WHAT'S HOT

    For those who we have an email address for, you may recall that we forwarded an email notice last month with information about the EPA's efforts to change the standards for discharge of effluent by wastewater treatment facilities, during wet weather conditions.  The notice requested your action to encourage your state representative to sign on to a letter to the EPA opposing its proposed action.  The letter was co-sponsored by Florida Representative Clay Shaw and received the signature of 135 state representatives prior to delivery to the EPA.
    Representative Shaw has now co-sponsored a new bill entitled "Save Our Waters From Sewage Act".  "Advocates say the bill would protect the public from waterborne diseases by prohibiting publicly-owned treatment works from dumping partially treated sewage, and informing the public if such releases do occur" (American Rivers Press Release, March 3, 2005).  We have posted links to more information on this issue and the bill on the "News and Information" page of our website, under the "National News" sub-section.
    This issue has implications for the St. Sebastian River as there is one sewage treatment facility that is allowed to discharge to the North Prong of the St. Sebastian River under "wet weather" conditions.  The Barefoot Bay wastewater treatment facility upgraded its treatment of sewage to AWT - Advanced Wastewater Treatment several years ago.  This level of treatment allows them to reuse the effluent as irrigation water on their golf course.  They also purchased a neighboring defunct citrus grove that is used as a spray field to discharge excess effluent.  Under state and federal regulations, wastewater treatment facilities are allowed to discharge partially treated effluent to surface water bodies, under "wet weather" conditions when they are not able to dispose of it by their normal means.  We will keep you informed on this issue as we learn new details.  We will email information if it is more timely than meets our newsletter publication schedule.  If you would like to be included on our email list, just send us an email request.
    We are in the process or reviving our boat speed monitoring program on the river.  Jack Spitza will be coordinating the volunteers for this.  We still have several people who are qualified observers and we look forward to your participation once again.  Anyone can participate, so if you are interested, please send us an email or call Jack at 772-589-2303.

MORE ON OUR/YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION

    As we mentioned in our last newsletter, we have been spending some time at our recent board meetings reviewing how we operate and what we can do to be more effective.  As you recall we last asked you to be vigilant in your observation of issues regarding the river.  We would also like to ask you to help us when issues do arise.  When something comes up that needs attention, we could use your help in finding out the details, who or what is involved and who to contact.
    We suspect that some of you may have some special expertise that would be of assistance, but the only requirement is a desire to help and be involved.  If this sounds like you, please contact us!  You can send us an email at the address on the front of this newsletter or call Tim Glover at 772-589-0636.  You will also find more general contact information for us on our website, and in the "Members Only" section, there is specific contact information for each of our board members.

WELCOME NEW BOARD MEMBERS

    At our general meeting in January, which is also our annual business meeting, we elected our latest members to the Board of Directors.  There were several members who are continuing to serve on the board, but the latest new members to join are Tom Bauer and Stuart Borton.  Welcome and thanks for your help and participation!
    We also would like to acknowledge Jack Spitza for agreeing to serve as our new Vice President.  Congratulations and a big thanks to all!