THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUSED COMING UP.

IS YOUR COMMUNITY CONNECTED WITH THE BLUE GREEN ALGAE BLOOMS THAT YOU MAY NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT?

TONIGHT, WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT HOW ONE EXPANSIVE BLOOM WAS SPOTTED.

IT YET THE INFORMATION MAY NOT HAVE MADE IT TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA.

THE ENVIRONMENT ALSO PLAYING THE LATEST ROLE WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRATION DETENTION AT ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ IN COLLIER COUNTY.

WE'RE FOLLOWING THE LATEST LAWSUIT AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE ONETIME AIRFIELD.

NOW, A NATIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT IMMIGRATION REFORM.

AND A WATERSHED MOMENT WHEN IT COMES TO FAMILY AND FILMMAKING.

THOSE STORIES AND MUCH MORE TONIGHT ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

RALPH ARE WOULD A VOLUNTEER PILOT FOR CALUSA WATERKEEPER SHOT VIDEO FROM HIS FLIGHT OVER THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER SHOWING 35 MILES COATED IN OFTEN TOXIC.

BLUE-GREEN ALGAE FROM BANK TO BANK FROM MOORE HAVEN TO ALVA.

THE VIDEO POSTED ON VALENTINE'S DAY TO FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM AND THE CALUSA WATERKEEPER.

ITS WEBSITE WGCU BROADCAST A SEGMENT ABOUT THE TOXIC ALGAE BLOOM.

SEVERAL NEWSPAPERS ALSO PUBLISH STORIES WGCU SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER TOM BAYLISS HAS SPENT WEEKS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DID NOT INFORM RESIDENTS ALONG THE RIVER OF A MUCH LARGER THREAT.

>> JENNIFER?

>> WHEN RALPH R WOODS, VIDEO OF THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER TURN GREEN WENT PUBLIC STATE AGENCIES ISSUED NO PUBLIC WARNINGS.

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH POSTED NO SIGNS.

DESPITE DECADES OF DOCUMENTED HEALTH RISKS FROM CYAN OF TOXINS, LIVER DISEASE, NEUROLOGICAL DAMAGE, EVEN LINKS TO ALS AND ALZHEIMER'S.

THE ONLY WARNING THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ALONG THE UPPER CALOOSAHATCHEE GOT WAS 35 MILES OF SILENCE.

THE STATE HAS A PLAYBOOK FOR THIS EXACT SITUATION.

IT'S LITERALLY CALLED KEEPING FLORIDA INFORMED ABOUT BLUE-GREEN ALGAE AND IT'S CO PUBLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH LAYING OUT AS A FLOW CHART.

IT BASICALLY SAYS THE DP IS IN CHARGE OF FLORIDA'S WATER QUALITY DP STAFF FOLLOW-UP ON REPORTS OF TOXIC ALGAE BLOOMS AND IN THE CASE OF THE CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER ENLIST THE HELP OF AN AGENCY SUCH AS THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO TEST AND CONFIRMED THE BLUE.

THEN THE HAND, THE WHOLE THING OFF TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE STATES LEAD AGENCY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH, WHICH MAY BUT IS NOT REQUIRED TO ISSUE A HEALTH CAUTION OR A HEALTH ALERT.

IT'S A SIMPLE SYSTEM AND IT WORKS WHEN THE STAKES ARE SMALL.

LIKE IN THE SEBASTIAN CAN NOW WHEN THE OUTBREAK IS SO BIG, IT'S PHONE FROM THE AIRPLANE, TURNING A RIVER GREEN.

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT FELT SILENT WHICH UNDER CURRENT LAW IS IT'S RIGHT.

BUT IN DOING SO THE DOH FIELD, ITS MOST BASIC FUNCTION INFORM THE PUBLIC OF DANGER.

THE BOTTOM LINE THEN IS THE PUBLIC HAS NO REALISTIC WAY TO FIGURE OUT ON ITS OWN WHETHER THE WATER IS SAFE.

GAIL, SMART AS PRESIDENT, A VOTE WATER A STUART BASED NONPROFIT FOCUSED ON WATER, QUALITY ISSUES STATEWIDE.

>> IT JUST SHOWS YOU HOW HIGH A PRIORITY IS FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

AND THE ANSWER IS NOT A PRIORITY IN THIS PUBLIC HEALTH CONSEQUENCES TO THIS.

IF YOU N'T SUFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT THESE THREATS.

PEOPLE COULD BE EXPOSED TO THE PEOPLE GOING TO BE FAR MORE EXPOSED TO IT THAN THEY OTHERWISE MIGHT.

YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S A MORAL IMPERATIVE FOR THESE AGENCIES TO PARDON THE PHRASE, GET OFF THEIR BUTTS AND DO MORE.

>> TOM, YOU HAVE COVERED DOZENS OF THESE STORIES ABOUT BLUE-GREEN ALGAE OUTBREAKS.

MUCH SMALLER ONES THAT ARE IN CANALS ALL OVER LEE COUNTY AND SOME IN HENDRY COUNTY.

WHEN YOU SAW THE FOOTAGE THAT WAS POSTED ON VALENTINE'S DAY AND THE SHEER SIZE OF IT, WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND?

>> WHEN I FIRST MEET INQUIRIES ABOUT THE THE I GOT IN TOUCH WITH SOME OF MY RELIABLE SOURCES.

SOMEBODY AT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOMEBODY ELSE WITH THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.

AND WHEN THEY BOTH THROUGH THE SAME CURVE, BALL STARTED WONDERING WHAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE THAT'S JUST NOT HOW IT NORMALLY WORKS.

>> WHAT DID THEY DO?

>> OKAY.

THEY BOTH SENT ME TO THE DEPARTMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BLUE GREEN ALGAE WEBSITE WHICH I FOUND STRANGE BECAUSE I KNOW AND THEY KNOW THAT IT'S AN OUTDATED WEB SITE.

IT'S IT'S HARD TO FIND STUFF.

IT'S CERTAINLY NOT A PLACE TO SEND A REPORTER FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION TOO.

TO TRY TO FIGURE THINGS OUT.

THAT JUST HAPPENED TODAY.

AND BESIDES I WORKED IN RADIO AND TV AND I CAN ASK A WEBSITE QUESTIONS.

>> SO TOM, WHAT DID YOU DO THEM?

>> I FILED A SERIES OF PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW, I CAN'T GET THEM TO GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER.

POSSIBLY.

WE CAN GET THEM HAVE A LITTLE INSPIRATION AND GET THE YOU SEE TO THE GCU ON AND SOME ANSWERS.

IS THERE MORE TO THIS STORY?

YES, WELL, I WAS LOOKING AROUND IN THE WEBSITE'S.

I STARTED POKING INTO SOME OF THE OTHER WATER QUALITY WEBSITE CENTER THERE THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO GIVE YOU MONEY.

PEOPLE WITH FAMILIES AND KIDS INFORMATION ABOUT THE WATER THEY'RE ABOUT TO SWIM IN OR THEY'RE ABOUT TO DRINK.

AND I FOUND THAT A LOT OF THEM ARE OUTDATED.

LYNX ARE BROKEN.

YOU YOU HAVE PUBLIC INFORMATION HIDDEN IN AREAS THAT SHOULDN'T BE THE WATER DISTRICT IN THIS AREA HAS SOME OF THE BEST PUBLIC WATER, QUALITY INFORMATION IN A SEPARATE COMPUTER AND YOU HAVE TO TAKE A CLASS TO LEARN HOW TO BE ABLE TO USE IT AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS FIRST OF ALL ON AND THEN WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR THE CLASS AND YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE IT, US GREEN POPS UP.

THIS IS YOU'RE NOT AUTHORIZED AND THAT'S A DEAD END.

AND THAT SHOULDN'T BE WITH PUBLIC INFORMATION.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN THIS INFORMATION THAT REALLY IS IMPORTANT.

>> 2 PEOPLE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

YEAH, IT IT.

>> JUST SEEMED LIKE THERE WERE TOO MANY DEAD ENDS AND THERE WERE NO TOO MANY PLACES THAT I WAS SENT.

THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.

IT'S LIKE IF YOU'RE YOU KNOW, IF YOUR BUSINESS RELIED ON YOUR INTERNET WORKING REALLY WELL, THESE AS A KIND OF THINGS THAT YOU BE CALLING RIGHT AWAY GOING GET MEANS SOMEONE OVER HERE TO FIX THIS STUFF.

AND OF COURSE, FOR PUBLIC SAFETY INFORMATION AND FOR WATER QUALITY.

THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO GET THE INFORMATION YOU WANT TO GET RIGHT AWAY.

YOU WANT TO GET IT RIGHT.

>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS REALLY IMPORTANT INFORMATION WITH US.

AND I'M SURE YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP ON THIS TOPIC.

>> YES, THERE'S A LOT MORE TO THE STORY.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

TOM BAYLISS, THANKS.

>> THE IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER IN COLLIER COUNTY KNOWN AS ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL LAWSUIT SURROUNDING IT IS PICKING UP STEAM.

ORAL ARGUMENTS ARE BEING HEARD BY A FEDERAL APPELLATE COURT IN ONE OF SEVERAL LEGAL CHALLENGES.

THE DETENTION CENTER FACES ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS WANT THE COURT TO SHUT IT DOWN AFTER A PREVIOUS RULING DECIDED IT SHOULD STAY OPEN WHILE THE LAWSUITS ARE ONGOING.

THE CENTER REMAINS OPEN AFTER APPEALS WERE FILED BY THE STATE AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

THOSE LAWSUITS CLAIM TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAD NOT RECEIVED FEDERAL REIMBURSEMENT.

SO IT WAS NOT REQUIRED TO FOLLOW FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS DURING A HEARING IN MIAMI, THE JUDGES QUESTIONED HOW MUCH CONTROL THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD OVER THE STATE BUILT FACILITY.

THIS ENVIRONMENTAL LAWSUIT IS ONE OF 3 LAWSUITS TO CHALLENGE THE FACILITY SINCE IT OPENED IN COLLIER COUNTY.

COMING UP ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS, YOU'RE NOT ONLY FEELING THAT MONEY DRAIN FROM YOUR WALLET.

AT THE GAS PUMP, BUT YOU'RE PROBABLY ALSO NOTICING IT AT THE GROCERY STORE.

WE'RE DIVING INTO THE DETAILS OF WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE FLORIDA FARM BILL COMING UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS SIGNED THE 2026 FLORIDA FARM BILL INTO LAW RECENTLY.

YOU MAY THINK IT ONLY IMPACTS THOSE WHO WORK IN THE FIELD OF AGRICULTURE OR LIVE IN FARMING AREAS, BUT THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE.

JOINING US NOW TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THE FARM BILL IS VERY GOOD.

WHEN DOCTOR GOODWIN IS A PRESIDENTIAL FELLOW AT FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY.

DR GOODWIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU.

>> CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE 2026 FLORIDA FARMVILLE AND IT COVERS A LINEAGE OF TOPICS.

WHAT STICKS OUT AS FAR AS MOST INTERESTING ARE INFLUENTIAL.

FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE?

>> WELL, I THINK SOME OF THE THE PROTECTION OF OF RURAL LANDS FROM DEVELOPMENT IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.

FLORIDA'S LAST AND, YOU KNOW, A FAIR BIT OF ANCHORAGE TO DEVELOPMENT OVER THE YEARS.

AND I THINK THAT'S A THERE'S THERE'S THE ISSUES RELATED TO PREVENTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FROM PASSING REGULATIONS THAT WOULD CONSTRAIN THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO FARMERS.

SO THOSE ARE A COUPLE OF THAT AND THE IMPORTANT THINGS I THINK AND I YOU KNOW IT IT WAS FOR SOME NEW INVESTMENT IN AGRICULTURE.

SOME PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT FOR THE DISTRIBUTION AND SO FORTH.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE POSITIVES OF THE BILL SPECIFICALLY FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA?

>> WELL, I THINK, >> YOU KNOW, THE LAND PRESERVATION THAT NEED THE ISSUES AND N.

>> LIMITING HIGH-DENSITY DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE IMPORTANT NIGHT.

I KNOW IN THE FORT MYERS AREA, WE ARE I SPENT A LOT OF TIME.

THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF DEVELOPMENT, PRESSURE, THE AIR AND IT'S AND, YOU KNOW, ENCROACHING ON FARMLAND.

THERE'S THERE'S A, YOU KNOW, AT SOME PARTICULAR PROVISIONS FOR EMERGENCY RECOVERY LOANS AND WE'VE SEEN, OF COURSE, THE THE PAST DISASTERS WITH HURRICANES AND SO FORTH THAT MAKES DISASTER RELIEF AND RECOVERY AND IMPORTANT ISSUE AND THE STATE.

>> NOW, YOU MENTIONED ON A FEDERAL LEVEL, THE HOUSE IS THEY ARE LOOKING AS WELL AT A FARM BILL AND THERE COULD EVENTUALLY BE ONE PAST THE CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, THAT'S THE THE NATIONAL FARM BILL THAT, YOU KNOW, CONTAINS ALL SORTS OF PROVISIONS FOR AGRICULTURE.

AND IT DOES HAVE IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

AND IT'S REALLY LARGELY A MAIN COMMODITY CROP, SORT OF A PACKAGE OF LEGISLATION.

IT'S IT'S A GUN EVERY 5 YEARS AND WE'RE STILL ACTUALLY IN THE 2018 FARM BILL, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SOME REALLY IMPORTANT CHANGES MADE AND ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL LAST SUMMER THAT AFFECTED A LOT OF FROM FARM PROGRAM PROVISIONS AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IN SOME SOME THINGS THAT AFFECT SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, LIKE SOME INCREASES AND LOAN RATE WAS A I THINK AN IMPORTANT.

CHANGE FROM THE STATE THERE ON THE SET, THE SOUTHWESTERN PART OF THE STATE, AT LEAST.

BUT IT DOES HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR HORTICULTURAL CROPS.

THERE'S A HORTICULTURE TITLE AND I'VE LOOKED AT THE HOUSE VERSION WHICH WHICH WE HAVE NOW IN HAND, WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THE SENATE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE, LIKE WE SAID.

BUT AND THAT THAT MAY BE SLOW TO DEVELOP.

BUT THEY'RE CALLING THIS A SKINNY FARM BILL BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES THAT WERE MADE BECAUSE AND THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, IT'S IT'S REALLY SO MUCH HAPPENED THERE THAT THERE'S NOT AS MUCH LEFT TO TAKE TENURE AS NORMALLY WOULD BE THE CASE TO NEGOTIATE.

BUT CONSERVATION PROGRAMS ARE STILL SOMETHING THAT THAT CONGRESS IS WORKING OUT.

THERE'S A HORTICULTURAL TITLE WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR THE REGION THERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT EXPANDING A CROP INSURANCE PROVISIONS AND SOME OF THE BENEFITS FOR FARMERS AND THAT.

AND THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT POLICY.

FOR FARMERS EVERYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, LIKEWISE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND MOST MOST FARMERS SAID TAKE OUT FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE FOR THE >> HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS A PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS?

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURE AND FARMING LEGISLATIVELY?

>> WELL, IT CAN BE A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE, REALLY BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THIS PAST YEAR.

SOME VERY BEING AD HOC PAYMENTS WITH YOUR PAYMENTS THAT ARE NOT PART OF POLICY.

TYPICALLY THEY'RE JUST ONE-OFF TYPE PAYMENTS AND, YOU KNOW, AND AGRICULTURE IS SUFFERING RIGHT NOW.

THE EFFECTS OF THE TARIFFS HAVE BEEN NEGATIVE FOR AGRICULTURE BY AND LARGE, THOUGH, MIGHT AND NOT IN ALL SECTORS.

BUT FOOD PRICES ARE HIGH RIGHT NOW.

THE EVENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST RIGHT NOW ARE HAVING A BIG IMPACT ON IT.

PUT INPUT PRICES, FUEL PRICES.

FARMERS, OF COURSE, A VERY DEPENDENT UPON.

ENERGY FOR THEIR THEIR MACHINERY.

AND THE TRANSPORT TO GET COMMODITIES FROM THE FIELDS TO THE GROCERY STORE IS VERY DEPENDENT UPON THE COST OF ENERGY AS WELL.

SO THERE'S A LOT A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING THAT I THINK HAVE IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS FOR THE STATE THERE IN THE REGION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

DOCTOR GOODWIN, APPRECIATE IT.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> COMING UP NEXT, HOW ONE FAMILY IS SHINING A LIGHT ON OUR WATERWAYS AND WHAT THIS COULD BE IN FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

A LOVE FOR FILMMAKING IS A FAMILY AFFAIR FOR SOME FLORIDA FILMMAKERS COMBINED THAT LOVE WITH A PASSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND PRESERVING OUR WATERWAYS AND A REMARKABLE DOCUMENTARY TAKES SHAPE.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE WOMEN OF THE WATERSHED ARE ITS CREATORS, SCOTT BARNETT AND HIS DAUGHTER, CHLOE.

JOINING US TODAY IN OUR STUDIO.

IT'S SO WONDERFUL TO HAVE YOU HERE TO BE HERE.

NOW, YOUR WIFE IS ALSO PART OF THIS CREATING THIS FILM, BUT SHE WAS UNABLE TO BE HERE TODAY.

YEAH.

CAN YOU TELL US THE REASON YOU DECIDED TO MAKE THIS IMPORTANT FILM TO COURT?

SO THIS STARTED ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO HAS 16 YEARS OLD.

>> MY PARENTS HAVE ALWAYS WORKED IN THE TV INDUSTRY.

>> AND I STARTED TO GAIN AN INTEREST IN AT THE SAME TIME, I ALSO STARTED TO GAIN INTEREST ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.

I DID A STUDENT FILM ABOUT CORAL RESTORATION EFFORTS.

YOU KNOW, DURING THE A LOCKDOWN DURING COVID IN TWENTY-TWENTY, I ACTUALLY GOT MY SCUBA CERTIFICATION AND SO THAT REALLY INSPIRED ME TO GET REALLY INVOLVED IN DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.

SO THEN IN HIGH SCHOOL, I DURING THE EVERGLADES HIGH SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE AND I LEARNED A LOT MORE ABOUT THE EVERGLADES AND, YOU KNOW, THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WAS JUST RIGHT OUTSIDE MY BACK DOOR.

THIS STORY IS SO GREAT THAT WHY DON'T WE JUST MAKE IT A FULL-LENGTH DOCUMENTARY?

I MEAN, WE HAVE THE RESOURCES AND LET'S JUST DO IT.

AND SO IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO US, TOO, HIGHLIGHT HOW EVERYTHING IN THE EVERGLADES CONNECTED.

WE'RE ALL CONNECTED BY THIS WATERSHED AND ALSO THAT THERE ARE WOMEN PIONEERING THE WAY FOR CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN THE EVERGLADES.

>> NOW, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT YOU HAVE REALLY PREPARED YOUR WHOLE LIFE TO CREATE THIS DOCUMENTARY.

TELL ME WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT.

>> WELL, ACTUALLY, THIS THE DOCUMENTARY WOMEN IN THE WATERSHED.

>> AND THE CLOTHES, THE HOST OF ACTUALLY FEATURES A LOT OF HER LIFE EARLY LIFE INTERACTING WITH THE WATER.

YOU KNOW, I WAS ALWAYS UNFORTUNATE FOR MY DAUGHTERS WITH.

>> $3 TOTAL AS ALWAYS RECORDING EVERYTHING THEY DID.

SO I HAD A LOT OF THESE INTERACTIONS ALREADY ON VIDEO.

SO THAT'S KIND OF A EXPLORING HER JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE.

REALLY THAT KIND OF CULMINATED IN THIS DOCUMENTARY.

>> CAN YOU SORT OF GIVE US A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THIS HOUR-LONG DOCUMENTARY THAT HAS AIRED ON PBS AND I KNOW THERE'S A SCREENING TODAY HERE AT FGCU, BUT MANY PEOPLE HAVE NOT HAD THE CHANCE TO SEE THE FILM.

TELL US MORE WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

>> SO THE FILM'S FOLLOWS MY JOURNEY SORT OF TRACKING UP THE WATERSHED STARTING FROM THE FLORIDA KEYS WITH THE FLORIDA BAY AND GOING ALL THE WAY UP TO THE ORLANDO AREA, THE GREATER ORLANDO AREA AND SORT OF JUST FOLLOWING ALL OF THE INTER CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT WATERWAYS THERE.

AND ALONG THE WAY, I'M MEETING WITH THE 2 DIFFERENT WOMEN WHO RANGE FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS FROM ARTIST SCIENTISTS, ADVOCATES.

WORKING TOWARDS THEIR GOALS IN TO ADVOCATING FOR THE EVERGLADES FEATURES A DIVERSE CAST OF WOMEN.

WE FEATURE INDIGENOUS WOMEN TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT THE INDIGENOUS TRIBES ARE HAVING AS THIS IS THERE NATIVE A NATURAL HOME AND WE ALSO FOCUS ON SOME OTHER INTERSECTIONAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT NOT JUST WOMEN BUT ENTIRE RACE IS WHY EXCLUSIVELY INTERVIEW WOMEN.

I THINK THAT.

FILMS, NATURE FILMS, ENVIRONMENTAL FILMS, TYPICALLY ALWAYS FOCUS ON MEN.

ARE YOU ALWAYS HAVE THESE MAIL EXPERTS AND BRING UP ANY TIME.

I GOT TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WOMEN DOING SOMETHING WAS ALWAYS EXCITING.

AND SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IMPORTANT FOR OUR FUTURE THAT YOUNG GIRLS GET TO SEE THESE WOMEN, YOU KNOW, IN THESE.

POSITIONS FIGHTING FOR, YOU KNOW, CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND YOU WANT TO WORK FOR THIS.

IS THAT SO IN 2024, THIS FILM WON AN EMMY SUNCOAST REGIONAL AND ME FOR JUST THE FILM IN ITS DOUBTS OF A VERY SCARY THING.

THIS IS A MISSION-DRIVEN PROJECT.

NO DOUBT.

WHY IS THIS YOUR PASSION?

WELL, FOR ME, I THINK THAT.

FILMMAKING IS THE WAY YOU SHARE PEOPLE STORIES AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO SHARE THESE STORIES BECAUSE IT SORT OF BUILDS EMPATHY BETWEEN PEOPLE.

I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING JUST SO ZONED IN ON YOUR OWN LIFE AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHICH REALLY HAPPENING IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD.

YOU DON'T REALLY CARE.

YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, FILM AND MEDIA IS JUST A GREAT WAY FOR PEOPLE TO BE EXPOSED TO THESE THINGS.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, THEY LIVE IN FLORIDA AND THEY'VE NEVER SEEN THE EVERYTHING.

IT'S NOR DO THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE REALLY IN THE EVERGLADES WATERSHED, THAT THERE ARE ACTUALLY A PART OF IT.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE AS A YOUNG UPCOMING FILM MAKER TO SOMEONE OUT THERE THAT MIGHT HELP MOTIVATE THEM OR INSPIRE THEM.

YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK SOMETIMES IT CAN BE DAUNTING.

YOU KNOW, I'M VERY, VERY PRIVILEGED THAT I HAVE PARENTS.

>> IN THE INDUSTRY AND THAT I HAVE EQUIPMENT THAT I CAN BORROW FROM THEM OR USE FROM THEM.

BUT I THINK THAT AN IMPORTANT THING IS TO JUST START IF YOU HAVE A PASSION TO START CREATING WITH YOUR IPHONE WITH THINGS AND JUST START, YOU KNOW, DOING WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU'RE REALLY INTERESTED IN IT'S JUST A MATTER OF STARTING.

AND THEN EVENTUALLY, YOU KNOW, SAVE UP AND YOU GET A CAMERA NEW CONCERT, YOU KNOW, DOING THE NATION A FEW THINGS.

BUT IF YOU NEVER START, THEN YOU NEVER HAVE THE JOURNEY THAT YOU CAN SEE THE GROWTH FROM.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST ABOUT STARTING.

>> AND SCOTT, IT APPEARS THAT THIS REALLY IS A MISSION FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO CREATE CHANGE IN OUR WORLD THROUGH YOUR FILMMAKING.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, IT'S IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO >> BEGIN CONVERSATIONS ON A LOT OF THESE TOPICS AND TO EXPLORE, YOU KNOW, THOSE AREAS SOMETIMES NEED A WIDER PERSPECTIVE.

SO YEAH.

AND AND ULTIMATELY IT'S ABOUT LEGACY.

IT'S ABOUT BEING ABLE TO PASS ON THE LEGACY TO OUR CHILDREN.

>> WE'VE GOT 3 GIRLS.

SO SHE'S THE GOLDEN CHILD, I GUESS, BECAUSE SHE FELT THEY'RE JUST TEASING.

I'M JUST A GIRL AND SO, BUT IT'S A BEEN A A GREAT PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY.

AND THE SCREENING TAKES PLACE LATER TODAY ON THE CAMPUS OF FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D YOU.

THANKS.

>> AS WE REFLECT UPON THE 200 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF OUR COUNTRY.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO LOOK AND UNDERSTAND THE CULTURES LIVING HERE BEFORE THE UNITED STATES EVEN BECAME A COUNTRY.

AND RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SITS A TROVE OF THAT HISTORY.

>> WHEN VISITORS STROLL THE GROUNDS OF THE MOUND HOUSE, THEY ARE LITERALLY A TOP 2000 YEARS OF HISTORY.

FROM ANCIENT CALUSA ENGINEERS TO SEMINOLE FISHERS TO PIONEERING FAMILIES, THE STORIES OF THE GENERATIONS WHO HELPED SHAPE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ARE RIGHT HERE.

>> WIL MYERS, EACH HAS A REAL TREASURE THAT IS MOUNT MOUNT HOUSE HAS NEARLY 2000 YEARS OF CONTINUOUS OCCUPATION OR FORT MYERS BEACH.

WE HAVE MEET EARLIER CALUSA VILLAGE HISTORY.

WE HAD THE LATER SEMINOLE EARLIER.

BUT YOU KNOW, SATTLER RANCHO PERIOD AND THEN FINALLY BE ABLE AMERICAN PIONEER.

SO 3 CULTURAL PERIODS, ALL THE SAME 3 ACRES.

SO IT'S REALLY NOT ONLY A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT HISTORY FOUND IN THIS SPECIFIC SITE, BUT ALSO REFLECTS THE BROADER HISTORY OF FORT MYERS BEACH AND COASTAL SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

>> THE MOUND HOUSE SITS ON WHAT'S CALLED A MINUTE, WHICH IS A HUMAN-MADE RISER BUILT FROM LAYERS OF SHELLS, A SHELL MOUND.

>> IS A COMMON TERM.

YOU CAN ALSO USE THE WORD SHELL MIDDEN.

IT'S A COLLECTION OF SHELLS.

NOW THEY'RE TYPICALLY FOR DIFFERENT MOUNTAINS IN FLORIDA.

AND FOR THIS SPECIFIC EXAMPLE WHERE WHAT'S KNOWN AS A OUT.

SO THIS MAN WAS BUILT KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY BY THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

THE CALUSA IN THIS CASE AND IT WAS BUILT LAYER BY LAYER GENERATION BY GENERATION.

THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT THEORIES TO WHY THE CALUSA BUILT FROM OZ.

BUT THE LEADING THEORY IS A IS A FORM OF MITIGATION.

IT BUILDS JOHN MOUNDS CONSTRUCTED MILLAGES AND TOWNS ON TOP US BEING SAFER FROM RISING SEAS DURING OUR DANGEROUS HURRICANES.

THANKFULLY, WITH THE HOUSE AND THE MUSEUM BEING BUILT ON TOP OF ONE OF THE SHOW ANNOUNCED THE CLUES ARE ACTUALLY STILL HELPING US TODAY AND PRESERVING THE TOWN'S HISTORY.

>> THE MOUNT SITE IS MORE THAN JUST ARCHEOLOGY.

IT'S A JOURNEY THROUGH 3 DISTINCT CULTURAL PERIODS OF TIME IS ACTUALLY THIS MIDDLE PERIOD.

THAT IS VERY LITTLE RESEARCH AND WERE ACTUALLY ONE OF THE FEW SITES THAT AREN'T ACCESSIBLE FOR VISITORS.

>> TO LEARN ABOUT THIS HISTORY, AND THAT IS WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE RANCHO GRANDE ON THE RANCH UP HERE AT THIS WAS A GOOD 150 TO 200 YEAR PERIOD DURING THE 17 IN EARLY 18.

100'S WHERE SEMINOLE AND EARLY LATINO SETTLERS FROM ACROSS THE SPANISH EMPIRE CAME HERE TO SPANISH, FLORIDA AND ESTABLISHED COMMERCIAL FISHERIES RIGHT HERE ALONG THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COAST.

THAT'LL CHAPTER OF HISTORY, CONNECTS THE CALUSA ERA TO THE 20TH CENTURY PIONEER STORY IS SETTLERS ARRIVED AND BUILD A HOUSE ON THE HISTORIC MINUTE.

WILLIAM IN MILLION CASE THEY WEAR INVESTORS SEEKING.

>> A NEW START HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

LIKE MANY PEOPLE STILL DO TODAY.

>> AND THEY DECIDED TO COME DOWN HERE AND LIVE ON THIS NOW, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY.

BUT WHAT MAKES THE HOUSE SEE THAT COLOR OF THAT BRICK, THAT WHITE COLOR IS ACTUALLY A MIXTURE OF PORTLAND, CEMENT, SAND AND CRUSHED SHELLS.

>> OVER TIME THE HOUSE EXPANDED INTO WHAT YOU CAN SEE TODAY.

>> THE EARLIEST PART WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 19.

0, 6 FORMALLY A SMALL TO NURSE OUT KITCHEN.

THEN IN 19 0, 9, THE OLDEST STILL RAINING, MEANING PART OF THE HOUSE WAS A 19 0, 9, LIVING ROOM WHERE VISITORS CAN SEE A REPLICA OF IT TODAY.

AND THEN FINALLY, THE SECOND FOR THE MAIN PART OF THE HOUSE THAT LAST PERIOD OF ADDITION WAS COMPLETED IN 1921, SEVERAL FAMILIES HAVE LIVED IN THE HOME AND ON THE SITE.

BUT FOR THE HOME ITSELF, IT WAS PRIMARILY THE PACE FAMILY.

>> IN 2000, THE TOWN OF FORT MYERS BEACH TOOK OVER OWNERSHIP OF THE SITE WITH SUPPORT FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS.

>> THERE'S A 15 YEAR PROCESS OF DOING ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION TO THE 1921.

WILLIAM H CASE HOUSE FINALLY IN 2015 ENOUGH FUNDING AND WORK WAS DONE TO OPEN A MUSEUM WORK TODAY WILL PROVIDE PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND PRESERVE THE VARIOUS COLLECTIONS AND ARTIFACTS EXCAVATED OVER THE YEARS.

>> THE ARTIFACTS FOUND IN THOSE EXCAVATIONS REVEALED COLLECTIONS STRETCHING FAR BEYOND FLORIDA.

FROM ANCIENT TRADE ROUTES TO SPANISH COLONIAL CLASHES.

WE HAVE POTTERY SHARDS THAT WERE PRODUCED IN MEXICO CITY.

WE HAVE FIRED SPANISH MUSKET.

>> FROM A 16 14 RAID ON THIS VILLAGE FROM THE SPANISH.

SO IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AND YOU'LL USUALLY FIND YOURSELF PRETTY SURPRISED VISITING AMOUNT HOUSE.

>> TODAY, THE MOUND HOUSE SPRINGS HISTORY TO LIFE.

>> VISITORS CAN TOUR THE MUSEUM.

>> KAYAK THROUGH THE WATERWAY OR EVEN TRY THEIR HAND AT A HISTORIC SKILL.

>> WITH OUR INTERACTIVE CALISTA TOURS, VISITORS NOT ONLY GET THE HANDLE REPLICA CALUSA ARTIFACTS FOR BOTH THEIR TOOLS AND CEREMONY ON TEXT.

BUT THE BEST PART OF IT, THEY GET TO TRY THEIR HAND AT USING IT OUT A LOT NOW AT A LEVEL IS A SPEAR THROUGH A COUSIN OF THE BONE MARROW.

SO PROBABLY ONE OF THE FEW MUSEUMS.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY START THROWING THINGS AND HAVE A WEAPON USE DEMONSTRATION.

>> FROM THE CALUSA MID.

>> TO THE PIONEER.

HOMESTEAD, THE MOUND HOUSE IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE.

>> OF THE LAYERS OF HISTORY FOUND IN THE AREA >> THERE'S A NICE UNIVERSAL HISTORY THAT COMES WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE'S HISTORIES HERE IN FORT MYERS.

AND I THINK THAT MAKES FORT MYERS PRETTY UNIQUE.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TO MAKE SURE TO JOIN US RIGHT BACK HERE TOMORROW FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.