The impact of Lake Okeechobee freshwater discharges upon the St. Lucie River has severely impacted the Treasure Coast’s environment and the area’s local economy. It’s time for the community to pull together to save the St. Lucie River from further destruction, restore job opportunities and rebuild the local economy. To jumpstart the process, the community is invited to attend the inaugural Stuart Sailfish Festival November 16-17 at Memorial Park in Stuart, where proceeds will benefit the Rivers Coalition. Featuring fresh seafood, live entertainment, activities for children, nautical vendors and fun, organizers say “It’s all for a good cause!”
“Our river is in really bad shape due to the freshwater discharges from Lake Okeechobee,” explained Charles Grande, president of the Rivers Coalition Defense Fund. “A lot of the sea grass and most of the oysters are dead. People tend to dismiss the value of oysters, but each oyster can clean 40 to 50 gallons of water each day removing harmful impurities and toxins. They are nature’s water filters that keep our river safe and healthy. ”
Funds raised through the event will help the Rivers Coalition file a clean water legal action to jumpstart negotiations to end the destruction of the St. Lucie River and implement workable solutions.
Festival gates will be open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, November 16; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, November 17.
Scheduled entertainment includes Brett Duff Acoustic, The Samantha Russell Band, The Long Run (an Eagles Tribute Band), the Dave Mathews Tribute Band, Killbillies, Fresh Catch, and the Amber Leigh Band.
Advance tickets are $5; $7 at the gates. Kids 12 and under are free.
Sponsorship opportunities are available; call (772) 631-9084 or email Lindsay@NickersonAndCompany.com for more information.
The Rivers Coalition is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the pollution of the St. Lucie River from Lake Okeechobee. Its mission is to fight for a safe, healthy and ecologically balanced St. Lucie River Estuary and Indian River Lagoon, natural resources that are vital to the economy and quality of life of Martin County and the Treasure Coast.
For more information about the Rivers Coalition, visit http://www.riverscoalition.org. For more information about the inaugural Stuart Seafood Festival, visit www.StuartSeafoodFestival.com or www.facebook.com/stuartseafoodfestival.
