JUST CALL HIM CHARLIE
8/22/2008 10:49:45 AM by aria Arroyave
Whatever nickname you prefer to give him, one thing is certain: Florida’s governor is at the forefront of saving our waters, the planet and everything that resides in it.
Opening photo by Angel Navarro | The Picture Place
Other shots courtesy of Governor Crist
He goes by many names: Eco-Governor, Green Governor, Governor Crist. “I just like being called Charlie,” says Florida’s 44th governor. Crist has held his office for a little over a year and has been making headlines all the while for his environmental initiatives to preserve the natural resources that make Florida the state he calls home.
In the first-ever Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on Global Climate Change in 2007, Crist signed executive orders geared specifically toward protecting Florida’s environment. The orders focused on reducing greenhouse gases, increasing energy efficiency and encouraging investment in new technology like wind energy and solar development. The orders were met with mixed reactions.
Requesting $200 million from legislators for green technologies research in Feb. 2008, which is double what the state spent just one year ago, was like waving a red flag in the faces of skeptics who chalk global warming up to political myth and a liberal media scare. “I certainly respect their right to dissent but my point would be that whether others believe or don’t believe in it, the steps that we need to take to begin cleaning up estuaries, streams, handling sewage that is properly treated and reducing carbon emissions can only help Florida in the long run, so there’s no reason to object,” says Crist. “You can help us protect our beautiful state.”
For Crist, the recent “Go-Green” phenomenon is more than just a trend, it’s a necessity. “With 1,350 miles of coastline, [Floridians] are most vulnerable to the effects of global warming and rising sea levels would have a devastating impact.”
And Crist understands that Florida is a state dependent on its waters. The Port of Miami is hailed as the “Cruise Capital of the World,” and approximately two-thirds of cruise passengers leave from Florida’s ports. The research and initiatives that Crist is proposing would be the same for land and sea. “I think what we need to do [for cruise ships] is the same as what we are advocating for the vehicles on the roads,” he says. “Pursuing ethanol as a foreign oil alternative will help ween us off our addiction to foreign oil and coal. Advocating this energy source will help boats, cruise ships and freighters. It’s not only a good environmental issue, it’s a safety issue as well.”
Aside from the cruise industry, Florida depends on its waters for sport and commercial fishing. Sadly, fishery stocks are down, with scientists fingering a poor water management system as a partial culprit. Passed by Congress in 1948, the C&SF Project, or the Central and Southern Florida Project for Flood Control, allowed South Floridians to keep their feet dry year-round, but significantly altered the natural freshwater flow into Biscayne Bay and the Florida Everglades.
With the canal system in place, vital estuarine water bodies that were once sanctuaries for a variety of marine life became threatened. In anticipation of hurricane season, the canals are unlocked each year and Biscayne Bay and surrounding waters are flushed with an unnatural flow of fresh water containing nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous generated from groundwater runoff. “Nutrients” is a deceptive word in this case since they come from fertilizers, pesticides and other pollutants that are harmful to the water’s natural balance.
In 2007, a large algal bloom was noted in Eastern Florida Bay and Southern Biscayne Bay. The bloom, which threatens fisheries in these water bodies, has yet to dissipate. That same year, the work of the Florida delegation and the helping hand of Crist allowed for the passing of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), geared toward the conservation and development of water-related resources like the Florida Everglades and the canal system that affects it. “This will accelerate our protective efforts as it relates to our waters and will only help those who inhabit those waters,” says Crist. “The fisheries are something we need to protect.”
Crist, who grew up fishing in Tampa Bay, was a sponsor of the net ban that was adopted in a constitutional amendment that was passed by voters in Florida. “To preserve beaches and make sure our fishery stock is maintained is a duty that we all share and something that we should do as good stewards of the land and water,” he says.
WRDA, which authorizes several projects under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project (CERP), has been vital in restoring the freshwater flow that nature intended, and will hopefully restore the fish populations as well. While some feel that the efforts are too little, too late, Crist remains optimistic. “I think that you can take that kind of view, but I don’t think that’s terribly productive,” he says. “We have to be positive. I grew up in the Tampa Bay area and legislation there 15 years ago to clean up sewage treatment has made a dramatic difference in that estuary alone,” he says. “We are also seeing that the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers have gotten much cleaner as a result.”
As an avid boater and fisherman himself, Crist tries to get out at least once a month on his 26-foot Trophy Open Fisherman. The boat, aptly named Freedom, reflects Crist’s views on what the Florida waters have to offer — something worth preserving. “Florida has been a tremendous partner, if not a senior partner, in terms of meeting our obligations to sustain water flow and protect this international treasure,” he says. “This is sort of a continual concern, and we have to be vigilant. That’s why we’re fighting so hard to do what’s right.”
As Crist continues to fight for his state, he is also rumored to be on the short-list of candidates for the vice presidency. Will the White House soon be going green? These are rumors that Crist does little to confirm or deny. “It’s very flattering that it’s even mentioned,” he says, “but my focus is on Florida. I feel blessed to be the 44th governor of the Sunshine State, working toward increasing teacher salaries, protecting our environment, making sure children are safe...that’s what I’m focused on, and I’m grateful to the people of Florida for giving me a shot.”