Throughout the 1990’s, newspaper headlines like “Study shows river loaded with toxins,” “Report says quality of St. Johns worsening,” and “Effluent is pushing St. Johns into decline” were common. State agencies and environmental regulations were not keeping up with the pollution and impacts from the rapid growth and development occurring throughout our St. Johns River’s Watershed.
Frustrated by the declining health of the River, several concerned citizens recognized the need for an independent watchdog group to advocate for the St. Johns and hold regulatory agencies and polluters accountable. In October 1998, they organized a meeting of various citizen stakeholders to explore the possibility of starting a Riverkeeper program for the St. Johns.
A steering committee was created, but disagreements among some of the members almost derailed the organization before it got off the ground. Fortunately, Roger Bass was not deterred, coalescing those members who remained around one common goal – protecting the St. Johns River. Due to their hard work and determination, St. Johns Riverkeeper received its license from the Waterkeeper Alliance in December of 1999.
This group of intrepid visionaries were determined to take back their River by raising awareness, engaging the public, and standing up for the St. Johns and the citizens to whom it belongs. Science and the best interests of the St. Johns River guided the founders’ decisions, not politics or individual agendas. As a result, the group quickly became a trusted and effective voice for the St. Johns. When threats to the River have emerged, St. Johns Riverkeeper has been there to mobilize citizens, raise awareness, and speak up for the River by taking a stand.
The guiding principles of our founders and their spirit of dogged determination live on with St. Johns Riverkeeper today.
Twenty-five years later, our continued advocacy work is more important than ever before. We have become stronger and more effective as an organization. But, the threats to our River remain just as challenging and daunting as they were in 1999. Protecting and restoring the River is a long game, and we are fully invested and committed to this mission. However, we can’t do it without you and your ongoing support. Together, we’ll continue to fulfill the vision of our founders: ensuring a clean and healthy St. Johns – for the River and for us all.
A special thank you to all of the founding Board members – Dr. Quinton White, Ben Williams, Lenore McCullagh, Dan Donaldson, Roger Bass, and Leslie Turner.