Miami Waterkeeper Presents the 6th Annual State of the Water 2024

MIAMI (FL), February 28, 2024  – Miami Waterkeeper announces the 6th Annual State of the Water event, where conservation intersects with innovation. The event will take place on March 5, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at the Rusty Pelican 3201 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami. This year’s State of the Water will delve into the future of coral conservation and restoration while exploring critical environmental issues facing our coastal communities.

The evening will feature a State of the Water address by coral expert and Miami Waterkeeper's Executive Director and Waterkeeper, Rachel Silverstein, Ph.D. followed by a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Silverstein, exploring topics such as coastal resiliency, climate change threats, and the role of storytelling in environmental advocacy.

Poignant moments of the evening will be the presentation of the Miami Waterkeeper Porter Prize. Named in memory of Miami Waterkeeper’s longtime attorney Jim Porter, the Porter Prize honors leaders in conservation who go above and beyond in service of the environment. This year, the award will be presented by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to WPLG Local 10 Anchor and Environmental Advocate, Louis Aguirre, and will honor her long-time Chief of Policy, Sean McCrackine.

Esteemed panelists will share their insights and strategies for restoring our reefs and inspiring action within our communities. Subject matter experts participating include: Professor Andrew Baker, Professor of Marine Biology and Ecology, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, Ian Enochs, Ph.D., Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Program Lead and Research Ecologist, NOAA, and Tori Linder, Conservationist and Impact Producer.

“For six years we have convened the South Florida community to share updates on the state of our water-based ecosystem, showcase environmental wins, and introduce innovative approaches that drive clean water solutions throughout the region,” said Rachel Silverstein, Ph.D., Executive Director for Miami Waterkeeper. “With each passing year, our gathering gains more momentum and underscores the importance of driving collective action to achieve real change. This year’s event is one more step toward expanding Miami’s resiliency.”

During the reception, guests will also have the opportunity to experience cutting-edge projects firsthand. Among the highlights are demonstrations by NOAA's Sequential Treatment Application Robot (STAR), an immersive Virtual Reality experience by Rescue a Reef, and groundbreaking 3D Printed Corals with the X-REEFS project from the University of Miami’s Coral Reef Futures Lab.

Tickets for the State of the Water event can be purchased on the Miami Waterkeeper website: www.miamiwaterkeeper.org/sow2024. Join the evening of reflection, inspiration, and collaboration and work together toward restoring and protecting Florida’s reef tract. For more information, please contact Jaimee Spector, Vice President of Development, at (305) 905-0856 or [email protected].

About Miami Waterkeeper

Miami Waterkeeper is a nonprofit organization that develops local solutions to global challenges. As a leading environmental advocate in South Florida, Miami Waterkeeper focuses on sustainable solutions for clean water, habitat protection, and sea level rise resilience. For more information about Miami Waterkeeper, please visit www.miamiwaterkeeper.org.

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