On August 7th, 2026, in Stuart, Florida, the  Everglades Foundation held a day of remembrance — a day of remembrance for the day Senate Presidient Joe Negron, in 2016, held a press conference announcing the goal of  the Everglades Agricultural Reservoir to combat the toxic discharges from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie River.

Now it’s 10 years later…

Yes, now it’s 2026 and the EAA Reservoir is a priority of the state and federal government as put forth by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District.   

This is a remarkable accomplishment. Actually, all things considered, it is an impossible accomplishment. We must remember that “perfection is the enemy of the good.” We will get there…

In the meanwhile let’s remember that day and the condition of the St. Lucie River Indian River Lagoon at that time, and remember why we remember. Thank you to the Everglades Foundation for helping us to look back to look forward.

~Announcement Day, City of Stuart. Various dignitaries and members of the public.

Photographs of the St. Lucie River/IRL and toxic algae in Atlantic Ocean in 2016 – “The Lost Year….” due to toxic discharges from Lake Okeechobee. Gov. Rick Scott had the area under a State of Emergency.

Below is the Atlantic Ocean on June 29, 2016. The toxic plume was 3 miles out from the inlet as described by FDEP.

Ed and I were ten years younger in 2016 and full blown River Warriors at that time. I am proud of the progress made that everyone was part of from the Stuart News, Martin County, the City of Stuart, all the NGOs, the Rivers Coalition and most important the grassroots movement of kids, River Kids, parents, and grandparents that exploded changing the world and the fate of our state. Thank you Joe Negron for putting it all out there. We will not allow the Reservoir to be highjacked; it is built of  Martin County’s flesh, blood and heart and we know that there is work to do!

Ed and I in 2016