Dear CWC Partners and Friends,
We welcome all of you! The Clean Water Coalition of Indian River County now has over 200 businesses and organizations working together to protect and restore the surface and ground waters of Indian River County.
In June we signed our 100th partner, Sharon Bastide, Financial Advisor at Client 1st Advisory Group, 736 Beachland Blvd., Vero Beach. Just one month later we proudly announce the signing of our 200th partner, Dr. Paul Minotty, founder of New Vision Eye Center, 1055 37th Place, Vero Beach.
Left: Membership Chairman Charlie Pope with 100th Partner, Sharon Bastide, Client 1st Advisory Group. Right: Dr. Paul Minotty of New Vision Eye Center joins as the 200th Partner.
Since our founding a year ago, we have acted to prevent further pollution of our local waters and worked with local and state legislators to implement regulations to prevent further pollution. To date we have:
Organized to prevent a reclaimed-water pipe from being installed under the Indian River Lagoon
Worked with our State Representative Erin Grall to draft a statewide bill regulating biosolids (unfortunately not passed this year)
Supported State Senator Debbie Mayfield’s Clean Waterways Act re septic to sewer funding, septic inspection, BMAP revisions (unfortunately not passed this year)
Partnered with Friends of the Saint Sebastian River to curb the use of glyphosate in canal management
Partnered with the Indian River Neighborhood Association to support IRC’s Roseland Septic to Sewer Project and COVB’s Step System Septic-to-Sewer installations
Presented position papers to Federal and State Legislators on the need for sufficient water quality funding; opposing EPA’s changes to the Clean Water Act and supporting restored funding for the Land Acquisition Trust Fund
Sent letters to pharmacies asking for an improved drug take-back program to prevent chemical pollution
Presented at the FDEP Tri-Annual Surface Water meeting
Currently working with the Fish & Wildlife Agency and the COVB Marina to establish a marine “no discharge” zone in the IRL
Held two public meetings, one on Florida algae blooms by Dr.Edie Widder of Ocean Research and Conservation, and the other on The Current State of the Indian River Lagoon by Dr. Duane DeFreese of the IRL National Estuary Program
We will update you on our initiatives each month via email. Please check our Facebook page and Website: ourwaters.org for news and upcoming events. Again, welcome…and thank you for your support….over 220 voices to protect and restore the surface and ground waters of Indian River County.
Partner Spotlight: Pelican Island Audubon Society 3rd Annual Transforming Landscapes for a Sustainable Future Conference
January 25, 2020 from 8:00-4:30 Emerson Center - 1590 27th Avenue
Register online at: www.pelicanislandaudubon.org Sponsorship Opportunities: piaudubon@yahoo.com
Be in the "Spotlight!" Just submit a short paragraph about an environmental initiative in your organization to Jean at catchsun@msn.com.