PRESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release – March 14, 2019
Contact: Celeste De Palma, Director of Everglades Policy, 305-343-4468, cdepalma@audubon.org
Twitter: @AudubonFL
 
In response to today’s appointment of Drew Bartlett as Executive Director of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), Audubon Florida Director of Everglades Policy Celeste De Palma said:

“We are encouraged by the new leadership at the South Florida Water Management District and extend a warm welcome to Executive Director Drew Bartlett. He is the right person for the job. The public has demonstrated a hunger for interacting with the District in a meaningful way, and Drew’s long history of engaging with multiple stakeholders and the public gives us great hope. We look forward to continue to work with him and the District to increase meaningful public participation and transparency.”

Bartlett joins SFWMD after serving as a Deputy Secretary at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Using his strong technical background, Bartlett has a record of working to make environmental science understandable to the public. He regularly makes himself accessible to stakeholders to listen to and address environmental concerns from across the state. He is also credited with creating DEP’s Division of Water Restoration Assistance for better collaboration with local governments and helping them leverage resources for greater environmental benefit. Audubon looks forward to working with Executive Director Bartlett and the South Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board. 
 
 
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