Summary
In 2020, local activist groups and CELDF presented proposed charter amendments to Orange County, Florida’s charter review commission. Eventually, the county adopted a charter amendment recognizing that “the Wekiva River and Econlockhatchee River…have a right to exist, flow, to be protected against pollution and to maintain a healthy ecosystem.” Although the charter amendment allows citizens of the county to bring an action in the name of the waters, “citizen” is later defined as a county resident with legal residence in the United States for at least one year. The charter amendment is still in effect at the time of this summary.