The Martin County Board of County Commissioners asks for your support as they SPEAK UP FOR THE ST. LUCIE.
Commissioners and citizens are greatly concerned about the impact of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to release water from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie Estuary. The Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie Estuary have long suffered from altered water flow patterns and degraded water quality. Excessive recent rains resulted in rising water levels in Lake Okeechobee and caused Corps officials to release water to allow for additional storage for the remainder of hurricane season.
The impacts of extreme freshwater flows, combined with large volumes of stormwater runoff, can be immediately seen and felt by the aquatic plants and animals that provide the basis of our estuarine food chain. The poor water quality will only continue to impact our economy, much of which is dependent on a viable coastal ecosystem.
HOW YOU CAN “SPEAK UP”
In Martin County, the estuary is central to the community’s quality of life. If you are concerned over the repeated insult to the estuary caused by these releases, you can help by “speaking up” in the following ways:
- Voice your support for projects that will help lessen future impacts to the estuary, such as construction of the C-44 Reservoir and rehabilitation of the Herbert Hoover Dike. Write a letter to representatives in Congress and at the Corps of Engineers (see sample letters and contact information below) or call their offices to share your concerns.
- Print out the “Speaking Up for the St. Lucie” logo or pick one up at the County Administrative Center (located at 2401 SE Monterey Road in Stuart, open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.). Take a photo of you and your family or friends with the logo at your favorite places in Martin County to show you care and share your photos on the Speak Up For the St. Lucie Facebook page – photos will bel shared with Congressional representatives in Washington so they can see how important our estuary is to the entire community.
- Upload photos (with date stamp, if possible) that you take of any damaging conditions that you see in our estuary and share on the Speak Up For the St. Lucie Facebook page.
- Join the “Speak Up for the St. Lucie” E-mail Action List to receive updates and additional ways you can continue to support the effort.
SPEAK UP FOR THE ST. LUCIE…This important work cannot be done alone. Join the Board of County Commissioners and the citizens of Martin County as we continue to lead the way in the protection of our estuaries.
OTHER RESOURCES AND LINKS
Speak up for the St. Lucie (Community Support Facebook Page)