The conversation explores his time leading DEP during one of the most challenging economic periods in Florida’s history. Herschel reflects on his efforts to improve regulatory efficiency without sacrificing environmental protections, the state's work on Everglades restoration, and the ongoing challenges surrounding wetlands permitting, federal environmental regulations, and Florida’s assumption of Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting authority. 

Brett and Herschel also discuss several of the environmental issues facing Florida today, including wastewater infrastructure, septic systems, population growth, and the relationship between state and federal environmental regulation. The episode provides insights from someone who has worked as an environmental attorney, business executive, regulator, and agency head, offering a unique perspective on how environmental policy is developed and implemented in Florida.

This episode is brought to you by my friends at Sea and Shoreline.  

Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast’s leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com.  

This episode is also brought to by my friends at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES)

RES is the nation’s leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida’s natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us 

Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Brett Cyphers and Ryan Matthews, as part of a new venture where we’re striving to become Florida’s first source for environmental news, educational tools, and unique perspectives on our state’s natural environment and the events that shape it.  To learn more about its flagship print publication and more, visit The Florida Specifier.

You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who and/or what you’d like to know more about.

Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance.  

And finally, a very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for this podcast.  The song is called Doing Work for Free, and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold. 

Lisa shares what it was like growing up on Florida’s Gulf Coast — childhoods spent jumping into spring vents, fishing off docks, and roaming the river by boat before she could even drive a car. But over time, that paradise shifted. Storms, invasive vegetation, and declining water quality turned Kings Bay into a murky, oxygen-starved system smothered by algae.

Instead of accepting the loss of a place she loved, Lisa and a handful of neighbors formed Save Crystal River — determined to restore the ecosystem one spring, one canal, and one grant application at a time. With help from state leaders and restoration experts at Sea & Shoreline, they launched a massive effort to remove decades of muck, open spring vents, and plant vast meadows of native eelgrass.

From removing decades of muck to re-establishing native eelgrass and restoring spring vents, the project has transformed Crystal River into a model for grassroots environmental action. Manatees have returned, the water is clearer, and the community is proof that big change can start small.

This episode is part inspiration, part behind-the-scenes look at how a determined group of locals helped bring a river back to life.

Save Crystal River’s success wouldn’t have been possible without the continued support of local and state leaders who championed the restoration of Kings Bay and consistently believed in the mission. Special thanks to:

• County Commissioner Rebecca Bays, for her unwavering support both locally and in Tallahassee
• Charlie Dean, Wilton Simpson, Ralph Massullo, and JJ Grow, for their advocacy and commitment to protecting Florida’s springs
• Deputy Secretary Adam Blalock and the entire team at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, whose partnership and guidance were instrumental in securing springs funding over the years
• And a sincere acknowledgment to the Governor, whose support allowed this restoration to move forward at the scale needed

Their collective leadership helped turn a grassroots effort into a nationally recognized restoration success.

This episode is brought to by my friends at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES)

RES is the nation’s leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida’s natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us 

This episode is also brought to you by my friends at Sea and Shoreline.  

Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast’s leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com.  

Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and myself as part of a new venture where we’re striving to become Florida’s first source for environmental news, educational tools, and unique perspectives on our state’s natural environment and the events that shape it.  To learn more about its flagship print publication and more, visit The Florida Specifier.

You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach me directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who and/or what you’d like to know more about.

Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance.  

And finally, a very special thank you goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for this podcast.  The song is called Doing Work for Free, and you should check out the band live, or wherever great music is sold. 

Together, they traced their personal paths into public service and policy, sharing how early experiences shaped their commitment to Florida’s waters. From childhood fishing trips to navigating the intricacies of legislative chambers, each guest offered a unique perspective on how decisions at both the state and federal levels ripple through local communities.

The discussion tackled some of the most pressing issues in Florida’s water future, including the state budget, Everglades restoration, basin management action plans, nutrient reduction challenges, and the complex balance between federal funding, state priorities, and local responsibilities—all while highlighting the importance of mentorship, persistence, and partnerships in tackling long-term environmental challenges.

This collaboration offers a window into the strategies, struggles, and successes of those working every day to secure Florida’s water future.

This episode is brought to you by our friends at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES)

RES is the nation’s leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida’s natural resources

with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance

and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us

This episode is also brought to you by our friends at Sea and Shoreline.

Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast’s leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from

devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their

website at www.Seaandshoreline.com.

Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and Brett as

part of the environmental news and discussion brought to you by the Florida Specifier. To learn

more about our flagship print publication, weekly newsletter and more, visit The Florida

Specifier.

You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach us directly

at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who Brett should be

talking with in the future.

Huge thanks goes out to Bo Spring from the Bo Spring Band for giving permission to use his music for the show. The song is called, Doing Work for Free, and you can find it anywhere great music is sold.

Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of

what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance.

Mandi shares how her upbringing in Palm Beach County and her family’s deep connection to Florida’s coast helped shape a lifelong passion for water. From her early days as an engineer to her pivotal role at Tampa Bay Water during the height of the region’s “water wars,” Mandi reflects on the enormous challenges that came with building projects like the Bill Young Reservoir and the Tampa Bay Seawater Desalinization Plant, and the lessons learned from both success and setback.

Now leading at one of the state’s most important water management districts, Mandi offers candid insights on the future of Florida’s water supply — from the promise of potable reuse to the importance of sustainable planning as growth accelerates across the state. Along the way, she talks about the people and mentors who influenced her career, her move to Citrus County, and what continues to drive her commitment to public service.

The discussion brings together Mandi’s family background, career experiences, and perspective on the future of Florida’s water.

This episode is brought to you by our friends at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES). RES is the nation’s leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida’s natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us

This episode is also brought to you by our friends at Sea and Shoreline. Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast’s leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com.

Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and Brett as part of the environmental news and discussion brought to you by the Florida Specifier. To learn more about our flagship print publication, weekly newsletter and more, visit The Florida Specifier.

You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach us directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who Brett should be talking with in the future.

Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance.

Temperince shares her story, beginning with her upbringing alongside a father with deep roots in ranching. Raised in Jacksonville and spending time with family in Lake Okeechobee, her love for nature was shaped by family trips around Florida. Her childhood was deeply connected to water and land—where cattle ranches, the St. Johns River, and Florida’s state parks sparked a lasting bond with the landscape and laid the foundation for a career dedicated to its restoration and protection.

She walks Brett through her time as a biology major at Florida State University and how that led to a career in environmental science. The conversation explores her roles at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management District, where she helped lead early efforts in Everglades restoration. Now, as Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy’s Southern U.S. Division, she oversees large-scale environmental strategy across 10 states. They also dive into projects close to her, like the Pensacola East Bay Oyster Project.

Rich in personal insight and professional depth, this episode offers an intimate look at one of Florida’s most respected environmental leaders—and what it takes to protect the state’s natural future.

To explore the broader mission behind the work Temperince leads—conserving lands and waters across the U.S. and beyond visit The Nature Conservancy

To hear more about the Florida-based initiatives Temperince references, including coastal resilience, water management, and Everglades restoration visit The Nature Conservancy in Florida

To take a closer look at the project that Temperince highlights as an example of measurable, on-the-ground restoration visit Pensacola East Bay Oyster Project

Temperince discusses values that are essential to future conservation success; this center reflects TNC’s focus on science, outreach, and education. Find out more here Center for Conservation Initiatives

As discussed in the episode, long-term land conservation is key to protecting Florida’s water—to learn how TNC is doing it click here Florida Land Protection | The Nature Conservancy

If Temperince’s story inspired you, consider supporting the work she and her team are doing to build a more resilient Florida by visiting Donate Now to Protect Nature | The Nature Conservancy

This episode is brought to you by our friends at Resource Environmental Solutions (RES). RES is the nation’s leader in ecological restoration, helping to restore Florida’s natural resources with water quality and stormwater solutions that offer communities guaranteed performance and outcomes. Check them out at www.res.us

This episode is also brought to you by our friends at Sea and Shoreline. Sea and Shoreline is the Southeast’s leading innovator in protecting coastal communities from devastating storms and restoring ecosystems that once faced ecological collapse. Visit their website at www.Seaandshoreline.com.

Please be sure to check out the Florida Specifier Podcast hosted by Ryan Matthews and Brett as part of the environmental news and discussion brought to you by the Florida Specifier. To learn more about our flagship print publication, weekly newsletter and more, visit The Florida Specifier.

You can follow the show on LinkedIn and Instagram @flwaterpod, and you can reach us directly at FLwaterpod@gmail.com with your comments and suggestions for who Brett should be talking with in the future.

Production of this podcast is by Lonely Fox Studios. Thanks to Karl Sorne for making the best of what he had to work with. And to David Barfield for the amazing graphics and technical assistance.