NOVEMBER 2019 VOLUME 36, ISSUE 2

FLORIDA DEFENDERS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, INC. THE MONITOR NEWSLETTER OF DEFENDERS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, INC. 309 SR 26 P.O. Box 357086 Melrose, Florida 32666 Gainesville, Florida 32635 website facebook phone www.fladefenders.org www.facebook.com/floridadefenders (352) 475-1119

The Rodman Report 2019/2020 Drawdown by Karen Chadwick

Cannon Springs at flood level The 2019/2020 drawdown of the Rodman flood pool on the Ocklawaha River to help control unwanted vegetation began on October 1st. It is During the drawdown scheduled to start refill by March 1st. During the drawdown many people are taking this opportunity to see Cannon Springs, in all its natural glory, plus many of the 20 or more other springs unavailable when the reservoir is full. Boating, kayaking and fishing guides are very busy providing charters during this time. Anglers are flocking to the river as bass and other species are concentrated in the natural channel. Shoreline fishing opportunities increase at Kenwood and Orange Springs boat ramps that are accessible only during the drawdown. Hopefully local county commissioners and legislators will realize what an asset the springs are to nature based tourism and will see how many people 2019-2020 Drawdown Schedule for Rodman visit the springs along the Ocklawaha River during the drawdown. Perhaps Sep 10 - Sep 30: Surcharge to approximately 20.0 feet NGVD they can encourage our State conservation agencies to pursue restoration of Oct 1 - Oct 15: Lower from 20.0 to 18.0 feet NGVD Oct 16, 2019: Drawdown per general permit from 18.0 feet NGVD the natural hydrology of the Ocklawaha River as the State shows in its plans Nov 15 2019: Arrive at 11.0 feet NGVD – which has been suppressed by political influence for decades! Now is your Nov 15, 2019 - Mar 1, 2020: Maintain level at 11.0 feet NGVD chance to get on the water and see what the Ocklawaha River has to offer Mar 1, 2020: Begin refill to 18.0 feet NGVD while the river flows within its banks. Apr 15, 2020: Arrive at 18.0 feet NGVD Apr 15 - Apr 30, 2020: Surcharge to +/- 20.0 feet NGVD

Orange Springs and Kenwood boat ramps extended to reach the river

Cannon Springs revealed

The flooded forest of Rodman Extended boat ramps bring many locals to the banks FLORIDA DEFENDERS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, INC. THE MONITOR

President’s Last Message by Steve Robitaille

After 6 gratifying years serving as FDE board president, it is time for me to share with our many supportive members this farewell message. During my tenure I have worked with five Executive Directors who have helped me to keep the tent up, and to keep alive our various projects on behalf of Natural Working to protect freshwater Florida. I am indebted to all of them, and to our current director, Jim Gross, resources, conserve public who will guide FDE in the critical months ahead with the multi-talented, lands, and provide quality Jenny Carr, who has been wisely tapped to be my successor. environmental education since FDE has been recognized for its 50 years of service as being guided by solid science, law and 1969. economics. These are the compelling factors that lead FDEP Secretary, Noah Valenstein, and Governor DeSantis’s Chief Science Officer, Dr. Thomas Frazer, to characterize their recent meeting with FDE’s Ocklawaha restoration delegation as one of the best organized and most Executive Committee effective of their tenure in office. I truly believe that in the coming months our statewide Ocklawaha coalition, and the continued leadership of the stellar group now leading this ongoing Jennifer Carr, President effort, will bring to fruition restoration of Ocklawaha. Joseph Little, Vice-President At our recent 50th anniversary party in Melrose I announced the revival of FDE’s President’s Club Karen Chadwick, At- Large and what we are calling our “$50K @ 50 Campaign.” Our goal is to challenge some 100 loyal supporters to contribute, either individually, or with others, $500 to this campaign, thus earning Jim Clugston, Secretary, them membership in FDE’s “President’s Club” and a handsome plaque bearing their name(s). I am Stephen Holland, Treasurer hoping 100 supporters will meet this challenge by the next spring board meeting, thus realizing our Mary Alford, At-Large goal of $50,000. To this end, I have primed the pump with a $500 donation. These funds are so critical in the next few months as we continue our dialogue with state leaders in Tallahassee will be wisely invested. But it is people power that ultimately makes the difference. People like you and the many dedicated members of our restoration planning group and coalition members. I have informed our Executive Committee that I will happily serve FDE in whatever Trustees capacity they deem valuable as I retire from serving as President. I have passed the baton of Lars Andersen President to Jennifer Carr, our founders’ granddaughter, representing a pivotal moment for Florida Fay Baird and the restoration of the Ocklawaha River. I know I want to raise a toast at the party we will throw when Marjorie Carr’s dream of a free-flowing Ocklawaha is, at long last, a reality. Bill Cumming Byron Flagg Lola Haskins Thomas Hawkins Nkwanda Jah Bruce Kaster Join our President's Club! Derek LaMontagne FDE’s President’s Club and "$50K @ 50 Campaign." Peggy MacDonald Send $500. or more to this campaign, and receive this Mac MacKay handsome plaque bearing your name. Tracy Marinello Bettina Moser Steve Robitaille Veronika Thiebach Katie Tripp JoAnn Valenti Dr. F. Ashley White

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Staffxecutive Assistant

  And so it is with the Ocklawaha and its popular bass fishing pond.  The river Marjorie so loved was one of the world’s pristine waterway jewels well into the 20th century, even though various schemes to build a canal across Florida were centuries old. It took an impassioned Florida citizen and her small legion of FDE scientists, lawyers, economists and loyal supporters to bring about the de-authorization of the canal project in 1970. This was the age of dam building, before the nation woke up to the realization that the structural control of natural waters leads to calamitous unnatural consequences.  continues to progress under the leadership of Joe Little. This legal action seeks to hold the Florida Legislature accountable for the mismanagement of taxpayer dollars that were intended to purchase and restore land for conservation. • These are only a few of the critical and costly endeavors currently underway that need immediate member support. Your generous donation could underwrite the cost of sending a delegate to the Coalition meeting, producing materials for our Ocklawaha restoration campaign, legal fees to fight the Sleepy Creek threats to Silver Springs, and other ongoing initiatives. NOVEMBER 2019 VOLUME 36, ISSUE 2

Amendment One Update by Joe Little Florida Defenders of the Environment is not giving up on our lawsuit against the state of Florida for not using Amendment One funds to buy land for conservation and protection of our water.

Amendment One was adopted by the people of Florida on November 6, 2014 to add Article X §28 to the Florida Constitution. The title of that provision is “Land Acquisition Trust Fund” and the ballot title the people saw when voting was “Water and Land Conservation—Dedicates Funds to Acquire and Restore Florida Conservation and Recreation Lands.” Despite the purpose of the amendment, the Legislature immediately appropriated the funds for other purposes and not for the acquisition of new conservation lands. The Florida Wildlife Federation sued the state on one theory and FDE later sued on another, submitting that the monies must be used to purchase and improve new conservation lands. The two cases were consolidated.

The trial court adopted FDE’s theory and the State of Florida appealed to the District Court of Florida, First District, arguing that the State could spend the money to manage conservation lands whenever purchased, wherever located and by whomever owned. The District Court adopted the State’s argument and overruled the trial court’s decision. FDE plans to seek review in the . Although the Supreme Court has discretion to accept or deny review, FDE believes every opportunity to preserve the trial court’s decision should be taken. FDE will keep members informed as the case continues.

US Forest Service Update by Bruce Kaster

The Legal Battle Continues

In a recent surprising decision Judge Harvey Schlesinger finally ruled on the USFS motion to dismiss filed last September. The Judge granted the Forest Service’s motion to dismiss FDE’s lawsuit based on the concept that the USFS could not be compelled to move forward with river restoration because this action is within the discretion of the Forest Service. He also ruled that the Forest Service was permitted to inappropriately file a late self-serving supplement to the record. We believe that he is wrong in both rulings. FDE is proceeding with an appeal.

FDE has hired an appellate lawyer, Pamela Jo Hatley, to assist Jane West with the appeal. Jane has filed a motion to amend the court’s decision as a prerequisite to going forward with the appeal. The motion is available through a link at FDE’s website.

The war goes on.

photo by Karen Chadwick photo by Julie Bowland 3 FLORIDA DEFENDERS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, INC. THE MONITOR

Marjorie Harris Carr's Granddaughter Jennifer Carr Steps up for the challenge to lead FDE !

Tallahassee Meeting and Restoration Leadership Conference

The Ocklawaha Working Group which includes Jim Gross—FDE Executive Director, Karen Chadwick— FDE Board of Trustees member, Margaret Spontak —the Silver Ocklawaha Blue Highway, Lisa Rinamen—St. Johns Riverkeeper, Dr. Ken Sulak retired Emeritus USGS fish biologist and me had a positive meeting in Tallahassee meeting with Noah Valenstein —FDEP Secretary and Dr. Tom Frazer—Florida’s first Chief Science Officer on October 3rd 2019 in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building, next door to the Marjorie and Archie Carr Building.

We discussed the benefits of restoring the 13,000 acres of floodplain forest within a Florida Wildlife Corridor bottleneck of the Ocala to Osceola National Park critical linkage. Lisa Rinamen explained the biofiltration benefits to the St. Johns River that would occur if the flow was restored. Margaret Spontak discussed the economics of restoration, and Captain Karen Chadwick of North Star Charters presented the tourism possibilities and historical significance of the river using poster sized maps. Jim Gross discussed the benefits to water quality. Dr. Ken Sulak had an in-depth discussion about restoring the spawning area and connectivity for striped bass and other fish. Dr. Sulak was one of the 5 founders of the North American Sturgeon and Paddlefish Society (NASPS) and a core member of the World Sturgeon Conservation Society (WSCS). He was also my former employer at USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center in Gainesville 15 years ago where I tagged Gulf Sturgeon on the Suwannee and Apalachicola River. Speaking of fish, Chief Science Officer and former Director of the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the , Dr. Tom Frazer, has an extensive background in fisheries and aquatic sciences and is an avid bass fisherman. Jennifer Carr and Dr. Ken Sulak before the meeting in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas building.

Ocklawaha Restoration Leadership Conference On October 24th the Ocklawaha working group held the Ocklawaha Restoration Leadership Conference workshop at The Retreat at Silver Springs. The purpose was to invite collaborators to give feedback on the Ocklawaha Restoration briefing book and to develop a communications plan. There were many participants including former governor, Buddy MacKay, and his wife Anne.

Jennifer Carr with Gov. Buddy MacKay and Anne MacKay

Dr. Robert Knight Captain Karen Chadwick Jim Gross 4 NOVEMBER 2019 VOLUME 36, ISSUE 2

Audubon Assembly The following two days after the Ocklawaha restoration working group conference I attended the Audubon Assembly held at the Hilton in Gainesville. It was a great networking event. I displayed four informative Ocklawaha restoration posters produced by Margaret Spontak. During Dr. Tom Frazer’s keynote speech he shared his experiences in fisheries and he was enthusiastic about his love of fishing. On Saturday at the assembly I encountered posters on display that were about Florida’s conservation leaders which included my grandmother, Marjorie Harris Carr and her efforts to restore the Ocklawaha River. Noah Valenstein also attended the assembly on Saturday as a panelist speaker.

Trips to Cannon Springs I visited Cannon Springs on the Ocklawaha River during this year’s drawdown with Captain Karen Chadwick and Peggy Macdonald. We took selfies from inside of a giant hollowed out bald cypress tree. There were numerous alligators basking on the exposed river banks. I saw a Roseate Spoonbill that Captain Karen said she had not seen in the area for 30 years. Wood Storks also returned to forage on the river shores that are made available during this rare opportunity, when the drawdown of the river is conducted. Wood Storks are listed as a federally threatened species. They are also an important indicator of wetland ecosystem health which is why we would see more Woods Storks if the river hydrology was restored. On the river shore we found a hollow tree stump brimming with crystal clear water that was flowing out of it! I could only see part way down the dark interior of the stump spring. We swam at Cannon Springs in the turquoise water and roasted marshmellows. Several kayakers signed the Free the Ocklawaha postcards that Karen had at the ready. I visited Cannon Springs again on an outing with Kevin Spear from the Orlando Sentinel, Dr. Ken Sulak, Jim Gross, Lisa Rinamen, Dr. Bob Knight, Director of the Florida Springs Institute and Captain Karen Chadwick. Kevin is writing an article that examines the challenges of restoring three different rivers, including the Ocklawaha River. As the new President of FDE I hope to breathe new life into the mission of restoring the Ocklawaha River through collaboration and bridge-building (metaphorically and physically). Restoring the Ocklawaha River is something that benefits the greater good of society because it considers the interconnectedness of the different ecosystems Jenny Carr & Peggy Macdonald throughout the landscape. with their daughters

Jenny Carr & her daughter Tree stump spring in Cannon Springs

Cannon Springs

5 FLORIDA DEFENDERS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, INC. THE MONITOR 50th Anniversary Party and Marjorie Harris Carr Award to Former Governor Buddy MacKay

Florida Defenders of the Environment celebrated its 50th anniversary with a party at Mossman Hall in Melrose on Friday, October 18th from 4-7 p.m. A full house of celebrants enjoyed a bounty of food and drink and music by The Weeds of Eden. Also featured at the celebration was the presentation of the Marjorie Carr Award for Environmental Advocacy to Buddy MacKay. Mackay served briefly as the 42nd Governor of Florida following the death of on December 12, 1998. During his long public service career he was also a state legislator, a U.S. Representative, lieutenant governor, and special envoy of President 's administration for the Americas. As of 2019, he is the last Democrat to serve as Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Florida. Gov. Buddy MacKay & Bruce Kaster When serving in the U.S. House, Buddy MacKay championed congressional deauthorization of the Cross Florida Barge Canal project. MacKay worked with Marjorie Carr in her attempt to retire the Rodman Reservoir and restore the hydrology of the Ocklawaha River and surrounding 13,000 acres of forested wetlands. MacKay notes, “My hope still is that they will do away with that dam and allow that 9,000-acre polluted lake to disappear.” In his introduction of Mackay, FDE vice- president, Joe Little, noted that MacKay has been involved with FDE since its inception fifty years ago and, most recently, joined an FDE delegation with the late John Henry Hankinson and former EPA head, Carol Browner, that met with then Forest Service Director to make the case for Ocklawaha restoration. Following the election of Governor Ron DeSantis, Mackay wrote an impassioned letter urging DeSantis to include Ocklawaha restoration in his aggressive environmental agenda. Another highlight of the evening was the premiere of the website, Ocklawaha Remember, Imagined, produced by FDE Executive Committee members Karen Chadwick and Mary Joe Little, Peggy Macdonald & Kayser Enneking Alford, with a major grant from the Felburn Foundation and the creative contribution of Blu Dove Designs. The site can be accessed at www.ocklawahariver.com and contributions of Ocklawaha memories, archival material, photos and other new additions to the site can be made on the website’s contact page. In his closing comments, outgoing president, Steve Robitaille, announced the launch of the “50K @ 50” fund-raising campaign and challenged party attendees and all FDE supporters to join the “President’s Club” by donating $500 individually, or as group, to raise $50,000 by FDE spring board meeting in April 2020.

Deb Massie, Kate Gallagher, Kayser Enneking & Karen Chadwick

John Moran

6 Mary Alford Margaret Tolbert NOVEMBER 2019 VOLUME 36, ISSUE 2

Do Bass Fishermen Really Need Rodman Reservoir? by Jim Clugston

Florida is often touted as the “Fishing Capital of the World.” The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) points out that there are 3 million acres of lakes, ponds, and reservoirs available to fishermen in the state. Rodman Reservoir, on the Ocklawaha River, is about 9,000 acres at full pool. The FWC also reports that Rodman Reservoir is one of the top ten most popular bass fishing waters in Florida. Many of the other top bass fishing areas are a short drive from Rodman Reservoir. Fishing is cyclic in most lakes and reservoirs, with good and bad years. At present Rodman Reservoir is in the “good fishing” category. Over the past few decades there has been an ongoing dispute between environmentalists, who want to remove the dam and restore the river, and some bass fishermen, who want to maintain the reservoir for fishing. The environmentalists emphasize the importance of a free-flowing river for the benefit of all flora and fauna, many of which are listed by Florida as endangered, threatened, or of special concern. Without the dam, striped bass would be able to migrate to the constant-temperature springs of Silver River to survive summer heat, and manatees could visit the springs for winter survival. On the other hand, fishermen point out the reservoir’s excellent bass fishing and economic benefit to the nearby communities. Rodman Reservoir undoubtedly helps the economy of Putnam County; it attracts both casual fishermen for recreation and competitive fishermen for numerous bass fishing tournaments. A recent two-year study by the University of Florida (UF) examined both the public preference for and economic impact of restoring the river to its natural state versus maintaining the reservoir as it is now. UF researchers concluded that total expenditures and economic impacts of visitor spending for recreational activities in the existing natural portions of the river are about twice as high as they are for activities on the reservoir. Do bass fishermen really need Rodman Reservoir? The fishing is good, but it is as good in many nearby lakes and rivers. This prompts another question – if the fishing is so good, why do tournament fishermen leave the Rodman Reservoir by way of the Buckman Lock to fish in the St. Johns River if they have the opportunity? A two-year study in 2004 by James Livingston, then Ocklawaha River Restoration Project Coordinator for Florida Defenders of the Environment, was to determine the location and sizes of winning catches in Putnam County fishing tournaments. His data is from 177 tournaments as reported in the Palatka Daily News from February 2001 and August 2004. One of his findings for tournaments starting in Rodman Reservoir was, if given the chance, tournament winners left the reservoir to fish in the St. Johns River. At that time, the river was considered the most consistent bass fishery and had the largest bass. The exit from Rodman Reservoir to fish in the St. Johns River continues today. The annual “Save Rodman Bass Fishing Tournament” includes in its rules the Buckman Lock operating schedule so that fishermen can leave the reservoir to fish in the river and return to the starting point in the reservoir in time for the official weigh-in at Kenwood ramp. As reported in the Palatka Daily News, top winners in the April 6, 2019, “Xtreme Fishing Tournament” caught their fish in the St. Johns River. Karen Chadwick, operator of North Star Charters on the Ocklawaha River, counted 20 tournament boats coming back through the lock after fishing in the St. Johns River during an April 20, 2019, tournament. Fishermen are weird people. I know because many of my past and present fishing companions and I fit that category. An avid fisherman for the past 75 years, I have always found a place to fish wherever I lived or visited. Given the ready availability of good fishing waters in central Florida, I believe Rodman Reservoir fishermen will do the same. Perhaps they also will enjoy fishing in the scenic environment of a restored river. There are also always ample tournaments in Palatka and other sites on the St. Johns River to meet that need. Natural areas in Florida are constantly being lost because of the influx of new residents and the infrastructure required to accommodate them. Florida’s population is now 21.6 million people and projected to reach nearly 26 million by 2030. New toll roads are planned that will open large areas of natural lands to more development. Even with our present population, Florida’s waters are suffering because of increased nutrients (primarily from lawn fertilization, outdated septic systems, and agriculture) that result in algae blooms and other health issues. Water withdrawal from our dwindling aquifer is of ongoing concern because of home, business, and agriculture needs. I realize I am describing a bleak picture for the Florida environment. I remember how the State and the Ocklawaha River looked in the early 1960s. Restoring the Ocklawaha River by breaching the Rodman Reservoir dam is a rare opportunity to reverse one of man’s alterations of a natural environment. Hopefully you and I will have the opportunity to see the river flowing free again.

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Ocklawaha Remembered, Ocklawaha Imagined by Mary Alford & Karen Chadwick

This past spring, while contemplating ways to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of FDE, an ambitious project was proposed: a website that would provide the ability to virtually explore the river from your desk as well as a website to discover the secrets of the river while visiting the river in person, using your cell phone or other electronic device. While other websites have provided environmental data, or photographs, or history of the river, we did not know of a comprehensive website that allowed people to explore all aspects of the Ocklawaha.

In addition, we also wanted to expand our audience. There are many people that are interested in the history surrounding the river and the archaeology and geology and the flora and fauna – but they would shy away from anything about restoring the river. Our goal was to create a website to share many things of interest to a wide audience – including a vision of a restored river that emphasizes the ecotourism and economic potential – to help, to educate, and expand our influence.

Six months is an ambitious time frame to obtain funding, create a website, map significant points on the river, gather data (including historic photos, videos, interviews, stories, artwork, music, scientific papers, state documents, and more) and incorporate that data into a format that encouraged exploration and learning. However, we created a plan, presented it to the board and it was tentatively approved, depending on funding. The project qualified for a small grant from the Felburn Foundation as well as money from Hankinson Fund previously designated for a website for the Blueways Project (with a similar goal). Karen Chadwick spent many hours mapping points on the river and videoing interviews with people that grew up on the river. Community volunteers provided editing services. The University of Florida helped us find materials in their archives, and local families shared photos of the places and people along the “old river”.

We worked with a Bludove, local web and graphic design firm, that were extremely helpful in designing a useful interface and working with us to meet our deadline. We were very pleased, on October 18, to unveil www.ocklawahariver.com . We hope that you spend some time exploring the river with us and seeing new interviews, new photos, new stories and exploring the river in a new way. We have planned for this to be a resource for people during the drawdown and we encourage you to share this whenever you can.

Our next steps include the following: • Continue to insert new material into the map, especially from the state’s previous plans for a restored river; • “Groundtruth” some of the points on the map during the drawdown of the river (we had to guess at some of the spring locations while the river was flooded); • Design and print a paper map for people to use as a backup to their electronic devices while on the river and to further promote the effort; and • Obtain advertisers and sponsors for the webpage to assist in long term maintenance costs.

How can you help? Please visit the website, provide any materials you might have, and share the website widely. If you have any materials or if you or your business would like to advertise or sponsor, please contact us at [email protected].

8 NOVEMBER 2019 VOLUME 36, ISSUE 2

The Rainbow River Charade by Jim Gross, Executive Director

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently proposed minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for the Rainbow River. MFLs take the form of administrative rules pursuant to Florida statutory law. The minimum flow for a given watercourse is the limit at which further withdrawals would be significantly harmful to the water resources or ecology of the area. The minimum water level is the level of groundwater in an aquifer and the level of surface water at which further withdrawals would be significantly harmful to the water resources or ecology of the area. Note that in both cases the minimums are defined in the context of withdrawals of water. The flow of the Rainbow River comes almost entirely from the discharge of groundwater at the head springs and along the run of the river. The District’s proposed MFL rule sounded reasonable on the face of it. The rule would only allow a 3 percent additional decline in river flow. But here’s the charade. The District maintains that the flow of the Rainbow River has only declined by 1 percent due to groundwater withdrawals. This assertion isn’t even remotely close to the real declines caused by groundwater pumping. I was called upon to testify as an expert witness at the hearing to challenge the proposed MFL rule. I showed the judge the historical flow record for the river compiled by the Geological Survey. I showed that river flow has declined by 27 percent just since 1962. I also testified that if we had records going further back in time, we would see that the cumulative decline in flow due to groundwater pumping is even greater than 27 percent. Finally, I testified that there is no information that indicates that changes in rainfall can explain this long-term decline in the flow of the river. As this edition of The Monitor goes to press, we have yet to see a decision from the judge.

Renewing FDE’s Commitment to Florida by Jim Gross, Executive Director

Florida Defenders of the Environment celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. This was a very special milestone. It caused us to reflect upon the successes of our past and the challenges of our future. Fifty years ago, Florida’s population was 6.8 million. Since then it has more than tripled to 21.2 million. Many of the environmental challenges we face today could not have been imagined 50 years ago. The future of Florida belongs to a new generation of Floridians. It belongs to a generation of men and women who are committed to addressing an ever-increasing array of environmental challenges. How will Florida keep pace with climate change and sea-level rise? How will we put enough land into conservation to avoid the disappearance of more plant and animal species? How will we support a growing population without depleting our precious freshwater resources? FDE’s current Executive Committee members have generously donated their time and energy to the organization for quite some time. Steve Robitaille stepped down as President on November 20, 2019. Pursuant to provisions in FDE’s bylaws, FDE’s Executive Committee filled that void by nominating and approving FDE Trustee Jenny Carr to be our next President. Jenny is the granddaughter of Marjorie Harris Carr, the principal founder of Florida Defenders of the Environment. Jim Clugston and Steve Holland are planning to step down from the Executive Committee after their replacements are nominated and approved at FDE’s Board of Trustees meeting now slated for April 23, 2019. It has been my honor and privilege to have worked alongside Jim Clugston, Steve Holland, and Steve Robitaille. FDE is currently in the process of renewing its roster of trustees and advisors. I am pleased to report that FDE’s Nominating Committee has been hard at work. The Committee had already nominated Jenny Carr to be FDE’s next President before Steve Robitaille stepped down. The Committee has also nominated Peggy MacDonald, biographer of Marjorie Harris Carr, to serve as Secretary of FDE. Jenny and Peggy are both outstanding defenders of the environment. They are committed to leading FDE and Florida into the future. Florida Defenders of the Environment renews itself every year at its annual Board of Trustees meeting in the spring. This is when we identify new Trustees, Advisors, and officers of the organization. These people are the leaders of our organization. They are the face of FDE, a face that must necessarily reflect the future of Florida. I would ask you to take a moment to think about this. Perhaps you are a person willing to serve FDE and Florida. Perhaps you know some young person who is passionate about the environment, and willing to invest that passion into a small but nimble and forward- looking organization. If so, please contact me and I will forward that information to our Nominating Committee.

9 FLORIDA DEFENDERS OF THE ENVIRONMENT, INC. THE MONITOR

We are sad to announce the passing of our great friend and champion for Ocklawaha River restoration Richard 'Whitey' Markle, Nov. 4, 2019 of Citra, FL. He was a passionate advocate for Florida's natural environment and creative musician-guitarist who authored several songs including, The Ole Ocklawaha. He was a memorable character who brought smiles to anyone he encountered who shared his passion for protecting the environment. He will be dearly missed.

Lost Springs will air on PBS Dec. 4th at 8PM & 11PM. Check your local PBS stations for future dates.

10 NOVEMBER 2019 VOLUME 36 ISSUE 2

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