Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 555 is my conversation with Alycia Downs, a key leader at Captains for Clean Water, the Florida conservation organization founded by fishing guides to protect and restore the state's waterways. Captains for Clean Water has grown into a force, mobilizing 25,000 supporters toward a landmark LOSOM victory and reaching 18 million people in 2021. We talk about how they built that movement, the wins that matter, and how the 10,000 pushup challenge ties fitness to clean water.
Captains for Clean Water is a Florida-based conservation organization founded by fishing guides to protect and restore the state's waterways. It has grown into a major advocacy force, mobilizing tens of thousands of supporters around clean-water issues and policy decisions affecting Florida's water.
Alycia Downs is a key leader at Captains for Clean Water who helps drive the organization's outreach, advocacy, and community engagement. She works to grow the movement, communicate its mission, and connect supporters to the fight for Florida's waterways.
LOSOM refers to the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual, the federal plan governing how water is managed from Lake Okeechobee. Captains for Clean Water mobilized 25,000 supporters toward a landmark LOSOM outcome, a major win for improving how Florida's water is managed and reducing harmful discharges.
Captains for Clean Water reached 18 million people in 2021, reflecting the organization's growing influence and the effectiveness of its outreach in raising awareness about Florida's water issues.
The 10,000 pushup challenge is a Captains for Clean Water campaign that connects fitness with water conservation, rallying supporters to take on a physical challenge while raising awareness and support for the organization's clean-water mission.
Tom Rowland Podcast Episode 555 with Alycia Downs is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. The video version is embedded at the top of this page.
I wanted Alycia on because Captains for Clean Water is one of the most effective conservation organizations I know of, and the water it fights for is water I have fished my whole life. What started with a few guides has grown into a movement that mobilized 25,000 people and helped win a landmark LOSOM decision. I wanted listeners to understand how that kind of impact actually gets built, and how they can be part of it.
Press play in the player above to hear it.
Captains for Clean Water rallied 25,000 supporters toward a landmark LOSOM victory. Alycia explains how the organization turns awareness into action at that scale. Hear it in the episode.
The Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual decides how Florida's water is managed. Alycia breaks down why this outcome mattered for the state's waterways. Watch the YouTube player above.
Captains for Clean Water reached 18 million people in a single year. Alycia talks about the outreach behind that growth. Listen to that section.
The 10,000 pushup challenge ties a physical goal to the clean-water mission. Alycia explains how creative campaigns build engagement. Hear it in the full episode.
The day after talking with Alycia, what stayed with me was the scale of what Captains for Clean Water has built. A group started by guides is now reaching millions and winning real policy fights.
That is what organized, passionate people can do. If you care about Florida's water, or about how grassroots conservation actually succeeds, this conversation will show you both the why and the how.
The Tom Rowland Podcast brings you long-form conversations with the most accomplished anglers, hunters, conservationists, and outdoor professionals in the game. Listen to every full-length Tom Rowland Podcast interview.
Alycia Downs is a key leader at Captains for Clean Water, a Florida-based conservation organization founded by fishing guides to protect and restore the state's waterways. She helps drive the organization's outreach and advocacy, work that has helped mobilize 25,000 supporters toward a landmark LOSOM victory, reach 18 million people in 2021, and launch creative campaigns like the 10,000 pushup challenge that connect fitness with the fight for clean water.
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