"Cheap" water costly to environment

Hi folks,

Please check out todays "My Word" column in the Orlando Sentinel.

Thanks,
Steve

Seminole prepares to pump from St. Johns River

Hi folks,

A judge ruled this week that Seminole can move ahead with plans to pump up to 5.5 million gallons of water per day from the St. Johns River. This is a very bad development that will lead to environmental destruction as well as economic problems.

For the sake of my sanity, I am posting all information related to this topic on my other site, www.MyFloridaRiver.com. Please visit for daily updates and to get involved in our letter-writing campaign.

Thanks,
Steve

My Florida River goes live

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to say thanks for reading and invite you to check out my new site, www.MyFloridaRiver.com. The site is designed to become a hub for river, lake and spring advocates around the state. Please check it out and feel free to offer suggestions or provide content.

Thanks,
Steve

Alligator Princess paddles the St. Johns

Wednesday, January 21, 2009
One Woman's Solo Paddle on the St. Johns River

Join us as Michelle Thatcher, Executive Director of the Association of Florida Conservation Districts, takes us on her solo journey, down the historic St. John's River. This is her adventure of getting up close and personal with the river once called the "Nile of the Americas" via alligators, wild hogs, hunters, other river "characters", vine-tangled swamps and wide, shallow marshes. With only a map and compass and her 14 foot kayak, Thatcher may be the first to paddle the entire St. Johns River.

A brief discussion of current environmental issues will precede Thatcher's presentation.

Door opens at 6:30 PM with light snacks and socializing
Program is from 7:00 – 8:45 PM
Admission - free and open to the public
Location - Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orchid Room
1920 N Forest Avenue, Orlando Florida
For directions to Leu Gardens visit:
http://centralfloridasierra.org/

For more information contact Kalina at:
407-619-5908 or email
kwsierra@hotmail.com
or go to
http://centralfloridasierra.org/

Aquifer Storage and Recovery threatens wells

A good story about aquifer storage and recovery, a growing, and to my mind, ill-advised attempt at managing our water supplies. This story explains that residents near an ASR well are being told not to use their wells, even though officials insist there is no danger.

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090105/NEWS01/901050316/1006

Volunteers needed for Invasive Plant Removal

Hi everyone,

Please consider volunteering to help remove invasive air potatoes from the Spring Hammock Preserve Sat., Jan. 24 from 10 a.m. to noon. This is a fun event that helps keep a wonderful natural area from becoming completely overgrown by this aggressive plant. Please click on the flier for more details.


If you would like to participate under the banner of the Seminole Democrats Community Service Team, follow the link below to sign up: http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=56370811162&view=user#/group.php?gid=56370811162