Photo of Clam Pass at sunset by Ed Chappell
It is a curious situation that the sea, from which life first arose, should now be threatened by the activities of one form of that life. But the sea, though changed in a sinister way, will continue to exist; the threat is rather to life itself.
- Rachel Carson
Our mission
The Collier County Waterkeeper unites residents, policymakers, and elected officials to preserve, protect, and restore our region’s irreplaceable and unique water resources.
We are part of a global movement that protects clean, healthy, and abundant water for all people and the planet through education, advocacy, and, when necessary, litigation.
Our movement had its origins along a polluted Hudson River Valley long before the Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Water Act were even in existence. A group of conservationists, fishermen, and concerned citizens took advantage of an 1899 federal law designed to keep shipping channels clear of hazards to win their first settlement against polluters.
The group built on that victory to win more cases against those using the river as a sewer. Within a few years, the model they established became the basis for what is now the Waterkeeper Alliance.
The Collier County Waterkeeper is one of more than 300 local affiliates around the world dedicated to ensuring drinkable, swimmable, fishable water for generations to come.
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