Guest speaker at the regular mont
Guest speaker at the OSFR board meeting on Jan.23, 2019, was Tom Mirti, Deputy Executive Director of the Suwannee River Water Management District of Live Oak, Florida.
Tom gave a detailed and informative talk about the Minimum Flows and Levels which must be set this year for the lower Santa Fe River. Many different facets are considered when determining the numbers for setting this standard. Ecological and Water Resource Values, such as recreation, water quality and habitat are factored in, as well as important definitions of what constitutes “significant harm” and the “natural regime.”
Although not happening fast enough for some, the mere establishment of these standards give some automatic protection to the river, which, at this point, is impaired, when compared to pre-development conditions.
Tom had an interested audience who wished they had more time allotted for the guest speaker. OSFR wishes to thank Tom Mirti for traveling to our meeting and spending part of his evening with our membership.
Additional business during the meeting centered on plans for the up-coming RiverFest, well underway by organizer Rhonda Long.
The meeting was well-attended with several new people who expressed enthusiasim for our mission.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
-A river is like a life: once taken, it cannot be brought back-
