Beautiful Martin County

Hi Friends!

On Tuesday September 27th I drove to Martin County.  I have copy and pasted the itinerary below:

ITINERARY

Miss Florida and Everglades Foundation Visit to Martin County

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

APPROXIMATE TIME                EVENT

9:30-9:45 AM                         PROCLAMATION HONORING NORTHERN EVERGLADES AND INDIAN RIVER LAGOON RESTORATION MONTH (APPROX. 9:30 AM – MEETING BEGINS AT 9:00 AM)

Martin County Board of County Commissioners – Commission Chambers

Miss Florida will make some remarks and a photo will be taken with the Martin County Board of County Commissioners and other in attendance (it is anticipated that representatives from the US Army Corps of Engineers; South Florida Water Management District; Everglades Coalition; the Rivers Coalition; the Florida Oceanographic Society and others will be in attendance and will be recognized).

10:30-10:45                           TOUR OF FLORIDA OCEANOGRAPHIC COASTAL CENTER DURING RAY FEEDING 

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM          VISIT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES CENTER

(Information on the Center is available here: http://www.escmc.org/thecenter.html)

2^nd 3^rd and 6^th graders

The Environmental Studies Center will give the group a tour of the Center.  They will have 2^nd, 3rd, and 6th graders on campus that day.  Miss Florida will be able to see what Martin County students are learning about the fragile nature of our Lagoon and how the Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, and the St. Lucie are all connected in the survival of our precious resources. The tour will include the lagoon area; tour of the outdoor tanks and aquariums and the lab with the 6^th graders, who are studying plankton.

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At the County Commissioners meeting I was honored to receive the Proclamation naming the month of October as Northern Everglades and Indian River Lagoon Restoration Month.

 Martin county citizens have shown unending support for Everglades restoration. They are the only ones to tax themselves to raise funds for Everglades restoration. During an 8-year period, the citizens of Martin county raised $75 million to assist with land acquisition related to the Indian River Lagoon South Plan which is one for the projects involved in Everglades Restoration.

A component of the Indian River Lagoon Project, called the C-44 component, would reduce polluted runoff into the St. Lucie River and the Lagoon while also creating over 800 jobs. The Indian River Lagoon project is the only example where a local government has shared in the project’s funding. This unique partnership demonstrates just how important the Everglades and our waterways are to the people of Martin County.     

After receiving the proclamation a woman from the River Kidz Organization presented a poster that one of the kids had drawn for me. The River Kidz is affiliated with the Rivers Coalition in Martin County.  They work to help stop the Lake Okeechobee discharges that pollute Florida's beautiful rivers and harm the wildlife.  

 

My tour of the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center was very informative and a lot of fun!  I had the opportunity to feed sting rays, hold different sea creatures, and learn about how the coastal center is working to educate people about our waters and its animals. 

My favorite part of the day was visiting the Environmental Studies Center.  All of the children were so excited for my visit!  This center was the first I had ever seen of its kind.  They had the tools to test the salinity of water, they had microscopes to look at various organisms, they had turtle shells, and so much more!  There were various aquariums within the center to teach the kids about different sea creatures.  I had the opportunity to speak with the kids about the importance of water conservation and the Everglades.  

Martin County was one of the most beautiful counties I have ever visited in Florida.  Their beautiful landscapes are a true testament of the amount of care they put into their environment.  

I'll be writing soon!

Kristina

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