science to drive fact-based advocacy. To do this, we work alongside those whom we also hold accountable, walking the fine line between ally and adversary. When a boater reported an offshore sewage leak to us in 2017, for example, we learned that the County -- an important partner on many issues -- had ignored it for over a year, during which time 10M+ gallons had spilled into the water. We sent divers to inspect the leak, filed a notice of intent to sue, used GPS tracers to understand the leak’s drift, and alerted the media. Within three days, the leak was repaired and, importantly, the County committed to increase inspections.
We’re also not afraid to go toe-to-toe with massive entities, like the U.S. government or large corporations. We’ve prevailed in these David-vs.-Goliath battles because we have science and the law on our side. And because the power of environmental laws comes from public engagement, we provide the tools and resources for community members to stand up and exercise their rights.
All of these efforts are focused on clean water, ecosystem protection, and sea level rise resiliency. First, we tackle issues of clean water throughout the Biscayne Bay watershed, from the Everglades to our coral reefs. Second, we protect the ecosystems that depend on that clean water, including corals, seagrasses, and mangroves. Finally, we focus on sea level rise resiliency, which guides all areas of our work. We employ a multidisciplinary approach, which includes:
SCIENCE & RESEARCH: We always start with science, analyzing existing research and leading large-scale novel research projects to fill in knowledge gaps. We also monitor water quality weekly in popular areas to inform the public in real-time on where it’s safe to recreate.
ADVOCACY & POLICY: Backed by science, we develop policy goals to protect our environment and community through improved water quality and resiliency. We take a grassroots-to-grasstops approach, engaging the public while working with elected officials and government. When necessary, we also pursue litigation against violations of core environmental laws, like the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act.
EDUCATION & OUTREACH: Our work always comes back to the community. We make it easy for the public to be heard through our advocacy platforms; we provide training on reporting pollution through our 1,000 Eyes on the Water program; we develop high schoolers into environmental leaders through our Junior Ambassador program; we educate youth through floating classrooms; and we engage volunteers in habitat restorations and cleanups.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The organization has grown significantly since its inception in 2010. Growing steadily through 2021, Miami Waterkeeper took a big leap to restructure, add staff, and develop our team last year. We are now 11 full-time, dedicated water advocates, supported by five part-time positions. Furthermore, we are in the final stages of developing a strategic growth plan, which includes adding several new positions over the next three years -- all to have greater impact throughout the community.
Just like our work, our team is interdisciplinary. We have a wide range of backgrounds that are essential to our mission, including microbiology, marine science, field science, regulation, policy, marketing, fundraising, volunteer management, education and outreach, and wildlife protection.
We are divided into science, policy, and outreach teams, and all three divisions work closely together to implement the different stages of our campaigns. We are a group of expert change-makers who care deeply about the environment and have a passion to deliver on behalf of the community. For example, our Environmental Policy Specialist spent nine years working at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and then at a private consulting firm; she had always wanted to work on the public interest side, and she brings a critical, deep regulatory background to our team.
Miami Waterkeeper's Executive Director & Waterkeeper, Dr. Rachel Silverstein, has strong ties to the community and frequently works directly with elected officials and other leaders. She introduces the broader team to those connections to ensure long-term sustainability and impact of the organization. These close connections allow for rapid and effective action that reaches decision-makers directly.
As the team grows, we will continue to build out our organizational structure to advance to the next phase of our impact. This plan includes expansion of all areas of the organization, but particularly in legal and government affairs, as that is how we most effectively impact the root causes.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Through our science-based advocacy and outreach work, we have achieved many water wins, which can all be found on our website (www.miamiwaterkeeper.org/impact). Notable examples of our work to protect our watershed and Biscayne Bay include:
When a boater reported an offshore sewage leak to us in 2017, we learned that the County had ignored it for over a year, during which time 10M+ gallons had spilled into the water. We sent divers to inspect the leak, filed a notice of intent to sue, used GPS tracers to understand the leak’s drift, and alerted the media. Within three days, the leak was repaired and, most importantly, the County committed to increase inspections.
Our push to focus on core pollution sources -- fertilizer, septic tanks, sewage leaks, and stormwater - led to key policy changes, funding, studies, and targeted management decisions.
We successfully challenged the first-ever nuclear power plant operating license application to extend into the 2050s. The application used outdated environmental assessments, which didn’t fully address sea level rise or other recent environmental risks. Our combined science, legal, and coalition-building strategies got the license repealed, an extremely rare move by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Furthermore, all future operating license applications across the country must now conduct an updated environmental review that fully considers sea level rise.
We worked to get local bans on styrofoam and single-use plastics passed, even filing briefs in the Florida Supreme Court, to stop the issue at its source. Although this challenge continues, our approach enabled us to make progress in creating lasting change.
Every year, we directly engage thousands of community members through numerous education and outreach programs and events. In 2021, we:
-Trained 381 people on pollution detection and reporting through 1,000 Eyes on the Water
-Informing 108,000+ individuals about local water quality through The Swim Guide.
-Engaging 500+ volunteers in habitat restorations and cleanups.
-Graduating 28 students from our Junior Ambassadors high-school leadership program.
-Introducing 125 disadvantaged youth to hands-on learning about Biscayne Bay.
-Educating nearly 2,000 people through community presentations.
-Empowering 1,000+ advocates to make their voices heard about water-focused issues.
As we continue to increase capacity as an organization, Miami Waterkeeper will directly engage even more individuals in our work to achieve greater outreach in the community. To view our accomplishments from last year, please view our 2021 Annual Report, found on the impact page of our website (www.miamiwaterkeeper.org/impact).
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
MIAMI WATERKEEPER
Board of directorsas of 09/14/2022
Mr. H Jordan Weitz
Phillip Kushlan
Greg Clark
Amy Clement
Emilie Fritz Veloso
Nicholas Semaca
Aaron Stauber
Tracy Slavens
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 11/15/2019GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.