PSA Contest Press Event

Today, we had a check presentation event on the northbank riverwalk to recognize the winner of our 2009 PSA Video Contest, Matt David. Matt was joined by his friend, John Wikstrom, who was the actor in the video. Congratulations Matt and John! Both should be commended for helping to raise awareness about the river with their outstanding video.

You can read more about the press event and watch the winning video by visiting the Times-Union website:
http://jacksonville.com/interact/blog/heather_furey/2009-05-28/riverkeeper_awards_500_to_video_contest_winner

We also understand that some folks had trouble viewing the videos in our previous post. You can view the runner-up videos by clicking here:

http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/2009-05-14/story/riverkeeper_announces_psa_winner

Winners of our 2009 My St. Johns River PSA Video Contest

We are excited to announce the winners of our 2009 My St. Johns River PSA Video Contest for high school students. We have been inspired by the creativity and thoughtfulness that these talented students put into their PSA videos. These kids clearly demonstrated that they care about the health and future of your St. Johns River.

Overall Winner - "Returning the Favor"

by Matt David, Episcopal High School in Jacksonville

Most Pursuasive Message - "Conserve Water"

by Jimmy Burlison and Kristin Potter, Deltona High School

Most Memorable /Creative - "Antoine the Alligator"

by Arika Richardson, Deltona High School

Most Informative - "St. Johns Water PSA"

by Robert Langdon, Deltona High School

Best Editing - "Water Makes Noise"

by David Edwards, Deltona High School

Spring Park

Last weekend, my family and I visited Spring Park in Green Cove Springs. This is a great park for a picnic and offers outstanding access to the St. Johns River.

Spring Park has a wonderful playground, numerous pavillions and picnic tables, a public pool that is fed by the spring, and the City Pier is located right next to the park. The Pier has a covered pavillion with benches, areas for fishermen to wet a line, and dock slips, so you can arrive by boat.

If you are up for a game of riverfront shuffleboard, you will have to bring your own equipment, though. I would encourage you to stop by and take advantage of this beautiful park located in the heart of Green Cove Springs.


Jimmy Orth

It Ain't Over Yet

We sent out the following press release today announcing our appeal.

St. Johns Riverkeeper Appeals Permit Decision

Jacksonville, FL -- St. Johns Riverkeeper filed an appeal today with the Fifth District Court of Appeal, challenging the recent decision by the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) Governing Board to allow Seminole County to remove millions of gallons of water a day from the flow of the St. Johns River. The Court is located in Daytona, Florida.

With the filing, St. Johns Riverkeeper makes good on its promise to continue its fight to protect the river and ends Seminole County’s hopes that concerned citizens throughout Florida would pull back from their two-year struggle to prevent the withdrawal of water from the St. Johns. Last year, St. Johns Riverkeeper, the City of Jacksonville, and St. Johns County filed for an administrative hearing to challenge the permit.

“Our Board of Directors advised the staff to continue to fight these misguided and potentially harmful water withdrawal projects, “said St Johns Riverkeeper, Neil Armingeon. “We will not fold up our tents and go quietly into the night as Seminole County hoped for. We are representing thousands of concerned citizens who love the St. Johns and will not be deterred by Seminole County’s high-priced lawyers and politically connected PR firms. We intend to win. Our river and the citizens of this state deserve nothing less,” Armingeon added.

The appeal by St. Johns Riverkeeper follows last month’s SJRWMD Governing Board meeting in Palatka where over 400 citizens showed up to voice their concerns and opposition to the Seminole County permit. Unfortunately, many citizens were turned away and were not allowed to speak. In addition, SJRWMD staff stated that 19,000 emails opposing the permit were blocked from reaching the Governing Board members before the vote. The Board was deadlocked on the water withdrawal permit, until Susan Hughes, the Board Chair and an executive with JEA, cast the deciding vote to allow Seminole County to remove 5.5 million gallons of water a day (MGD) from the St. Johns River.

This is just the beginning of a multi-billion dollar “Alternative Water Supply” (AWS) program that could result in the removal of over 300 million gallons of water a day (MGD) from the St. Johns River and the Ocklawaha River, a major tributary of the St. Johns. Seminole County eventually plans to remove and process over 50 MGD from the St. Johns at the Yankee Lake facility.

“This permit would launch a program to withdraw massive quantities of water from the St. Johns, potentially causing irreparable harm to one of our country’s greatest natural assets. This is a reckless and short-sighted approach to our water supply problems, especially when more sustainable and cost-effective solutions exist,” says Armingeon.

2009 My St. Johns River PSA Contest

You can help select the "People's Choice" winner of the 2009 St. Johns Riverkeeper PSA Video Contest by visiting the Florida Times-Union website and voting for your favorite entry.

A panel of expert judges will also score the entries on a variety of artistic and technical factors and determine the winner of the $500 prize.

Once the online voting has ended on May 11th, we will announce the "People's Choice" winner and the $500 prize winner. Show your support for these talented and concerned students by casting your vote today.

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/riverkeeperpsa

The video included in this post was created by last year's PSA Contest winner, Andy Leverett, and his friend, Emily Van Horn. Thank you Andy and Emily!

We also want to thank the Florida Times-Union and its online staff for hosting the contest.