In spring 1994 the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, the state agency charged with the conservation of Florida's freshwater fish and wildlife resources, recognized the need to better involve the community with solutions to current environmental problems: more specifically, community involvement in resolving with littering problems on public lands and waters. Toward that end, the Division of Law Enforcement developed Project EAGLE (Enhancing a Great Living Environment), a half-day voluntary cleanup of some of Florida's most sensitive public lands and waterways. The initial pilot program met with overwhelming success, in terms of both removing litter from the environment and community participation. Utilizing the momentum generated by the pilot program, Project EAGLE was expanded to a statewide effort in 1995. This effort paid off with massive amounts of litter being removed from critical areas and a greater sense of community awareness and support.
