|
Rivers Coalition
November 2025 Newsletter |
|
|
Thursday, November 20, 2025
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 contact@riverscoalition.org for Zoom link. |
|
MAKING WAVES IN TALLAHASSEE - HOW CITIZENS CAN PUSH FOR BETTER WATER POLICY
Eve Samples and Gil Smart (Friends of the Everglades) and Casey Darling Kniffin (River Kidz) |
|
This Rivers Coalition program will empower residents who care about the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon to make their voices heard in Florida’s capital during the 2026 legislative session. Eve Samples and Gil Smart of Friends of the Everglades and Casey Darling Kniffin of the River Kidz will explain how state laws and funding decisions impact the health of our waterways and share practical tools for influencing legislative outcomes. Learn how to track bills, contact lawmakers, testify in hearings and join coordinated advocacy efforts.
Join us Nov. 20 to find out how you can advocate for our waterways. Your voice matters! |
|
Business Matters:
· Call to Order and Chairman’s Comments: Mark Perry, President
· Business matters and membership roll call
Presentation:
MAKING WAVES IN TALLAHASSEE - HOW CITIZENS CAN PUSH FOR BETTER WATER POLICY
Eve Samples and Gil Smart (Friends of the Everglades) and Casey Darling Kniffin (River Kidz)
Government & Agency Progress Reports:
· Martin County: John Maehl
· City of Stuart: TBD
· State and Federal Agencies:
· SFWMD: TBD
· USACE: TBD
· Lake Okeechobee Update: Dr. Paul Gray
· State and Federal Legislation: Gil Smart
Coalition Reports:
· Rivers Coalition Committee Updates:
· River Kidz: Casey Darling Kniffin
· Speakers Bureau: TBD
· Local Issues & Estuary Water Quality: Mark Perry
· Seagrass Update: Todd Thurlow
· Riverkeeper Update: Jim Moir
· Member Comments and Announcements
· Adjourn |
|
Rivers Coalition Meeting October 2025
|
|
Overview of FWC's Aquatic Plant Management
|
|
Alex Dew, FWC Aquatic Invasive Plant Management Progam Administrator, discussed (via Zoom) the agency's aquatic plant management with particular focus on Lake Okeechobee.
Photos courtesy of Darrell Brand |
|
Environmental Stewardship Awards
|
|
Save the Date and Call for Nominations
|
|
|
Keep Martin Beautiful invites you to help shine a light on Martin County’s environmental champions — the individuals, groups, and organizations making a positive impact on our community and natural surroundings. Submitting a nomination is easy: simply share a brief description of the project, the people involved, and the difference they’re making.
All nominees — and of course, the award winners — will be recognized at the Environmental Stewardship Awards celebration on April 30, 2026.
Nominations are due by December 15, 2025. Click below for Google form:
Nomination form |
|
Native Plants, Shoreline Cleanup
|
|
| River Kidz presented to the Martin County Native Plant Society during their November monthly meeting. The talk, titled "Community Involvement in Native Plantings," highlighted the importance of native plants and how, together, we can contribute to cleaner water through native shoreline planting. The talk was inspired by a native shoreline planting at the Environmental Studies Center that River Kidz, along with the Martin County Native Plant Society, contributed to last year. A field trip to help clear invasives and weeds from the planting site followed, and River Kidz did an amazing job cleaning up the shoreline. |
|
| Before and after shoreline work |
|
Calling All Future Wavemakers
|
|
If your River Kid wants to become a Future Wavemaker and share their love for our ocean and coastal waters, they can submit a video or essay here: Wavemaker challenge.
If they are interested in joining a team, please email RiverKidz@RiversCoalition.org. |
|
Spot Seagrass? Share Your Sighting!
|
|
| Keep an eye out for seagrass in the IRL over the upcoming school breaks. You can submit sightings of seagrass or absence of seagrass (just as important) to Eyes On Seagrass Project |
|
Rescue the River of Grass
|
|
Sign Now to Join the Movement!
|
|
The Everglades is one of the most critical ecosystems in the world, providing unique habitat for wildlife, protecting the water supply for millions of Floridians and safeguarding our coastal communities and economies. However, this precious resource remains imperiled due to a lack of water storage and treatment. More land is needed to store and clean water from Lake Okeechobee so it can flow into the Everglades and prevent harmful discharges to the northern estuaries.
To address this urgent issue, Friends of the Everglades has launched a campaign aimed at public acquisition of land in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) for environmental restoration.
With your support, we can take meaningful action to restore the Everglades and protect Florida’s environment for future generations. |
|
Rivers Coalition Meeting Minutes
|
|
October 23, 2025 Summary of Comments
|
|
Mark Perry called the meeting to order at 11:01 am. There were 43 attendees in person, 24 attendees on ZOOM call.
Minutes taken by Miki Blumenthal, Administrative Assistant.
Business Matters:
Member roll call was taken. Mark Perry welcomed everyone and recognized government officials present.
Presentation: Overview of FWC’s Aquatic Plant Management with Special Focus on Lake Okeechobee
Alex Dew, FWC Aquatic Invasive Plant Program Administrator, discussed the impacts of invasive plant species and methods used to manage them, using Lake Okeechobee as an example.
An extended Q&A session followed his presentations. The above presentations in its entirety can be seen at www.riverscoalition.org.
Government & Agency Reports:
Martin County: Amy Eason, Martin County’s Environmental Resource Engineer, talked about recent tidal events in Martin County. along with a slide presentation.
City of Stuart: No updates.
SFWMD: No updates. Sherry McCorkle stated the next SFWMD board meeting will be November 13 at 9 a.m.
FWC: See main presentation by Alex Dew.
USACE: No one present due to government shutdown.
Lake O Update: Paul Gray stated lake level will top out at 14 feet this year.
State and Federal Legislation: Eve Samples mentioned 2 important bills to keep an eye on in the Florida upcoming legislative session that starts in January 2026: HB 105 and SB 208.
Mark Perry reminded the attendees that the Saint Lucie County delegation meeting will be on October 29 at IRSC.
Coalition Reports:
River Kidz: Casey Kniffin stated the River Kidz will be speaking at the Native Plant Society in November. The “Eyes on Seagrass” in the Indian River Lagoon project is ongoing and taking video/photo submissions. More information can be found here: Eyes on Seagrass. River Kidz has a new email address: riverkidz@riverscoalition.org.
Speakers Bureau: No updates.
Water Quality Report: Mark Perry gave a water quality report. See slideshow presentation.
Seagrass Update: Todd Thurlow gave seagrass updates and showed new graphs available on his website: eyeonlakeo.com.
Riverkeeper Update: No updates.
Member Comments and Announcements:
Casey Kniffin mentioned a website https://www.floridahealthybeaches.com/ that gives water quality advisories.
Diane Goldberg stated she is giving a lecture for the St. Lucie Audubon Society on November 6 at 7 p.m. at the Oxbow Eco-Center. She will be discussing using native plants to attract birds and butterflies.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:28 p.m. |
|
· November 20, Thursday
· December 2025 - no meeting |
All Meetings are at 11:00 a.m.
Stuart City Hall Chambers
121 SW Flagler Ave, Stuart, FL |
|
 |
· Mark Perry, President
· Eve Samples, Vice President
· Jim Moir, Secretary
· Darrell Brand, Treasurer
· Charles Grande, Director
· Todd Thurlow, Director
· Todd Weissing, Director
· Gil Smart, Director
· Merritt Matheson, Director
· Casey Kniffin, Director
· Ed Killer, Director |
PO Box 2627
Stuart, FL 34995
772-225-6849 |
|
Rivers Coalition Organizational Members
|
|
| Atlantic Point Yacht Club & Marina of Stuart, Audubon Florida, Audubon of Martin County, Ballantrae Anglers Club, Ballantrae Yacht Club, Citizens for Clean Water, Conservation Alliance of St. Lucie Co. Inc, Dolphin Ecology Project, Environmental Studies Center, Everglades Foundation, Florida Oceanographic Society, Florida Sportsman, Florida Wildlife Federation, Fort Pierce Yacht Club, Four Rivers Property Association, Four Winds Condo Association, Friends of The Everglades, Friends of Harbor Branch - FAU, 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, 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 Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, Martin County Conservation Alliance, Martin County Democratic Environmental Caucus, Martin County Farm Bureau, Miramar POA, North River Shores Prop. Assoc., Ocean Research and Conservation Association, Palm Cove Yacht Club, President’s Council of Hutchinson Island, Realtor Association of Martin County, Rio Civic Club, River Kidz, River Warriors, Sailfish Point POA, Sailfish Point Yacht Club, Sandhill Cove Retirement Living, 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, Surfrider Foundation, The Yacht Club of Stuart Yacht and Country Club, Treasure Coast Rowing Club, Treasure Coast Unitarian Universalist Church, US Sailing Center of Martin County, Venture Three Community, VoteWater, Windjammer Condo Association. |
|
|
Support and
MAKE A DIFFERENCE |
|
|
|
|
