
WELCOME!
ARE YOU A RESIDENT FOR RESILIENCE?
Are you concerned about:
POLLUTED BEACHES AND WATERWAYS?
COASTAL FLOODING?
STORM SURGE?
IF IT'S SAFE TO DRINK TAP WATER?
:
"Residents for Resilience is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advocating for safe-clean drinking water, flood mitigation, coastal resiliency, and waterway restoration in Florida. We aim to bridge the information gap between government leaders, experts, scientists, and the general public, fostering education, communication, advocation, and collaboration.
"It’s hard to care about ...what you don’t know about!"
Our of our main concerns at this time is addressing the pressing marine water issues that threaten the health, safety, environment, and economy of our residents, visitors, and marine ecosystems throughout the state. By empowering individuals and communities, we strive to ensure that residents' concerns are heard and that they are actively involved in important decision-making processes.
Join us as we advocate for change, providing a strong collective voice and promoting preparedness in the face of an ever-changing environment. Together, let us champion resilience and make a lasting impact.
Let your voices be heard!
Suzee Bailey
Founder - Residents for Resilience
RECEIVE OUR FREE NEWSLETTERS AND INVITES TO SPECIAL EVENTS!

Don’t forget to like us on
Facebook, X, Nextdoor and LinkedIn In
as we share even more informative articles on important water issues!

SOMETIMES THE BEST SOLUTIONS COME FROM THOSE OF US WHO KNOW OUR COMMUNITIES BEST...
THE RESIDENTS
EDUCATION - COMMUNICATION - ADVOCATION - COLLABORATION
"IT’S HARD TO CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT!"
OUR MISSION
To bridge the information gap between government leaders, experts and scientist,
and the general public fostering...
EDUCATION - COMMUNICATIONS - ADVOCATION - COLLABORATION
CHECK OUT OUR NEW
IMPORTANT CLIMATE MEETINGS PAGE!

Uncover the hidden impact of sugarcane burning in Florida with Bittersweet Muck. Join us for a screening and panel discussion with experts. Register now and be part of the conversation for change!
Step into the heart of Florida's sugar country with Bittersweet Muck, an eye-opening NBC 6 documentary that dives into the controversial practice of sugarcane burning and its impact on air quality, health, and the environment. Discover the untold stories of the resilient people living in Belle Glade, the unique "muck" soil that powers an industry, and the fight for cleaner, greener alternatives.
Join us at West Regional Library for a special screening followed by a dynamic panel discussion featuring Emmy-winning journalist Sasha Jones, and our R4R Board Member, environmental justice leader Patrick Ferguson, and award-winning filmmaker and advocate Yanatha Desouvre. Hear their unique insights, ask your burning questions, and be part of the conversation shaping the future of Florida's agricultural practices.
Seats are limited—register now to secure your spot and be inspired! Share this event with your friends on social media and join the movement for change.

FOR YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY
IS IT SAFE TO GO INTO THE WATER?
Miami Waterkeeper test these 13 sites in our Fort Lauderdale Waterways for bacteria levels.
We update this information bi-weekly!
THESE 5 SITES REPEATEDLY TESTS HIGH FOR BACTERIA
1.ANNIE BECK PARK
2.HIMMARSHEE CANAL
3.MIDDLE RIVER NE18TH DOCK
4.SWEETING PARK
5.TARPON RIVER
COONTIE HATCHEE AND COOLEY’S LANDING CAN ALSO FREQUENTLY TESTS HIGHER THAN NORMAL TOO?
AND FOR SOME REASON THE CITY TOOK --TARPON RIVER-
THE HIMMARSHEE AND THE LAS OLAS ISLES OFF OF THE WATERKEEPER TESTING PROGRAM -
THAT'S WHY YOU WILL SEE INFREQUENT TEST RESULTS IN THOSE AREAS--
EVEN THOUGH THESE SITES CONSISTENTLY TEST HIGH!
AND SOME OF THESE AREAS HAVE AN ACTIVE ALGAL BLOOM!
WE ARE REQUESTING WEEKLY TESTS RESULTS FROM THESE AREAS BE BROUGHT BACK INTO THIS PROGRAM.


According to marine water quality testing data provided by Miami Waterkeeper,many test sites throughout Fort Lauderdale's waterways are currently unsafe for recreational activities.Any measurement exceeding 70 MPN (as you see above in the pink) is considered risky and potentially dangerous. High readings like these are often result from sewer line breaks or heavy rainfall, however, many sites in the pink are on dates with no recent sewer line break alerts and no heavy rainfall. What is the exact cause of these concerning results? In 2025 our goal is to address this on-going critical problem exploring long term nature based solutions!

View the weekly report online
or visit DEP's Algal Bloom Dashboard

NOTICE THE AMOUNT OF ACTIVE
ALGAL BLOOM
DETECTED

WHAT CAN WE DO?







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WHAT CAN R4R DO?
While the ocean and the Everglades receive much-deserved attention,
our waterways—the vital arteries connecting the two—continue to be overlooked.
In 2025, R4R will focus on four proposed nature-based waterway remediation projects
under the initiative called the "SAVE OUR WATERWAYS CHALLENGE."
These projects aim to reintroduce
millions of oysters, thousands of biochar sleeves, and
mangrove islands back into our marine waters.
Our goal is to restore marine life and make our waterways swimmable once again!

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Marine Advisory Board
First Meeting of the Year Update
By Tricia Halliday
I am pleased to share that Suzee Bailey and I attended the first Marine Advisory Board (MAB) meeting of the year, which was held in collaboration with the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF). We had the honor of being joined by State Rep. Chip LaMarca, Commissioner Ben Sorenson, City Manager Susan Grant, and representatives from the Army Corps, Coast Guard, and Police, including Col. Dodd and Dr. Nancy Gassman.
A special thank you to Andrew Cuba and Andres Hernandez for sharing the video of the entire meeting, which you can view at your convenience.
Chairman Steve Witten was well-prepared to kick off the year, gathering essential insights from experts on how to safely navigate our hopefully cleaner waterways in the future.
Fort Lauderdale is renowned as the "Yachting Capital of the World," with boats and yachts accounting for the #2 export into Port Everglades and the #1 import as well. This does not take into account the thousands of jobs supported by our marinas or the billions of dollars brought to the local economy by the boat show.
Two key points were emphasized throughout the meeting: the necessity of educating boaters and residents, alongside the enforcement of existing regulations.
Below is a list of initiatives that the MAB is eager to start or has already begun, focusing on cleaning our precious waterways and addressing issues such as illegal discharge, boat maintenance in water, street runoff, awareness, seawalls and infrastructure, derelict vessels, and construction pollution. I have also included the video of the meeting for your reference.
We look forward to collaborating with the Marine Advisory Board in the near future and are eager to hear your thoughts as well!


Southeast Florida Named U.S. "Climate Ready Tech Hub" for Innovations in Climate Solutions
by Pat Roth
At the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact Conference held in Key West in December 2024, it was announced that the region has officially been named South Florida Climate Ready Tech Hub by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. This prestigious designation places Southeast Florida among just 31 regions nationwide recognized for their cutting-edge contributions to climate technology and innovation.
Founded in 2009, the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact is a collaboration between Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties. Its mission is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, implement adaptive climate strategies, and enhance regional climate resilience.
During the conference, Philip McChesney, Assistant Chief Innovation Officer for Broward County, joined other thought leaders on a panel discussing the growing influence and importance of Southeast Florida as a hub for climate tech innovation. The panel emphasized the emergence of climate-ready startups, the commercialization of groundbreaking technologies, and the development of a "clean blue-green" workforce. McChesney and his colleagues highlighted how the region has become the epicenter of climate technology development, accelerating solutions for a sustainable future.
The event also featured discussions on specific innovative products, such as Capture-Crete, a non-polluting alternative to traditional concrete. The importance of cross-sector collaboration was underscored, with participants stressing the need to break down silos and implement new technologies at speed. Traditional procurement processes, including RFPs, were identified as inadequate for fast-tracking emerging solutions that can address the urgent climate crisis.
The conference concluded with a shared vision for the future: that a culture of innovation, exemplified in Southeast Florida, is essential for overcoming the growing challenges posed by climate change. This recognition as a Climate Ready Tech Hub is a testament to the region’s leadership and commitment to developing transformative solutions to the climate crisis.


Dear Louis Aguirre, Anastasia Brenman, and Channel 10,
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to both of you for the incredible opportunity to be part of your “Don’t Trash Our Treasures” series on such a crucial topic—“Is it Safe to Go in the Water?” The health of our waterways is something we all care deeply about, and it was an honor to contribute to this important conversation.
Louis, your insightful questions and unwavering commitment to raising awareness on this critical issue means so much. I’m also incredibly grateful for the shout-out you gave to Residents for Resilience (R4R). Thanks to your support, we’ve welcomed many new members who are eager to join us in our mission to restore and protect our precious waterways. Their involvement will certainly help us work toward making our waters safe and, hopefully, swimmable again!
I truly look forward to collaborating more in the future. Thank you both for your hard work and dedication!
Best,
Suzee



WHAT’S IN YOUR WATER?
I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank Sasha Jones for the opportunity to be part of her NBC series on such an important topic—
drinking water safety. Her thoughtful questions and dedication to raising awareness are truly appreciated, and I'm honored to have
contributed to the discussion.
I'm also incredibly grateful for the wonderful shout-out she gave to Residents for Resilience (R4R). Her support means a lot to us, and it will certainly help amplify our mission to improve water safety and resilience in our communities.
I look forward to following her impactful work!
Watch segment below.
