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Our Mission is to stop discharges into the St. Lucie River from Lake Okeechobee and to fight for a safe, healthy and ecologically balanced St. Lucie River Estuary and Indian River Lagoon, and the natural resources that are vital to the economy and quality of life of Martin County and the Treasure Coast |
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June 2023 Newsletter
Friends of the Rivers Coalition E-Newsletter
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Rivers Coalition Meeting
Thursday, June 22, 2023
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Stuart City Hall Chambers
121 SW Flagler Ave, Stuart, FL
This meeting is in person and via Zoom, and is open to the public, with plenty of free parking available. Email info@riverscoalition.org for Zoom link.
WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR A TOXIC WAVE?
With Lake Okeechobee higher than 14 feet and more than half of the lake’s surface covered with potentially toxic algae, what are the odds the St. Lucie estuary, and people of Stuart and Martin County, will be subject to toxic discharges from the Lake later this summer? Very High!
With this threat looming, how are our local governments planning on trying to keep us safe? John Maehl, Ecosystem Restoration and Management Manager for Martin County, will speak at the June 22 Rivers Coalition meeting on current Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sampling results and how the county is planning to respond in cooperation with Department of Health (DOH) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). Ben Hogarth, Community Affairs Liaison for the City of Stuart, will also weigh in.
"Our state and federal officials have failed to stop or curtail the agricultural runoff pollution, the largest source of nutrients to Lake Okeechobee, and they’ve failed to manage the Lake lower so discharges wouldn’t be necessary,” said Blair Wickstrom, a Rivers Coalition board member. “And now we’re scrambling trying to mitigate a preventable human health disaster.”
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Business Matters:
- Call to Order and Chairman’s Comments: Mark Perry, President
- Rivers Coalition, Inc. Business matters
- Presentation:
WHAT'S THE PLAN FOR A TOXIC WAVE?
John Maehl, Ecosystem Restoration and Management Manager for Martin County,
and Ben Hogarth, Community Liaison for the City of Stuart
Government & Agency Progress Reports:
- Martin County: John Maehl
- City of Stuart/LOSOM: Ben Hogarth
- South Florida Water Management District: Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch
- State and Federal Agencies: FDEP, USACE, FWC
- Lake Okeechobee Update: Dr. Paul Gray
- State and Federal Legislation: Eve Samples/Gil Smart
Coalition Reports:
- Rivers Coalition Committee Updates:
- River Kidz: Nic Mader
- Speakers Bureau: Todd Weissing
- Local Issues & Estuary Water Quality: Mark Perry
- Seagrass Update: Todd Thurlow
- Riverkeeper Update: Jim Moir(Indian River)
- Member Comments and Announcements
- Adjourn
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 Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch is a long-time Treasure Coast clean water advocate who has served on the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) board since 2019. She has been and is an extraordinary representative of our community in this capacity. Unfortunately, although she was reappointed by Governor DeSantis last year, the Senate did not confirm her seat. They simply refused to vote. Time is running out! She has until June 19th to either be confirmed by the Senate or be reappointed by the Governor.
We urge you to call Governor Ron DeSantis's office at
850-717-9337 or email him at GovernorRon.DeSantis@eog.myflorida.com
and ask him to reappoint Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch to the SFWMD board!
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Rivers Coalition Meeting May 2023
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The topic of our May public meeting was whether or not the Florida legislature had "fixed" our toxic algae problem. Representative Toby Overdorf, Friends of the Everglades Executive Director Eve Samples, and VoteWater Executive Director Gil Smart discussed highlights of the recent Florida legislative session, including good and bad bills with respect to our water issues.
Representative Toby Overdorf and VoteWater's Gil Smart engage in a Q&A session.
Overview of bad bills recently passed
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Karen Mashburn Environmental Scholars Program
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One undergraduate or graduate recipient will be awarded $10,000 and participate in a 12-week Fall 2023 internship at Friends of the Everglades, helping to support the Young Friends of the Everglades program and engage in community outreach. The intern will develop a wide range of skills including communications and instructional skills and gain an understanding of governance and guidelines in the nonprofit arena. Applications must be received by July 15th.
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SIGNATURES NEEDED
"The Right to Clean and Healthy Waters" Petition!
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A reminder that the "Right to Clean and Healthy Waters" petition needs 900,000 signatures by November 30th to get on the 2024 ballot. More information on the proposed amendment can be found at: https://fronn.org/the-right-to-clean-water. The petition can be read in its entirety and printed out and signed here: https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org/
**IMPORTANT** The petition must be mailed to the address found in the link above; OR
contact the local organizations listed below to obtain and/or drop off your signed petition:
Diane Goldberg (St. Lucie Audubon Society): digoldberg@bellsouth.net Ph: (772) 343-8666
Friends of the Everglades: info@everglades.org Ph: (305) 669-0858
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RC Presentation at the Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County
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On Wednesday, June 14th, Todd Weissing represented the Rivers Coalition on a Zoom presentation to the Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County. There were some familiar folks attending the Zoom meeting who are active with the Rivers Coalition. Shari Anker, Diane Goldberg, and the Rivers Coalition’s VP Charles Grande were in attendance. This is a very informed and very active environmental group!
If you would like a speaker from the Rivers Coalition, please go to our website riverscoalition.org and click the button: Request Speaker.
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Rivers Coalition Meeting Minutes: May 25, 2023
Summary of Comments
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Charles Grande called the meeting to order at 11:04 am. There were 46 attendees in person, 11 attendees on ZOOM call.
Minutes taken by Miki Blumenthal, Administrative Assistant
Opening Comments: Charles Grande welcomed everyone and recognized Representative Toby Overdorf and City Commissioners Chris Collins and Becky Bruner.
Presentation: Did the Florida Legislature “Fix” our Toxic Algae Problem?”
Representative Toby Overdorf began the presentation by discussing highlights of environmental legislation that he introduced and/or passed. He also explained the process of getting a bill through the Florida House of Representatives.
Eve Samples, Executive Director of Friends of the Everglades, and Gil Smart, Executive Director of VoteWater, discussed good bills that had not passed and bad bills that had passed during the most recent legislative session.
A lengthy and informative Q&A session followed the presentation.
The above presentation in its entirety can be seen at www.riverscoalition.org.
Discussion: (summary of discussion-not verbatim)
Government & Agency Reports:
Martin County: John Maehl mentioned that on June 6th a panel would speak to Martin County about golf course best management practices. Martin County has a new ecotourism program. Details can be found at discovermartin.com/ecotourism. The next county coalition meeting will be in Okeechobee on June 6th. At the second board meeting in June the county will acquire 119 acres of land from Audubon.
City of Stuart/LOSOM: Ben Hogarth brought up the fact that the City of Stuart is involved in a class-action suit on PFAS contamination that has been in our ground supply of water. He warned that there would be publicity about it, but that the City cannot comment anything more at this time. He did emphasize that the city drinking water is safe! Ben also added that he is concerned about the upcoming forecast with regard to El Nino and lake levels.
SFWMD: Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch talked about current algal blooms in Lake Okeechobee. She has not been confirmed yet by the Governor to the SFWMD board. She encouraged others to apply in the event she is not reconfirmed.
USACE: LTC Todd Polk said the lake level is currently at 13.8’. There will be a media call on June 9th and an upcoming CERP meeting in Naples.
Lake O Update: Dr. Paul Gray made brief comments that the lake is deep, it is wet season, and “we are holding our breath.”
State and Federal Legislation: Gil Smart and Eve Samples gave updates in the main presentation above.
Coalition Reports:
River Kidz: Nic Mader announced the 8th Annual Toxic Trail Run will be Saturday, June 7th to benefit the River Kidz. Will Glover is the organizer of the 37-mile run from Port Mayaca to Stuart Beach. The Facebook event page is here. Registration information is here. Casey Kniffin, River Mom, gave an update on River Kidz planned summer activities.
Speakers Bureau: Todd Weissing recently spoke at the Circle Bay Yacht and Sailing Club and will be speaking next month at the Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie County. The Speakers Bureau is available upon request.
Riverkeeper Update: Jim Moir talked about the seagrass recovery being impeded in the Indian River Lagoon, but he is regularly seeing sea turtles and manatees. He mentioned it is graduation season and praised the fact that so many of our young people are inspired and involved in environmental advocacy.
Water Quality: Casey Kniffin gave an update on the most recent water quality report of 5/17/2023. She mentioned that the 2023 five-year review of the St. Lucie River Estuary and BMAP is online.
Seagrass Update: Todd Thurlow showed images from his site and gave a seagrass update. He also has links to the SFWMD report and posters on his website eyeonlakeo.com.
Public and Closing Comments:
Charles Grande announced that the Rivers Coalition had written a letter to Governor DeSantis asking him to reconfirm Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch to the SFWMD board. Copies of the letter are available.
Diane Goldberg spoke and emphasized the importance of the “Right to Clean Water” petition and how to access it and send it in.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:53pm. |
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The Newest Version of the River Kidz Workbook has been published!
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The River Kidz workbooks have arrived from Southeastern Printing
The workbooks were distributed to the
4th grade classes of all Martin County Schools
FREE OF CHARGE
Thanks to the generous donations of kind supporters of the River Kidz
If you are a homeschool or a private school
please email info@riverscoalition.org
to receive your free copies
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2023 Rivers Coalition Board Members
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Mark Perry, President
Charles Grande, Vice President
Jim Moir, Secretary
Darrell Brand, Treasurer
Eve Samples, Director
Nicole Mader, Director
Todd Thurlow, Director
Todd Weissing, Director
Blair Wickstrom, Director
Gil Smart, Director
Merritt Matheson, Director
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All Meetings are at 11:00 a.m.
Stuart City Hall Chambers
121 SW Flagler Ave, Stuart, FL
June 22, 2023 - Thursday
July 27, 2023 - Thursday
NO MEETING IN AUGUST
September 28, 2023 - Thursday
October 26, 2023 - Thursday
November 16, 2023 - Thursday
NO MEETING IN DECEMBER
For updates, please visit our Facebook page by clicking below:
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Check out the Rivers Coalition website
https://riverscoalition.org/
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Rivers Coalition Organizational Members
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Members: 1000 Friends of Florida, 27-80 Paddlers, American Association of University Women, Arthur R. Marshall Foundation, Atlantic Point Yacht Club and Marina of Stuart, Audubon Florida, Audubon of Martin County, Ballantrae Anglers Club, Ballantrae Yacht Club, Beau Rivage HOA, Business Development Board of Martin County, Circle Bay Yacht Club Condo Assn. Inc., Citizens for Clean Water, Cocoanut Point Yacht Club, Computer Network Services, Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie Co. Inc, Cypress Lake HOA, Dolphin Ecology Project, Driftwood Motel of Jensen Beach. Economic Council of Martin County, Florida Oceanographic Society, Florida Sportsman, Fort Pierce Yacht Club, Four Rivers Property Association, Four Winds Condo Association, Friends of The Everglades, Friends of Harbor Branch - FAU, Gregor Woods HOA, Guardians of Martin County, Harborage Yacht Condominiums, Harbour Ridge Yacht Club, Humanists of the Treasure Coast, Hutchinson Island Preservation Initiative, Indian Riverkeeper, Indian River Plantation POA, Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce, Joe's Point HOA, Keep Martin Beautiful, Lake Worth Waterkeeper, Leadership Martin, League of Women Voters of Martin Co., League of Women’s Voters of SLC Co., Lighthouse Point Association Inc., Locks Landing HOA, Lost River Plantation HOA, Marine Cleanup Initiative Inc., Marine Industries Assoc. of Treasure Coast, Marine Resources Council, Martin County Anglers, Martin County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, Martin County Conservation Alliance, Martin County Democratic Environmental Caucus, Martin County Farm Bureau, Martin County Future Group, Martin County Hotel & Motel Association, Martin Soil & Water Conservation Dist, Miramar POA, Nettles Island Community Action Assoc., North River Shores Prop. Assoc., Ocean Research and Conservation Association, Palm City Chamber of Commerce, Palm City Civic Assn, Palm Cove Yacht Club, Palm Cove HOA, Pierpoint Condominium Assoc., Port Salerno Commercial Fishing Dock Assoc., Port Sewall Harbor & Tennis Club Owners Ass, Port Sewall Property Owners Assoc., Port St Lucie Anglers, President’s Council of Hutchinson Island, Realtor Association of Martin County, Rio Civic Club, River Club Dock Owners Association Inc., River Kidz, River Kidz of St. Lucie County, River Vista HOA, River Warriors, Royal Harbor Homeowners Assn, Sailfish Point POA, Sailfish Point Yacht Club, Sandhill Cove Retirement Living, Savanna Fishing Club, Save the Manatee Club, Seagate Harbor Homeowners Assoc., Sierra Club-:Loxahatchee Group, Snug Harbor Yacht Club, St. Lucie Audubon Society, St. Lucie River Yacht Club, St. Lucie Sailing Club, St. Lucie Settlement Inc., Stuart Corinthian Yacht Club, Stuart Flyrodders, Stuart Heritage, Stuart Rod & Reel Club, Stuart/Martin County Chamber, Surfrider Foundation, Teamsters Local 769, The Garden Club of Stuart Inc, The Estuary at North River Shores, The Junior League of Martin County, Treasure Coast Buddhist Cooperative, Treasure Coast Builders Association, Treasure Coast Democratic Environmental Caucus, Treasure Coast Golf Course Superintendents Association, Treasure Coast Rowing Club, Treasure Coast Unitarian Universalist Church, US Sailing Center of Martin County, Venture Three Community, VoteWater, Windjammer Condo Association
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PO Box 2627
Stuart, FL 34995
772-225-6849
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