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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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March 2024 Newsletter
Friends of the Rivers Coalition E-Newsletter
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Rivers Coalition Meeting
Thursday, March 28, 2024
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.
ONE MONTH LATER--THE IMPACTS OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE DISCHARGES ON MARTIN COUNTY
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) began discharges on Saturday, February 17th from Lake Okeechobee into the northern estuaries.
Join us on March 28th to hear John Maehl, Director of Martin County's Ecoystem Restoration and Management Division, give an update on the impacts of the discharges on our community and what the county is doing to combat them.
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Business Matters:
- Call to Order and Chairman’s Comments: Mark Perry, President
- Rivers Coalition, Inc. Business matters and Membership roll call
- Presentation:
ONE MONTH LATER--THE IMPACTS OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE DISCHARGES ON MARTIN COUNTY
John Maehl, Martin County Ecosystem Restoration and Management Director
Government & Agency Progress Reports:
- Martin County: Main presentation
- Martin County Forever update from Merritt Matheson
- City of Stuart/LOSOM: Ben Hogarth
- South Florida Water Management District: TBD
- State and Federal Agencies: FDEP, USACE, FWC
- Lake Okeechobee Update: Dr. Paul Gray
- State and Federal Legislation: Eve Samples
Coalition Reports:
- Rivers Coalition Committee Updates:
- River Kidz: Casey Kniffin, Kelli Dore
- Speakers Bureau: Mark Perry
- Local Issues & Estuary Water Quality: Mark Perry
- Seagrass Update: Todd Thurlow/Jim Moir
- Riverkeeper Update: Jim Moir (Indian River)
- Member Comments and Announcements
- Adjourn
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Lake Okeechobee Pulse Release Schedules
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The releases from Lake Okeechobee are scheduled to continue through March 29th, followed by a 2-week break. Below is the current pulse release schedule. Visit eyeonlakeo.com
for updates and live data feeds on the discharges.
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FOS to Host Virtual Town Hall
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Join Florida Oceanographic Society on April 2nd at 6:30 pm for an informative virtual town hall (RSVP at the link below) where they will delve into the various aspects surrounding the issue of Lake O discharges, including its environmental impact, its implications for local communities, and potential solutions moving forward. This is your opportunity to ask questions, share your concerns, and contribute to the conversation. Whether you're a concerned citizen, a community leader, or someone with a keen interest in environmental conservation, your presence at this town hall is invaluable.
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Rivers Coalition Presentation at Fort Pierce Yacht Club
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On Tuesday March 5th the Rivers Coalition was invited to share its thoughts on the releases from Lake Okeechobee and the devastating effects on the Indian River Lagoon. Todd Weissing, the coordinator of the Rivers Coalition Speakers Bureau, spoke at the meeting, sharing a short
(20-minute) PowerPoint presentation and then answering questions. The 40 plus in attendance were quite interested and peppered the speaker with numerous questions. The Rivers Coalition appreciates the interest expressed by the members of the Ft Pierce Yacht Club.
The Speakers Bureau is our outreach program where speakers from the Rivers Coalition are invited to attend organizations' meetings and inform the attendees about the water issues.
If you would like a speaker, go to our website: riverscoalition.org scroll down and click the Request a Speaker icon.
Linda Sampson, Fort Pierce Yacht Club Commodore, Todd Weissing, and Victoria Westphal, Fort Pierce Yacht Club Vice Commodore
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Rivers Coalition Meeting February 2024
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At our February public meeting, we heard representatives from the USACE and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) explain the reasons for the discharges and what we can expect in the days to come.
Featured speakers were Col. James Booth, USACE District Commander of the Jacksonville District, and SFWMD team members Drew Bartlett, Executive Director, and Lawrence Glenn, Division Director of Water Resources.
We had a packed house for our February meeting, with standing room only.
Drew Bartlett (SFWMD) Col. James Booth, (USACE), and Mark Perry, Rivers Coalition Board President and Executive Director of Florida Oceanographic Society, field questions from the audience.
Col. James Booth and Congressman Brian Mast
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Rivers Coalition Meeting Minutes: February 22, 2024
Summary of Comments
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Mark Perry called the meeting to order at 11: am. There were 105 attendees in person, 51 attendees on ZOOM call.
Minutes taken by Miki Blumenthal, Administrative Assistant
Opening Comments: Mark Perry welcomed everyone, including City Commissioners Campbell Rich and Chris Collins. Mark introduced Congressman Brian Mast, who spoke first as he had another engagement to go to.
Congressman Mast addressed Col. James Booth of the USACE, stating that he didn’t understand the “risk envelope” regarding the Herbert Hoover Dike right now. He emphasized that one did not go into battle with an outdated plan.
Presentation: “Lake Okeechobee Discharges and Impacts to the St. Lucie River Estuary”
Col. James Booth, USACE District Commander of the Jacksonville District, gave a brief biography and proceeded to give a presentation on the reasoning behind the discharges from Lake Okeechobee. He was joined at the podium by Drew Bartlett, Executive Director of the SFWMD. A lengthy Q&A session ensued between the speakers and the audience.
Unfortunately there were technical difficulties and the meeting was not recorded. Col. Booth’s PowerPoint presentation will be posted on www.riverscoalition.org.
Government & Agency Reports:
Both the USACE and SFWMD included their reports in the main presentation.
Coalition Reports:.
Due to time constraints and the length of the meeting, no coalition reports were given.
Member and Public Comments:
Mark Perry recommended the book, South Florida in Peril, which describes how Congress and the State of Florida started destroying our River of Grass as early as 1911.
Mark Perry asked Col. Booth when we will see the new LOSOM schedule, and Col. Booth stated that they expect it to go into effect sometime this year.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:36 p.m.
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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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All Meetings are at 11:00 a.m.
Stuart City Hall Chambers
121 SW Flagler Ave, Stuart, FL
March 28, 2024 - Thursday
April 25, 2024 - Thursday
May 23, 2024 - Thursday
June 27, 2024 - Thursday
July 25, 2024 - Thursday
August 2024 - no meeting
September 26, 2024 - Thursday
October 24, 2024 - Thursday
November 21, 2024 - Thursday
December 2024- no meeting
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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2024 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
Gil Smart, Director
Merritt Matheson, Director
Casey Kniffin, Director
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PO Box 2627
Stuart, FL 34995
772-225-6849
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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 & Marina of Stuart, Audubon Florida, Audubon of Martin County, Ballantrae Anglers Club, Ballantrae Yacht Club, Beau Rivage HOA, Business Development Board of Martin County, 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, Florida Wildlife Federation, Friends of The Everglades, Friends of Harbor Branch - FAU, Guardians of Martin County, Harborage Yacht Condominiums, Harbour Ridge Yacht Club, Hutchinson Island Preservation Initiative, Humanists of the Treasure Coast, 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, 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,Miramar POA, Nettles Island Community Action Assoc., North River Shores Prop. Assoc., Ocean Research and Conservation Association, 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, Sandhill Cove Retirement Living, Sailfish Point POA, Sailfish Point Yacht Club, 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 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 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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