Save Our Water summit took place at Coconut Point in Estero

“Let’s just got after it,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said. “Let’s not kind of hold back, and swing for the fences.”

Those were DeSantis’ words to his transition committee as he prepared to take office.

Now as Southwest Florida remembers the blue-green algae and red tide of a year ago, action from everyone with a vested interest was evident in Wednesday’s Save Our Water Summit.

“I think what made this a powerful issue,” DeSantis said, “is people really from all walks of life were interested this and wanted to see action.”

While the Florida Dept of Environmental Protection looks at law enforcement, the Florida League of Mayors will look for money.

“We’re going to go to Washington and obviously deal on the senate side,” said Kevin Ruane, mayor of Sanibel. “The House fortunately passed funding, but the senate needs to do the same, so we need to concentrate on the senate side.”

And as fighting and cleaning up water issues come to the forefront, leaders also stress prevention.