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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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November 2023 Newsletter
Friends of the Rivers Coalition E-Newsletter
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Rivers Coalition Meeting
Thursday, November 16, 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.
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Merritt Matheson, Rivers Coalition board member, will discuss Martin County Forever, a newly formed education initiative with a mission to acquire and preserve important natural lands in Martin County for the benefit of present and future generations. The goal is to build upon the success the county has already achieved with respect to four key natural areas: Blueways, Indian River Lagoon Watershed, Loxa-Lucie and Pal-Mar. Below is the County’s Land Acquisition Map showing the areas already acquired and the approximately 46,000 acres that could be preserved.
The funding mechanism would be a Half Cent Sales Tax Referendum that would be placed on the November 2024 ballot.
The initiative is in outreach and education mode right now, providing presentations to stakeholder groups to gather feedback and determine if the sales tax option will be well received by the public. The preliminary feedback has been very positive. As you know, with widespread public support behind the initiative, county commissioners would be more likely to vote in support of putting it on the ballot.
Join us on November 16th to learn more about Martin County Forever!
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Business Matters:
- Call to Order and Chairman’s Comments: Mark Perry, President
- Rivers Coalition Inc. Business Matters
- Presentation:
MARTIN COUNTY FOREVER
Merritt Matheson, Rivers Coalition board member and Martin County Forever committee member
Government & Agency Progress Reports:
- Martin County: John Maehl
- City of Stuart/LOSOM: Ben Hogarth
- South Florida Water Management District
- State and Federal Agencies: FDEP, USACE, FWC
- Lake Okeechobee Update: Dr. Paul Gray
- State and Federal Legislation: 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
- Member Comments and Announcements:
- Adjourn
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Veteran's Day November 11th
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In honor of all of the men and women who have served this country, Happy Veterans Day! Thank you for your service and your sacrifice!
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Rivers Coalition Meeting October 2023
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The October meeting topic was "Sending Lake Water South" and featured members of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) participating in a Q&A session and addressing concerns about the ability of the Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) to take water from Lake Okeechobee.
John Mitnik, Assistant Executive Director of SFWMD, and Drew Barlett, Executive Director of SFWMD.
Casey Kniffin, Advocacy Director for the Florida Oceanographic Society, and John Maehl, Martin County's Ecosystem Restoration and Management Manager
Lawrence Glenn, Director of the Water Resources Division of SFWMD
Major Cory Bell, USACE Deputy District Commander for South Florida
Blair Wickstrom, Rivers Coalition board member and Florida Sportsman representative
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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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Rivers Coalition Meeting Minutes: October 26, 2023
Summary of Comments
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Charles Grande called the meeting to order at 11:02 am. There were 44 attendees in person, 18 attendees on ZOOM call.
Minutes taken by Miki Blumenthal, Administrative Assistant
Opening Comments: Charles Grande welcomed everyone and recognized Becky Bruner (Mayor), Cheryl Meads (SFWMD), and Major Cory Bell (USACE).
Both Charles Grande and Merritt Matheson made opening comments, applauding the USACE and SFWMD working together to hold off on Lake O discharges to the east. Dry season is approaching, and with it the opportunity to get the lake levels lower. Both asked Drew Bartlett to focus on what the plan is and how we can move lake water south.
Presentation: “Moving Lake Water South”
Drew Bartlett, along with Lawrence Glenn (Director of Water Resources Division of SFWMD), and John Mitnik, (Assistant Executive Director of the SFWMD), engaged in a lengthy and informative presentation regarding moving lake water south, explaining the conditions and operations of the Water Conservation Areas (WCAs) and Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs).
Q&A session during and after the presentation.
The above presentation in its entirety can be seen at www.riverscoalition.org.
Discussion: (summary of discussion-not verbatim)
Government & Agency Reports:
USACE: Major Cory Bell introduced himself as the new USACE Deputy Commander, South Florida Jacksonville District. He gave a brief biography and then gave an update on Lake Okeechobee, as well as the C44 canal conditions and seepage.
Martin County: John Maehl expressed frustration at the LOSOM implementation delays, praising, however, the USACE and SFWMD for using strategies in the proposed LOSOM schedule to handle discharges during the wet season. He then gave a county update, mentioning internal restructuring going on and introducing several team members.
City of Stuart/LOSOM: Ben Hogarth discussed two major priorities that the City Commission recently decided upon. He discussed in detail a DEP ruling related to the Clean Waterways Act which dictates what developers need to do for approvals, and he talked about the Savings Clause and the City of Stuart participating in an amicus brief.
SFWMD: See above presentation.
Lake O Update: Paul Gray stated the current lake level is deeper than we want, and the outer edges are taking a beating. He did see lots of periphyton on a recent trip to the lake.
State and Federal Legislation: Gil Smart recently went to Tallahassee. He feels we will see another “Session of Sprawl” and advised us to be on the lookout for more pro-developer bills, as well as the possibility of BMPs (Best Management Practices) being revised to allow more fertilizer.
Coalition Reports:
Seagrass Update: Todd Thurlow briefly shared his website and gave a grass flat update. He discussed the importance of water quality over quantity and the need to get phosphorus levels down.
Casey Kniffin of the Florida Oceanographic Society emphasized the need for protection for wetlands and the importance of local control rather than state control of regulations to protect them.
River Kidz: Casey Kniffin announced the River Kidz would be participating in “Community Conversation” hosted by the Florida Oceanographic Society on November 7th at 5:30 pm. All ages are invited to the event, which will encourage conversations, stories, and perspectives to be shared by those who love our water and coastal environment.
Speakers Bureau: N/A. Todd Weissing not present.
Riverkeeper Update: Jim Moir discussed the need for stormwater bill support, and he mentioned the Low Impact Development Conference last week was excellent.
Public Comments:
Diane Goldberg put out a call for volunteers to get petitions signed at the Port St. Lucie Fall Fun Fest happening October 27-29.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:53 pm.
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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
November 16, 2023 - Thursday
NO MEETING IN DECEMBER
January 18, 2024
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, 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 Okeechobee Restoration Initiative, 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, 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 Vista HOA, River Warriors, Royal Harbor Homeowners Assn, Sailfish Point POA, Sailfish Point Yacht Club, Sandhill Cove Retirement Living, Savanna Fishing 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 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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