Brewing Up Solutions Putnam County: Wednesday, August 21, 2024 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Azalea City Brewing (120 S 7th St, Palatka, FL 32177)

St. Johns Riverkeeper (SJRK) is expanding its Brewing Up Solutions brewery series this year to be watershed-wide. We’re Brewing Up Solutions For the River with people who love the St. Johns from the headwaters to the mouth of the river. We began in the headwaters of the St. Johns River in Indian River County, and will travel downstream stopping along the way until we reach the Atlantic Ocean in Mayport, Duval County. Join us for monthly roundtable discussions that highlight various parts of our vibrant river, adjacent watersheds, and key figures along our journey.

This month at Azalea City Brewing, we will be discussing submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and our SAVe Our River’s Grasses expedition. Azalea City has chosen St. Johns Riverkeeper as their nonprofit organization of the month, and you will have the opportunity to round up your tab as a donation to St. Johns Riverkeeper at this event and throughout the month of August!

Future locations for this series will include Jacksonville and Mayport. We have already visited Vero Beach, Sanford, and St. Augustine.

Register

This event is free and open to the public!

Topic: Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) and our SAVe Our River’s Grasses Expedition

Host: Lisa Rinaman, St. Johns Riverkeeper: The chief advocate and public’s voice for the St. Johns River

Her responsibilities include holding regulatory agencies and those polluting the river accountable; identifying and advocating for solutions that will protect and restore the river; working with government entities, businesses, community leaders and citizens to resolve problems that impact the river’s health; and communicating with the media and the public to educate and raise awareness about important river-related issues.

Lisa was instrumental in the creation of Waterkeepers Florida, a formal collaboration of 15 Waterkeeper Alliance programs united across the state. She is also one of the founding members of the Reunite the Rivers Coalition working to reconnect Silver Springs, the Ocklawaha and the St. Johns as the Great Florida Riverway. In addition, Lisa serves on the Florida Springs Council Board.

She enjoys Florida’s waters and natural wonders with her husband, Mark, and two boys, Mark Jr. and August.

Special Guest: Tim Mann, Mighty River Recovery board member

Tim served with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) for 25 years and has been a tournament bass fishing angler for 3 decades. He fished Bassmaster Nation and Major Bass Fishing League (FLW BFL) tournaments in the past. He is also a local tournament angler.

Tim has taken a special interest in the river through noticing a decline in its habitat and health. He serves on the board of the Mighty River Recovery, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving fish and wildlife habitat on Florida’s St. Johns River, while working to organize and unify outdoor enthusiasts.

Tim was instrumental in the SAV protective enclosure initiative set forth by Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC). Tim was the lead organizer in recruiting volunteers to install these SAV protective enclosures in the St. Johns in an attempt to bring back this vital habitat.