Join the April 6th LWVLee Educational Event - The Impacts of Water Quality on the Southwest Florida Economy.  Matt DePaolis, Environmental Policy Director Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation will discuss the findings of a study which was commissioned by the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, the Captains for Clean Water, and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.  These three groups hired Greene Economics to conduct the study.  

Recording of Impacts of Water Quality on SWFL Economy

A Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) can have devastating economic consequences.  In Lee County, the estimated losses from another HAB total $195 million in recreational and commercial fishing revenues and expenditures.  The potential jobs lost in one year is estimated to be 24,808, and the loss in output is estimated to be $3 billion.  Property value losses are estimated to lose $3.8 billion with an associated $21.4 million in lost property tax revenue.  The value of non-market recreation (or, quality of life) lost is estimated to be $5.3 billion.

As Policy Director, De Paolis brings his combined expertise in environmental and marine biology to translate SCCF's cutting edge science into effective policy through advocacy.  Matt DePaolis trained as a field biologist working across Florida, the Bahamas, and Guyana before pursuing his master's in marine biology and a Juris Doctorate with a focus on ocean and coastal law from the University of Oregon.

Before joining SCCF, DePaolis worked as the Coastal Policy Analyst Fellow at the University of Florida's Center for Coastal Solutions, (CSS), researched climate litigation and fisheries policy issues for the United Nations, evaluated regulations to protect water quality in streams for the Wild Salmon Center, and recommended solutions to marine plastic pollution at the Ocean and Coastal Law Center.