Water for Fighting kicks off Season 5 with former Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel Vinyard. Brett sits down with his former boss and longtime friend to discuss a career that has spanned environmental law, maritime industry leadership, and public service. From his upbringing in Texas and Louisiana to his decision to build a life and career in Florida, Herschel shares the experiences that shaped his approach to leadership, environmental stewardship, and government.
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.
