THE WEKIVA RIVER NEWS
MAY/JUNE 1989
We are starting a new year of involvement in the protection of our Wekiva River. Many of you have spent thousands of hours of volunteer time which has enabled the Friends to achieve a number of goals like:
-Helping the city of Altamonte Springs develop its waste water reuse program (APRICOT)
-the Wekiva River Protection Act
-Outstanding Florida Waterway (OFW) designation for all of the basin
-the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) Buffer Rule
In addition, we've been involved in the impact to the River on such projects as Plantation, Wekiva Falls, Sylvan Lake, Alaqua, River Crest, and we continue to review new projects as they come up.
We have been involved in the review of Seminole and Lake Counties' revisions of their Comprehensive Plans to comply with the Wekiva River Protection Act.
We have all spent many hours attending County Commission meetings, Planning and Zoning hearings, SJRWMD meetings across the state, project planning, DRI hearings, etc., etc., etc. Unfortunately, the cadre of troops who covered all these events is beginning to feel the strain. We need more members involved in these areas. We need a broader base across the three county area to carry out our protection efforts for the Wekiva River.
I know that many people are fearful of standing up before a County Commission meeting, even to read a prepared statement. All of us have been there. We plan to begin a series of small workshops to help acquaint you who are interested in the process of government - federal, state and local - in how it can affect the River Basin. How regulatory agencies function, which local and county departments interact with projects affecting the river.
We have accomplished a great deal in the past nine years, but the most important time for the river's survival is now. The pressures on the river have never been greater than they are today. There is a massive effort to develop large projects adjacent to the Basin. In order to insure that there are few if any additional impacts, we must be prepared to accomplish the following in a relatively short time frame:
-Make sure that all three counties (Orange, Seminole and Lake) follow the criteria spelled out by the Wekiva River Protection Act in their Comprehensive Plans.
-See that the SJRWMD enforces its Wekiva River Buffer Rule.
-Insure that new growth does not create new impacts on the River.
-Most important of all, see that all of the CARL properties, Wekiva Falls, Seminole Springs (which includes Carter and Brumlik tracts) and BMK Ranch are acquired now, before they are priced out of reach.
To do this, it will require additional hours of effort by your officers and board as well as
a new dedication by our members to become involved in our committee system.
If you feel you need to get involved, I can guarantee that the high you will feel when you become immersed in the protection of a resource such as the Wekiva River is indescribable. But you must take that first step. If you are willing to do that, then come to the June 3rd Board planning workshop to be held at our place on the Wekiva River at noon. Bring a bag lunch; drinks and dessert will be provided. This is not just a board meeting, it is a chance for you to see how we plan to accomplish our goals this year.
ANNUAL MEETING AND DINNER
The Annual Meeting and Dinner was held on April 29 at the Altamonte Hilton Hotel in Altamonte Springs. A good crowd joined us to celebrate the past year's accomplishments, listen to Tom Drage speak about the legislation designed to protect the River, and just have a pleasant evening with Friends. Everything was lovely!
Our newly elected board members are:
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT FRED HARDEN
1 ST VICE PRES NANCY PRINE
2ND VICE PRES PIP WICK
TREASURER TOM WILLIAMS
SECRETARY JUDY WICK
BOARD MEMBERS
HARRY BECKHAM ALLAN CLARK ELEANOR FISHER DEAN FLETCHER
MARY McKEY POLLY MILLER RUSS MONCRIEF NANCY PRINE
JIM THOMAS WALT THOMSON LORRAINE WILLIFORD ROSEMARY YOUNG
GINGER BOWMAN CLAUDIA CLARK RUSS FISHER PAT HARDEN
CAROL McKELVEY KATIE MONCRIEF JOM OLIVER BILL RISKE
LISA THOMSON EDDIE WILLIFORD KAY YEUELL
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Our natural areas are irreplaceable. We must do all in our power to see that they are not destroyed in the name of economics. For their value to our quality of life, to our very life itself is beyond measure.
Anon.
Any private citizen who attends a water management conference without being paid for it already has proven a powerful motivation.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas
The following are reproduced from originals for your information.. The first, a memo from The American Rivers Foundation, is very important and explains some legislation which we all need to address. The letter proceeding the memo was written by the League of Women Voters of Seminole County and was sent to the Central Florida Legislative Delegation. You may use it as an example of what to write, when you write to them yourself. Please, look up your State Senators and Representatives in the blue pages of the phone book, and call or write to them, urging the defeat of the bills in question HB 328, HB 801 and SB 397.
CONTENTS OF MEMO FROM SIZI WILKINS OF THE AMERICAN RIVERS FOUNDATION:
American Rivers is concerned about two bills currently pending in the Florida legislature.
HB 328, known as the "Harris bill," would change the riparian laws in-effect in Florida since 1845 and would take lands under streams (less than 10 feet wide), intermittent wetlands and lakes (less than 140 acres) and turn them over to adjacent landowners. While the Attorney General has and continues to contend that this action is illegal, it is important that this bill proceed no further in the legislature.
Another bill, HB 801 and SB 397, - something of a companion to the above - would allow for the posting of such lands, thus limiting access to those areas heretofore enjoyed by recreationalists and others. Such a change would presumably allow for timbering and mining on these lands - now considered sovereign. We understand that SB 397 has already passed the Senate (passed 4/27/89 by 36 votes to 1).
Since the final weeks of the Florida legislature are chaotic and unpredictable, we are concerned that these two bills will somehow "slip through." Please call your state representative NOW expressing your concern on these bills - HB 328 and whatever its companion Senate bill may be and HB 801. If you do not know your legislator's number, call (904) 488-1234.
LETTER WRITTEN BY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF SEMINOLE COUNTY TO LEGISLATORS:
We have become aware of two bills pending in the legislature that would transfer title, or control, of certain sovereignty lands from the state of Florida to private ownership.
HB 328, known as the "Harris bill," would change riparian laws that have been in effect in Florida since 1845, by transferring ownership of lands under streams less than 10 feet wide, intermittent wetlands, and lakes under 140 acres, from the state of Florida to adjacent landowners.
Another bill, HB 801 and SB 397, would remove the state's sovereign authority over these lands, allow for posting them to prevent continued public access, and open the door to the timbering and mining of these lands. SB 397 has already passed the Senate and is pending in the House.
We believe that both of these bills are inconsistent with the Florida Supreme Court action upholding state ownership of sovereignty lands, the 1972 Florida Waters Resources Act, the 1984 Wetlands Act, the CARL program, Save Our Rivers program, and similar efforts of the State Legislature to preserve Florida's vital water resources.
In support of our position for the wise management of our natural resources, the League of Women Voters of Seminole County urges you to strenuously oppose HB 328 and HB 801 & SB 397, or substitutes, and work to protect the broad initiative now in process to secure protection of Florida's finite water resources.