Protect Our Waters

The recent decision to dedicate millions of dollars toward the restoration of the Indian and Banana Rivers is an excellent first step. The State’s plan to add phosphate catching devices to the Brevard drainage systems will address the primary cause for the degradation of our marine estuaries. Unfortunately, that’s only a first step. Given the time that it will take to implement the phosphate catchers and the fact that this plan will only be addressing the reduction of new phosphates into our waterways, this plan could take decades to affect any significant improvement in the ecosystem.

The second step that’s needed is to improve the waterflow both into and out of the rivers. This step has not seen any support from government over the years even though it has overwhelming support from boaters, anglers and local residents.

Removing the locks from Cape Canaveral and allowing an improved, constant flow of water into and out of the rivers has been summarily rejected for numerous reasons over the years. Year after year these singularly motivated rejections have included:

1. Homeland Security. Just try getting past that broad dismissal.

2. Sandbar Development. Yes, it’s true that just like the majority of inlets in the country our Cape Canaveral Inlet would need to develop a dredging program as well.

3. NASA. Who’s got the clout to demand anything from that organization?

4. Cruise Ships. Money talks and, as we’ve all seen, this developing industry gets whatever it wants.

In addition to the seemingly impossible effort to restore a natural waterflow in Cape Canaveral, many experts suggest the necessity of creating an additional inlet somewhere between Sebastian Inlet and Cape Canaveral. Most studies suggest that the best place for that additional inlet is located at Patrick Air Force (Space Force) Base. The resistance to this concept hardly requires explanation. What citizenry group would ever ask a military base to give up its golf course? That would be utter blasphemy. Or would it?

There are remedies and workarounds to these two waterflow issues. Pumping stations and aqueduct systems could accomplish a substantial improvement in the water flow, but that, too, seems to be decades away in its funding and implementation. There is no time left. Our estuaries are sadly dying right in front of our eyes.

There are many things that we, as citizens of the ecosystem, can do to help improve the quality of water in our rivers. Coastal Angler Magazine salutes Blair Wiggens for his effort to restore clam beds in our waterways. These mollusks are a hard-working natural filtering mechanism that also enhances the fish populations.

There are currently 24 groups attempting to address the challenges associated with the degradation of our waterways, its fisheries, and its ecosystem. These organizations need our help and support, and they are deserving of our gratitude. For more information on how you can help email protectourwaters@coastalanglermagazine.com or visit www. protectourwaters.org.

Ben Martin Editor in Chief Coastal Angler Magazine The Angler Magazine