SWFL virtual water quality summit will include Congressman Byron Donalds

Few things are more important here in Southwest Florida than the quality of our water.

Residents and businesses depend on clean water. Lakes, rivers, canals, ponds and the Gulf of Mexico are all in jeopardy as growth and development surges and environmental changes take place.

Red tide and toxic blue green algae had a suffocating impact on Southwest Florida in the summer of 2018, affecting the health of those who live and visit here, wildlife and the economy.

Raw sewage spills, massive discharges from Lake Okeechobee, fertilizers and other pollution contribute to the challenges that face us in 2021 and the future.

With the latest Florida legislative session wrapping up recently, The News-Press and Naples Daily News, along with partners WGCU Public Media and Friends of the Everglades, have assembled key voices and stakeholders to discuss where we are and where we are going with water quality efforts in Southwest Florida.

Our 90-minute virtual water quality summit on Monday, May 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. will help bring clarity to a wide variety of efforts underway or proposed to help ensure our water quality. We will also take a closer look at what happened with bills and what was accomplished, or not accomplished, in this year's Florida legislative session.

WGCU News Director Julie Glenn is the host.

Congressman Byron Donalds has accepted the invitation to appear. 

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Also part of the program will be a conversation among representatives from organizations advocating for water quality, moderated by Eve Samples,  the executive director for Friends of the Everglades. Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani, James Evans of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Association and Jessica Pinsky of Captains for Clean Water will be at the virtual table.

The event will conclude with an environmental journalists' roundtable moderated by Steve McQuilkin, Regional Environment Editor for The News-Press/Naples Daily News, featuring journalists from The News-Press/Naples Daily News and WGCU Public Media.

The summit will be live streamed on The News-Press and Naples Daily News Facebook pages.

The News-Press and Naples Daily News are part of the USA TODAY Network-Florida.

Join us Monday

WHAT: SWFL Virtual Water Summit

WHEN: May 10, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

HOW TO WATCH: The summit will be live streamed on The News-Press and Naples Daily News Facebook pages. You can go to the home page of naplesnews.com or news-press.com and get access to the link there

WHO: Congressman Byron Donalds, leaders from water quality advocacy groups, environmental journalists