American Rivers' list of 10 Most Endangered Rivers for 2008 includes the St. Johns River. The mighty and majestic river that hugs our western boundary has achieved this dubious distinction because the St. Johns River Water Management District wants to draw down 260 million gallons a day to bail out thirsty and overgrown Central Florida.
The St. Johns is number six on the list and flows for 310 miles through Florida. The Catawba-Wateree that flows through North Carolina-South Carolina, is number one and the Niobrara River in Wyoming and Nebraska is 10th.
American Rivers is a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group of 65,000 members nationwide. That strength should help us further fight the drawdown.
The group does not pick the worst or the most polluted river. Criteria includes the magnitude of the threat, including public policy decisions, whether it will be affected by a major decision in the coming year that could affect its future, and the regional or national significance of the river.
American Rivers (www.americanrivers.org) urges people to speak against the drawdown plan for the St. Johns. We have spoken as have our local governments.
Let your objections be heard from St. Augustine to Palatka, Tallahassee and Washington, D.C.
* Remind those who make laws affecting the river that its future is at stake.
* Suggest the Water District Board and our local and state officials do the right thing; force Central Florida to come up with other options besides a draw down of 260 million gallons a day.
Make lawmakers understand that being on the endangered list is not a good thing. The goal should be to prohibit drawdowns, make conservation mandatory and assess penalties to those who fail in this important mission.