Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Silverstein.
Rachel, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Before Miami Waterkeeper was founded nearly a decade ago, Miami’s waters were marred by chronic sewage spills and polluted runoff, resulting in health-related impacts and frequent swim advisories closing our beaches. More than 47 million gallons of sewage spilled into Biscayne Bay around this time. MWK’s founders recognized the need for a locally-based nonprofit to help organize community members and groups to fight for clean water in Miami. Founded by anglers and boaters, MWK has become an influential advocate for marine ecosystems, clean water, and a resilient South Florida.
MWK was founded in 2010 as Biscayne Bay Waterkeeper in response to chronic local water quality problems. The organization, relaunched in 2014 under my leadership and with a renewed focus on community involvement and education. Just four days into the job, I got a call that corals were being buried in sediment at the Port of Miami. Six weeks later, we were filing a notice to sue and 4 years later, we are still fighting to hold the Army Corps accountable for the damage that they caused to our reef. We’ve already catalyzed the rescue of several hundred corals. We’ve also grown the organization steadily in that time, from a staff of 1 when I took over to a team of 4 full time. We’ve been expanding our projects and programs and I am very proud of our accomplishments to date.
Since our inception, we’ve achieved a number of successes including enhancing protections for coral reefs threatened by public works construction projects, addressing and abating sewage pollution, and increasing consideration of sea level rise and climate change in infrastructure planning. Most recently, our efforts forced Miami-Dade County to plug a leak that they had ignored for a year and that had spewed an estimated 10 million gallons of sewage into our waters.
We work closely with community members and stakeholders to provide citizens with the opportunity to make their voices heard in support of conservation. In addition, we engage thousands of citizens and community leaders through dozens of outreach events annually, such as the “Big Float for Clean Water,” and other education programs.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As a small organization taking on big polluters, there are always challenges. When I started, I had no experience with non-profit management or litigation. I’ve learned so much along the way and I have felt really empowered that citizens can make difference.
Miami Waterkeeper – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Miami Waterkeeper’s (MWK) mission is to defend, protect, and preserve South Florida’s watershed through citizen engagement and community action rooted in sound science and research. We work to ensure swimmable, drinkable, fishable water for all.
Through our efforts, we support a vibrant and resilient South Florida coastal community and environment for future generations. Our scope of work is diverse, with core issues including clean water, ecosystem protection, and resiliency. Serving our population of more than 4.5 million people across Miami-Dade and Broward counties, Miami Waterkeeper’s unique approach combines education and outreach, scientific research, advocacy, and when necessary, legal action.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
In our line of work, success can sometimes be difficult to measure. Some of our most important work doesn’t fall into typical “metrics” of success or is behind the scenes, but we see the impacts in things like shifts in attitude and policy decisions within the government. We also love that the public is becoming more aware and getting involved with our work, calling us when they see pollution or environmental hazards. (You can report pollution or dump to us at hello@miamiwaterkeeper.org).
Some of our other (and more tangible) successes we’ve had include a coral rescue valued at over $14 million for the public, achieving new environmental assessments to protect coral reefs during dredging at Port Everglades, and the retraction of a proposed rule by the state of Florida that would have added more toxic chemicals to our water. We’ve also exposed a partially-treated sewage leak near Virginia Key that the County had ignored for over a year — and got it shut down within days. We’ve successfully advocated for multiple local bans on styrofoam, fracking, plastic bags, straws, and offshore drilling.
We’ve been honored to be recognized by the community for our work, including being the recipient of the Miami Herald’s first Visionary Award for the Environment (2016), the University of Miami’s Abess Center Reitmeister Award (2016), named Top 20 Best Environmentalists in South Florida by the New Times (2016).
Contact Info:
- Address: 2103 Coral Way, 2nd Floor, Miami, FL 33145
- Website: www.miamiwaterkeeper.org
- Phone: 305-905-0856
- Email: hello@miamiwaterkeeper.org
- Instagram: miamiwaterkeeper
- Facebook: miamiwaterkeeper
- Twitter: miamiwaterkpr
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