Happy Birthday, Earth Day -- Where to Send Your Gifts

On April 22, 1970, now known as Earth Day, 20 million Americans took to the streets in the largest single-day civic demonstration in U.S. history, which led to the creation of the EPA as well as the passage of the Clean Air and the Clean Water Acts.

Florida, caught at the crossroads between breakneck growth and the natural beauty that made it worth moving to in the first place, was ahead of its time. The state rode this early Earth Day momentum to pass the Environmental Land and Water Management Act of 1972, still considered among the most forward-thinking land-use laws of its time.

Nowhere does Florida's dilemma feel more urgent than right here in our backyard. The Indian River Lagoon is one of the most biodiverse estuaries in North America and is home to more than 4,300 species. But years of algae blooms, seagrass die-offs, and manatees starving have taken a real toll, the cumulative result of nutrient runoff, aging sewer infrastructure, and stormwater systems that were never built for a county this size.

There's no shortage of ways to be part of the answer. The Indian River Land Trust, the Environmental Learning Center, Coastal Connections and more run volunteer and donor programs year-round. Coastal Connections holds sunrise beach cleanups at Sexton Plaza on the first Wednesday of every month. The Land Trust's trails, which play a critical role in marine ecosystem health, are open to the public.

None of this gets solved overnight, and no single person can turn the tide all alone. But when enough people give their time, their dollars, or just their attention, real progress gets made.

This Earth Day, figure out where you fit in, where you can best make a difference, and start making plans!