We have great news to share! The Conservancy of Southwest Florida and our partners won in court again to protect our wetlands and the wildlife that live in them. This is a fight we have been engaged in since 2018, working to uphold stringent Clean Water Act protections for when development, roads, or mines are proposed on our precious wetlands. Our wetlands are liquid gold – filtering pollutants, providing habitat and a space for flood waters to be stored.
After our initial court victory for February 2024, the state of Florida appealed the decision. However, on March 27th, 2026 the court again affirmed that we were right – the agencies violated the Endangered Species Act when they allowed the state’s botched wetland permitting program to go forward.
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida will remain vigilant on this issue, for the wetlands, the wildlife, and our quality of life.
Earth Justice is leading this case and representing the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Sierra Club, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Florida Wildlife Federation, Miami Waterkeeper, and St. Johns Riverkeeper.
Timeline of Resources
State Assumption of 404 Program 2020
Comment Letter – November 2020
Earthjustice Sues on Behalf of Conservation Groups – January 2021
Call the Whole Thing Off – September 2021
Florida Should Let Feds Handle Wetlands Permitting – June 2022
Conservancy and Partners Head to DC – December 2023
Federal Court Strikes Down EPA Approval of Florida Wetlands Program – February 2024
Landmark Victory for Florida’s Future – February 2024
Court Victory for Florida Wetlands Protection – March 2026
For Media Inquiries
Christina I. Reichert, Earthjustice, creichert@earthjustice.org
Bonnie Malloy, Earthjustice, bmalloy@earthjustice.org
Amber Crooks, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, amberc@conservancy.org, (239) 776-5601
Cris Costello, Sierra Club, cris.costello@sierraclub.org, (941) 914-0421
Jay Petrequin, Defenders of Wildlife, jpetrequin@defenders.org, (202) 772-0243
Jason Totoiu, Center for Biological Diversity, jtotoiu@biologicaldiversity.org, (727) 490-9190
Morgan McClure, Florida Wildlife Federation, morgan@fwfonline.org, (863) 286-9095
Mariana Aziz Pico, Miami Waterkeeper, mariana.aziz@miamiwaterkeeper.org, (305) 905-0856
Lisa Rinaman, St. Johns Riverkeeper, lisa@stjohnsriverkeeper.org, (904) 256-7591
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people’s health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer. Conservancy of Southwest Florida is an environmental conservation nonprofit located in Naples, FL. Our mission is to protect Southwest Florida’s water, land, wildlife, and future through environmental policy, environmental education, wildlife rehabilitation, and science research.