Clean Water Advocates Unite in Indian River County to Protect  the Upper Basin of the St. Johns River

Clean water advocates united on Thursday over growing concerns regarding an unpermitted high-density chicken facility under construction in the headwaters of the St. Johns River in West Indian River County. 

Lisa Rinaman, the St. Johns Riverkeeper, and Judy Orcutt, President of the Clean Water Coalition of Indian River County, convened concerned citizens, area residents, experts, and allied groups including Pelican Island Audubon, Indian River Neighborhood Association, and Space Coast Audubon.

Without the required protections, this unpermitted concentrated agricultural feeding operation (CAFO) will exacerbate high levels of toxic-algae-producing nutrient pollution and fecal bacteria in the headwaters of the St. Johns that are already exceeding acceptable levels of pollution.

A History of Pollution

For years, South Florida has been dumping their sewage sludge (AKA biosolids) on land in the upper basin of the St. Johns after this harmful practice was outlawed in the Everglades watershed. Water quality was drastically diminished as a result – especially in Blue Cypress Lake in West Indian River County – until the Indian River County Commission passed a moratorium prohibiting the land disposal of sewage sludge within the county. 

Now, this high-density chicken facility is under construction just upstream from Blue Cypress Lake without the protective measures that are required by Florida Law.

 “How can this be happening in an area where our County Commissioners worked hard to pass protective regulations to stop the spread of sewage sludge due to toxic algae blooms in Blue Cypress Lake?” asked Judy Orcutt.

Chicken CAFOs like this one are known to be harmful to downstream waterways. Chicken waste contains nitrogen, phosphorous, antibiotics, and hormones. That is why Florida Law requires these facilities to be permitted prior to their construction and reasonable assurances must be met.  

“It is simply unacceptable to allow such a potentially damaging operation to undermine the health of the St. Johns at its very source,” stated Lisa Rinaman.

Our citizen coalition urgently asks the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to necessitate the protective permits and ensure that reasonable assurances are met as required by law. We also request full transparency and notification of the fulfillment of FDEP’s regulatory activation and oversight.