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The Guardians of Martin County is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping shape a positive future for Martin County.
Our guiding principle is “Live Responsibly, Protect Our Future.”

The Guardians of Martin County are working on the Loxa-Lucie Headwaters Initiative to preserve nearly 70,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land in Hobe Sound.

Photo: Geoffrey Smith

Indian River Lagoon

Martin County is part of the southern border of the biodiverse 156-mile Indian River Lagoon.

Photo: Greg Braun

The confluence of the St. Lucie River/Indian River Lagoon, where the inlet regularly flushes water in and out, resulting in clearer water.

Photo: Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch

The stakes are high when considering developmental proposals outside of the urban services boundary in western Martin County.

Photo: Greg Braun

Martin County has a vested interest in the regulation of Lake Okeechobee, as the County boundary extends to the middle of the lake.

Photo: SFWMD

A beautiful sunrise over Stuart Beach.

There are no high-rises along Martin County's coast, thanks to a 4-story height limit included in the Comprehensive Plan.

Guardians Livestream Event Thumb

Join us Thursday, June 18 at 6:00 PM for the Hobe Sound Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum. The Meet & Greet with the candidates starts at 5:30 PM at the Hobe Sound Bible Church Auditorium located at 11295 SE Gomez Ave, Hobe Sound. The livestream will begin at 6 PM here on our website and over on our Facebook page.

water ambassadors

June 16 - Monitoring Florida’s Waters: The Science Of Lakewatch And How To Get Involved. - Liz Duermit Moreau - REGISTER
July 21 - Upside-down Jellyfish as a Bio-indicator of Pollution in the Indian River Lagoon, Marie Strader, Texas A&M University and Natalia Lopez Figueroa, Gulf of America Coastal Ocean Observing System - REGISTER
August 11 - My Plastic Diet, Heather Stapleton, IRLNEP - REGISTER
September 1 - The Water Science Communication Problem, Sadie Hundemer, UF - REGISTER
September 15 - Lagoon Drift Citizen Science Project, Laura Jessop, ANGARI Foundation - REGISTER

Recordings of previous webinars are also available on the UF/IFAS Martin County Extension You Tube Page: https://youtube.com/@ufifasextensionmartincount5469.

All webinars are being offered through Zoom. Registration is required for each date for the security of participants .
Questions? Contact LisaKrimskyatlkrimsky@ufl.edu

Where to Explore Stormwater Treatment & Hydrologic Restoration Projects in Martin County

Some have trails and are accessible at any time. Others have no designated pathways and require advance reservations (e.g., C-44). Do your research and be prepared before you visit.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR  GUIDE

Where to Hike, See Trees and Explore Nature in Martin County

There are lots of opportunities to get outside and explore trees & the natural world in Martin County. Here are 35 of the largest, most notable and publicly-accessible.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR TRAIL GUIDE

Latest News

Lake O had 81 algal blooms in 2 years near Florida slaughterhouse site

A Martin County slaughterhouse near Lake Okeechobee could increase toxic algal blooms in the C-44 Canal, St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon. There have been 81 algal blooms in…
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From TC Palm: Florida slaughterhouse may pollute Lake Okeechobee, increase algal blooms

A proposed Florida slaughterhouse could bring pollution to Lake Okeechobee and the C-44 canal, St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon.   A proposed slaughterhouse in western Martin County will…
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Land Conservation Successes

The Loxa-Lucie Headwaters Initiative, which consists of The Guardians, the Treasured Lands Foundation and The Conservation Fund continue with outreach and fundraising activities. The Initiative was pleased to recently be…
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Urgent Public Input Needed Feb. 24 re: Chancey Bay Ranch

Urgent – Public input needed to Martin County Commissioners for Feb 24, 2026 Commission meeting Slaughterhouse proposed in Martin County at Chancey Bay Ranch Slaughterhouse proposed in Martin County at…
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Podcast Episode 13: Lake Okeechobee and Audubon Florida

The Guardians are pleased to announce the release the next in our series of podcasts.  Join Guardians Executive Director Greg Braun as he and Audubon Florida’s Paul Gray talk about…
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Guardians of Martin County: Protecting the “Martin County Difference” in 2026

In a recent In Focus interview on WQCS Public Media, Greg Braun, Executive Director of the Guardians of Martin County, discussed the organization’s long-standing role in protecting responsible growth, water…
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Projects We Support

Everglades Defense Fund

Fifty-six years ago, Marjory Stoneman Douglas founded Friends of the Everglades as a grassroots effort to preserve and protect the world’s sole everglades ecosystem.  Guardians Executive Director Greg Braun had…
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Loxa-Lucie Headwaters Initiative Presentation on Video

Watch and learn all about this exciting land conservation project that focuses on land that is East of I-95 and West of Hobe Sound in Martin County.
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Help Save Our Wildlife & Increase Driver Safety

Please make a Tax-Deductible Donation for the "Wildlife Mortality Study". Warning: Contains graphic images
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Partners We Support