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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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April 2024 Newsletter
Friends of the Rivers Coalition E-Newsletter |
Rivers Coalition Meeting
Thursday, April 25, 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.
FLORIDA NEEDS THE RIGHT TO CLEAN AND HEALTHY WATERS
Joe Bonasia, Chair of the Florida Rights of Nature Network, will be the guest speaker at the April 25th Rivers Coalition meeting, where he'll speak about the Florida Right to Clean Water campaign advocating for an amendment to the state Constitution guaranteeing Floridians the right to clean and healthy waters.
The campaign is working to collect and verify about 900,000 petition signatures needed to get the proposed amendment on the 2026 ballot. |
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Business Matters:
- Call to Order and Chairman’s Comments: Charles Grande, Vice President
- Rivers Coalition, Inc. Business matters and Membership roll call
- Presentation:
FLORIDA NEEDS THE RIGHT TO CLEAN AND HEALTHY WATES
Joseph Bonasia, SWFL Regional Director of Florida Rights of Nature Network
Government & Agency Progress Reports:
- Martin County: John Maehl
- City of Stuart: 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: Gil Smart
Coalition Reports:
- Rivers Coalition Committee Updates:
- River Kidz: Casey Kniffin, Kelli Dore
- Speakers Bureau: Todd Weissing
- Local Issues & Estuary Water Quality: Todd Thurlow
- Seagrass Update: Todd Thurlow
- Riverkeeper Update: Jim Moir (Indian River)
- Member Comments and Announcements
- Adjourn
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 the threat that plastics pose to our environment, with a call to end all single-use plastic and find replacements for their use so they can quickly be phased down. Visit Earthday.org to learn more and join the movement to acheive a 60% reduction in plastic production by 2040. |
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| Join the River Kidz at ESC Spring Celebration |
Environmental Studies Center Spring Celebration on April 20th
Join the River Kidz on Saturday, April 20th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the Spring Celebration hosted by the Environmental Studies Council. Immerse yourself in a day filled with learning and excitement, with lots of fun activities. Learn more about the River Kidz and all the amazing things ESC is doing!
https://www.facebook.com/events/407069285012027
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| Rivers Coalition Presentation at Hidden Harbour Estates Boat Club |
On March 14th, the Rivers Coalition was invited to speak at a meeting of the Hidden Harbour Estates Boat Club. The meeting was coordinated by Cathy Rethmeier who, along with many of the club’s members, is very interested in stopping the discharges and in the health of the St. Lucie River and the Indian River Lagoon. Todd Weissing spoke at the meeting, which was well attended. The Q&A portion reflected their interest and knowledge of the issues.
If you would like to request a speaker, please go to our website: riverscoalition.org and click the “Request a Speaker” button.
Ken Duncan, Boat Club Fleet Captain, and Todd Weissing, Rivers Coalition Speakers Bureau |
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| Rivers Coalition Meeting March 2024 |
At our March public meeting, John Maehl, Director of Martin County's Ecoystem Restoration and Management Division, gave an update on the impacts of the discharges on our community and what the county is doing to combat them.
Congressman Brian Mast, Col. James Booth, USACE District Commander of the Jacksonville District, and SFWMD Executive Director Drew Bartlett, participated in a lengthy Q&A session after John's presentation.
John Maehl
Congressman Brian Mast poses a question
Packed house |
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Rivers Coalition Meeting Minutes: March 28, 2024
Summary of Comments |
Mark Perry called the meeting to order at 11:04 am. There were 92 attendees in person, 42 attendees on ZOOM call.
Minutes taken by Miki Blumenthal, Administrative Assistant
Opening Comments: Mark Perry welcomed everyone, including Congressman Brian Mast. Mark discussed the current hold on discharges and the pulse release schedule.
Presentation: “One Month Later–the Impacts of Lake Okeechobee Discharges on Martin County”
John Maehl, Director of Martin County’s Ecosystem Restoration and Management Division, gave a presentation on the effects of Lake O discharges on Martin County and what the county has been doing to combat them. He was joined by fellow Martin County employees Elizabeth Kelly (Environmental Programs Coordinator), Mike Yustin (Sr. Project Manager of the Ecosystem Restoration and Management Division), and Amy Eason (Environmental Resource Engineer). Of note, Amy gave an update on the FDEP’s new stormwater rule.
The above presentation in its entirety can be seen at www.riverscoalition.org.
Following John Maehl’s presentation, Col. James Booth, USACE District Commander of the Jacksonville District, and Drew Bartlett, Executive Director of the SFWMD, gave updates on their respective organizations’ updates with regard to the Lake Okeechobee discharges. Col. Booth gave updates on the lake release schedule and goals for the new LOSOM schedule to be established. Drew Bartlett stated the SFWMD had recommended to the USACE that harmful discharges be stopped until June 1st and that we needed to change the infrastructure to handle the water flowing south.
A lengthy Q&A session ensued between the speakers and the audience, with Congressman Brian Mast addressing the speakers first.
Government & Agency Reports:
Martin County: See main presentation.
City of Stuart/LOSOM: No update due to time constraints.
SFWMD: See above.
USACE: See above.
Lake O Update: In Paul Gray’s absence, Mark Perry stated that Paul told him the USACE expects a decision by late July with regard to LOSOM. Paul hopes that there is a recovery plan for the lake within the new LOSOM.
State and Federal Legislation: No update due to time constraints. Go to both votewater.org and everglades.org for updates.
Coalition Reports:.
River Kidz: No update due to time constraints.
Speakers Bureau: No update due to time constraints. Speakers can be requested at riverscoalition.org.
Seagrass Update: No update due to time constraints.
Riverkeeper Update: No update due to time constraints.
Member and Public Comments:
Mark Perry thanked everyone for attending and recognized Congressman Brian Mast, County Commissioner Sarah Heard, SFWMD representative Cheryl Mead, and City of Stuart Mayor Becky Bruner, Vice-Mayor Campbell Rich, and Commissioner Chris Collins.
Mark announced that the Florida Oceanographic Society is holding a virtual town hall on April 2nd.
Attendees may register here: RSVP for virtual town hall
Merritt Matheson reminded the group that Martin County Forever needs their support, particularly at the Martin County Commission meeting on April 9th, as the county is proposing changes that would be detrimental to the initiative.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:40 p.m. |
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| The Newest Version of the River Kidz Workbook has been published! |
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
Link to River Kidz workbook on RC website |
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All Meetings are at 11:00 a.m.
Stuart City Hall Chambers
121 SW Flagler Ave, Stuart, FL
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:
Rivers Coalition Facebook Page |
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| 2024 Rivers Coalition Board Members |
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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| Rivers Coalition Organizational Members |
| 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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