Author
Rebecca Vecera
Letter from Lisa: Ocklawaha Restoration Funding Veto
Dear River Warriors, In a disappointing turn of events, Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed funding today that was approved by the Florida Legislature to begin the process of restoring the Ocklawaha River. While disappointed, we are by no means deterred. Restoration has only...
Sheltering Grasses, Supporting Manatees
Research to Foster Long-term Manatee Habitat Restoration The Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), an iconic symbol of natural Florida, can be found in the waters of the St. Johns River throughout the year. Manatees feed primarily on submerged aquatic...
Historic Opportunity to Restore the Ocklawaha: Take Action!
Let’s Finally Reunite the Rivers. The River needs your help! Ask Governor DeSantis to support the $6.25 million in the state budget to finally restore the Ocklawaha River. Floridians have been advocating to breach the Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam and restore the...
5 Things to Know About Blue-Green Algae
“Algae Season” is, unfortunately, in full bloom in the St. Johns River watershed. Harmful algae blooms (HABs) can prevent sunlight from reaching underwater plants (like the submerged aquatic vegetation we are fighting to SAVe), clog fish gills, and deplete oxygen from...
May 2025 SAVe Our River’s Grasses Expedition Breakdown
From May 27–30, 2025, St. Johns RIVERKEEPER (SJRK) conducted the first field visit of Year 3 of the SAVe Our River’s Grasses Expedition, continuing efforts to investigate the alarming decline of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the St. Johns River. The team...
Endangered Species Day: Protect the Endangered Species Act
Right now, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service are attempting to pass legislation that would effectively gut the Endangered Species Act’s ability to protect habitats of endangered species by changing the definition of the word...
Our Conservation Lands Are Not For Sale
Update 5/19/25 – We Did it! Floridians came together once again to save our conservation lands! The applicant has rescinded their proposal for the Guana River Wildlife Management Area. The developers only have to win once – we have to win every time! Thank...
Expanding Effort to Restore River Habitat
In preparation of Year Three of the SAVe Our River’s Grasses Expedition, St. Johns Riverkeeper is Forging New Partnerships From April 28 to May 2, 2025, St. Johns RIVERKEEPER (SJRK) is joining forces with Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Florida and Mighty River...