Latest News
Key Deer “Freshwater Wetlands” Habitat Threatened by “Salt Marsh Habitat” Designation – Last Stand Calls for Correction
The soggy central area of Big Pine Key is slated for improvement actions to reverse damage from salt-laden stormwater surges from three hurricanes: Georges (1998), Wilma (2005), and Irma (2017). The Big Pine Key Aquatic Habitat Hydrologic Restoration (Project), if...
32-Year-Old Florida Keys Sanctuary to Update Management Plan
History The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (“Sanctuary”) was created by an Act of Congress in 1990, to protect 2,800 square nautical miles of Florida Keys coastal and ocean waters. This was in response to a decade of threats posed by oil drilling proposals,...
Court Says Additional Building Allocations Violate Hurricane Evacuation Mandate
Last Stand has reported several times about the status of the ROGO (building allocations) Challenge begun in 2018 by noted law professor and land use expert Richard Grosso, after then-Governor Rick Scott presented Keys communities with 1300 additional building...
Last Stand Endorses Approval of 99-Year Lease for Key West Botanical Garden
The board of directors of Last Stand has unanimously endorsed a YES vote on the Key West Botanical Garden referendum question on the August 23, 2022 primary election ballot. It proposes to provide the Key West Botanical Garden Society a lease for up to 99-years for...
Restoration Blueprint
January 27, 2020 Sarah Fangman, Superintendent Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary 33 East Quay Road Key West, FL 33040 Dear Superintendent Fangman, I am writing on behalf of Last Stand, a volunteer-led organization of over 200 members in the Florida Keys. From Key...
Big Pine Key Hydrology Project; Permit Application Error
June 21, 2022 Sent by email Barbara Conmy, Section Leader, Environmental Resource Bureau, Regulation Division South Florida Water Management District bconmy@sfwmd.gov 3301 Gun Club Road West Palm Beach, FL 33406 RE: Big Pine Key Hydrology Project; Permit Application...
Last Stand Endorses Approval of 99-Year Lease for Key West Botanical Garden
June 16, 2022 -- For Immediate Release Media contact: Mark Songer (305) 394-3807 info@keyslaststand.org The board of directors of Last Stand has unanimously endorsed a YES vote on the Key West Botanical Garden referendum question on the August 23, 2022, election...
Thurmond Street Partners, LLC v. Monroe County, Florida
March 26, 2022 Mayor David Rice Commissioner Craig Cates Commissioner Michelle Coldiron Commissioner Jim Scholl Commissioner Holly Raschein RE: Thurmond Street Partners, LLC v. Monroe County, Florida Dear Mayor and County Commissioners, Last Stand writes in support of...
Despite What Your May Eyes Tell You, Keys Waters Aren’t Exactly Clean
Keys’ water may look clear, but it’s full of excessive nutrients, contaminants, and pharmaceuticals that are having a harmful impact on our fisheries, our seagrass, our corals – all our marine life. Our health, too, is at risk. A long-standing source of this pollution...
Study by the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust
February 22, 2022 Via Email: Mayor John Bartus (bartusj@ci.marathon.fl.us) Vice Mayor Dr. Daniel Zieg (ziegd@ci.marathon.fl.us) Council Member Steve Cook (cooks@ci.marathon.fl.us) Council Member Luis Gonzalez (gonzalezl@ci.marathon.fl.us) Council Member Robyn Still...
Amendment to Development Agreement regarding TREs
February 14, 2022 Via Email Mayor David Rice Commissioner Craig Cates Commissioner Michelle Coldiron Commissioner Holly Raschein Re: Agenda Item R4: Amendment to Development Agreement regarding TREs Dear Mayor and Monroe County Commissioners: Last...
Wisteria Island
November 12, 2021 Via Email Mayor Michelle Coldiron Commissioner David Rice Commissioner Craig Cates Commissioner Holly Raschein Commissioner Eddie Martinez Re: Wisteria Island - Proposed Plans Dear Mayor and Monroe County Commissioners: Last Stand believes...