The St. John's River Summit
A strategic planning session to protect, preserve
and enhance the St. Johns River

The 2003 St. Johns River Summit will seek legislative support and funding commitments for water quality and water supply initiatives in the upper, middle and lower basins of the river.

The two-day summit will seek to encourage champions of the river to stay the course and to develop comprehensive initiatives to preserve, enhance and protect the river from its headwaters in Indian River and Brevard counties, through the lakes of central Florida, to its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean in Jacksonville.

Topics discussed in breakout sessions on Jan. 13 will include trails and greenways, land acquisition, outreach and public education, and funding and public/private partnerships. The tentative keynote presentation will be on the St. Johns River as an American Heritage River.

Day Two (Jan. 14) will focus on water supply and water quality issues. Speakers will discuss the current state of water quality and water supply in our region, followed by a discussion on riverwide water quality challenges and a presentation on the Water Supply Agenda. Afternoon breakout sessions will include discussions on nonpoint source pollution, point source pollution, bacteria, aquatic habitat and wildlife, and total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for the St. Johns River. A case study on creating a comprehensive restoration plan, using the Everglades restoration plan as a model, will also be available to Summit participants.

The public is urged to participate. Registration information will be available in the near future.

The event is sponsored by the St. Johns River Water Management District, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the summit's host city of Jacksonville.