A group of prominent local conservation advocates has just formed the Clean Water Coalition of Indian River County – an umbrella group of about 25 individuals, businesses, civic and environmental organizations and clubs –sharply focused on protecting and restoring all waters in Indian River County – fresh and salt, ground and surface – including the troubled Indian River Lagoon.
Inspired by the successes of the neighboring Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition and the Rivers Coalition of Martin County, the new organization aims to become a unifying voice for educating the public, advocating for key water initiatives, and working with local, state and federal governments to fix the county’s water problems.
“These folks formed this group because the status quo is unacceptable,” said Wayne Mills, chairman of the board of the Ocean Research and Conservation Association and special advisor to the coalition. “When you fill the Indian River County Commission chambers with the number of people that this group is capable of, that makes change.”
The coalition has listed five key initiatives on its website (http://cwc-irc.org): restore the Indian River Lagoon; improve wastewater treatment; safely dispose of bio-solids (treated sewage); establish a no-discharge zone for wastewater from boats; and ensure a clean and sufficient supply of drinking water for current and future generations.
The coalition will host its first public meeting Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. at the River House, 305 Acacia Rd., Vero Beach, where ORCA founder/chief scientist Dr. Edie Widder will be guest speaker. Everyone is invited and there is no need to pre-register.
The new clean water group is headed by President Paul Fafeita – Vero Beach charter boat captain and member of Coastal Conservation Association Florida, a fisherman’s organization with tens of thousands of members – and run by a 13-member board of directors.
Among the 25 partner organizations and businesses are: CCA, Pelican Island Audubon Society, About Bethel Creek, Environmental Learning Center, Estuarine Coastal and Ocean Science (ECOS), Friends of St. Sebastian River, Indian River Neighborhood Association, Marine Bank and Trust, and the Moorings Yacht & Country Club.
“From the beginning, we are an organization of organizations,” said coalition board member Carter Taylor, an information technology consultant. “We can get everyone together to educate the public and address elected officials.”
Mills said he’s looking forward to working with new Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Legislature to secure matching funds to tackle some of the county’s water problems.
“The new Governor, when he tells you the environment is his top priority, that says a lot,” Mills said.
Added Taylor: “We’ve got to hold him to it.”
