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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.

Rivers Coalition

May 2024 Newsletter

Next Meeting

Thursday, May 23, 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.

PROTECTING FLORIDIANS FROM TOXIC ALGAE:

 WHY THE EPA AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA NEED TO STEP UP

 

Toxic algae in the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon poses a serious threat to public health — yet there are no government standards in Florida for the harmful toxins in these blooms. As a result, water monitoring is inadequate and public notifications are sporadic when harmful algae is present. Five years after environmental advocates asked the state of Florida to establish criteria for cyanotoxins in blue-green algae, there has been no action. Now, an alliance of environmental advocacy organizations is formally requesting that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency step in and set limits on the dangerous algae toxins that routinely threaten the health of Floridians and wildlife.


Join us on May 23rd at 11:00 a.m. to hear Jason Totoiu of Center for Biological Diversity and Eve Samples of Friends of the Everglades speak on the need for this action by EPA and the desired outcomes.


Agenda

Business Matters:


  • Call to Order and Chairman’s Comments: Mark Perry, President
  • Business matters and membership roll call
  • Acknowledgement of retiring board members Blair Wickstrom and Nic Mader, and of new board member Casey Kniffin
  • Recognition of new Rivers Coalition member Florida Wildlife Federation


Presentation:


PROTECTING FLORIDIANS FROM TOXIC ALGAE: WHY THE EPA AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA NEED TO STEP UP


Jason Totoiu, Senior Attorney at Center for Biological Diversity

Eve Samples, Executive Director of Friends of the Everglades

 

Government & Agency Progress Reports:


  • Martin County: John Maehl
  • 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: Gil Smart


Coalition Reports:


  • Rivers Coalition Committee Updates: 
  • River Kidz: Casey Kniffin, Kelli Doré
  • Speakers Bureau: Todd Weissing
  • Local Issues & Estuary Water Quality: Mark Perry
  • Seagrass Update: Todd Thurow
  • Riverkeeper Update: Jim Moir (Indian River) 
  • Member Comments and Announcements
  • Adjourn 

Upcoming SFWMD Public Meetings

Indian River Lagoon South Project Open Houses

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) will be holding

two Open Houses on the Indian River Lagoon South project. Staff from the SFWMD will be available to answer questions. The meetings are in person. No formal presentations will take place. The SFWMD encourages public and stakeholder input. For more information contact Kathy LaMartina via phone at

772-678-9872 or via email at klamart@sfwmd.gov.


  • Community Meeting #1 for the IRL South Project

Tuesday, May 21st at 5 pm

IRSC, Kight Center, 3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce, FL 34981


  • Community Meeting #2 for the IRL South Project

Wednesday, May 22nd at 1 pm

City of Stuart City Hall, 121 SW Flagler Ave., Stuart, FL 34994

Rivers Coalition Meeting April 2024

Florida Needs the Right to Clean and Healthy Waters

At our April public meeting, Joe Bonasia, Chair of the Florida Rights of Nature Network, spoke 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.

More information on the campaign and petition can be found at floridarighttocleanwater.org.

Joe Bonasia addresses the audience

River Kidz Workbooks


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

Rivers Coalition Meeting Minutes

April 25, 2024 Summary of Comments

Charles Grande called the meeting to order at 11:00 am. There were 94 attendees in person, 15 attendees on ZOOM call.

Minutes taken by Miki Blumenthal, Administrative Assistant

Opening Comments: Charles Grande welcomed everyone and announced that the lake level has dropped close to 2 feet. He welcomed Sarah Heard, Martin County Commissioner, and then introduced Joe Bonasia, the featured speaker.

Presentation:  “Florida Needs the Right to Clean and Healthy Waters”

Joe Bonasia, SWFL Regional Director of Florida Rights of Nature Network, gave a presentation on the Florida Right to Clean Water campaign advocating for an amendment to the state Constitution guaranteeing Floridians the right to clean and healthy waters.

More information on the campaign and petition can be found at floridarighttocleanwater.org.

A Q&A session followed the presentation.

The above presentation in its entirety can be seen at www.riverscoalition.org.

Government & Agency Reports:

Martin County: Amy Eason, Environmental Resource Engineer for Martin County, stated the county continues to monitor the river and Lake O updates. She mentioned the EPA grant for the county to develop a more robust monitoring plan.  

City of Stuart/LOSOM: No updates given.

SFWMD: Kathy LaMartina, SWFMD Project Manager, announced that the SFWMD May monthly meeting will be in Martin County at the Chastain Center on May 9th. She also stated that the SFWMD has upgraded their reference system (NAVD88) to measure water levels, and briefly described what this means.

USACE: No representatives present to give an update.

Lake O Update: No update given.

State and Federal Legislation: Gil Smart stated that Governor DeSantis announced this week his commitment to approving $1.5 billion to support Everglades restoration and water quality improvements. Gil also announced that VoteWater, Friends of the Everglades, and Florida Oceanographic Society are among a group of 27 organizations that signed a veto request for 2 water quality studies that they feel are unnecessary and a waste of taxpayer money. 

Coalition Reports:

River Kidz: Kelli Dore mentioned that the River Kidz have been extremely busy this spring with numerous events, including WaterFest, the VoteWater and FOS town halls, and the Environmental Studies Center Spring Celebration. The Toxic Trail Run will be this summer.

Speakers Bureau: Todd Weissing stated the Speakers Bureau had recently presented at the Fort Pierce Yacht Club and also Hidden Harbour Estates. Speakers can be requested at riverscoalition.org.

Seagrass Update: Todd Thurlow was unable to display his website with visuals due to the laptop/battery problems connecting to the A/V system. He reminded everyone of the address of his website for updates, photos, and live flow maps. eyeonlakeo.com

Riverkeeper Update: Jim Moir discussed the busy spring for the Indian Riverkeeper. The lagoon is improving, with more seagrass and manatees, although the water clarity is not good. He reminded everyone to be mindful of the manatees when boating.

Water Quality Update: Valentina Miele, Advocacy Coordinator for the Florida Oceanographic Society, gave a water quality update in Mark Perry’s absence. Due to A/V problems, her slides were not seen in their entirety, but they are available on at riverscoalition.org.


The meeting was adjourned at 12:35 p.m.

2024

Meeting Schedule

Board Members


  • 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

All Meetings are at 11:00 a.m.

Stuart City Hall Chambers

121 SW Flagler Ave, Stuart, FL



  • Mark Perry, President 
  • Charles Grande, Vice President 
  • Jim Moir, Secretary
  • Darrell Brand, Treasurer
  • Eve Samples, Director
  • Todd Thurlow, Director
  • Todd Weissing, Director
  • Gil Smart, Director
  • Merritt Matheson, Director
  • Casey Kniffin, Director

PO Box 2627 

Stuart, FL 34995 

 772-225-6849 


Rivers Coalition Organizational 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, 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, 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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