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Treasure Coast

Environmental Defense Fund

P.O. Box 1812

Jensen Beach, FL 34458

EYES AND EARS OF THE PUBLIC

Kevin Stinnette

Indian Riverkeeper

(772)283-8747 FAX (772)336-7284

 

Annual Report 2005

 

Chronology

 

Indian Riverkeeper began 2005 still in disarray from the hurricanes of 2004. We had lost the donation of an office to market demand and high demand for office space. We had board members resign as they moved or focused on rebuilding homes and lives. Our members were occupied with the enormous job of regaining some sense of normalcy.

We devoted our energy to our prime goal of protecting the Indian River Lagoon.

We continued with our lawsuit against the Federal Highway Administration, Florida Department of Transportation and St. Lucie County over the armoring of 13 miles of shoreline and the removal of native habitat for many species. A “Phase II” program to plant the bottom of the concrete slope with native vegetation has failed and the majority of the 13 miles has an exposed base that is unacceptable. All experts agree that re-vegetation of the shoreline area must be done in order to ensure that 750,000 cubic yards of dirt placed on the bank will not erode into the Indian River Lagoon.

We contracted with Mesimer & Associates Engineering, Grant Gilmore Ph.D. and Peter Barile Ph. D, and Jim Egan, director of the Marine Resources Council to provide expert testimony as to the importance of the shoreline fauna in the health of the Indian River Lagoon.

The Lawsuit is ongoing as of the end of the year with Indian Riverkeeper demanding an Environmental Impact Statement as required for such actions by the National Environmental Policy Act.

Our other focus was on working with the Rivers Coalition Defense Fund in bringing a suit over the discharges from Lake Okeechobee. Most of our fundraising efforts went into raising funds for that effort, even to the determent of Indian Riverkeeper.

As a consequence Indian Riverkeeper raised only a little less than $14,000 for 2005. We paid no funds to maintaining a staff person and put the majority of the funds into our legal action.

 

2005 financial statement

Income

 

 

Direct Public Support 

 

$9,594

Memberships Dues and Assessments.

 

1,797

Gross Sales

 

2,555

 

Total Revenue

$13,946

Expenses

 

 

Program Services

 

$10,670

Management and General

 

4,142

Cost of Goods Sold

 

1,602

Fundraising

 

176

 

Total Expenses

$16,590

 

Kevin Stinnette, executive director and Indian Riverkeeper worked full time as a teacher in 2005. Indian Riverkeeper did not comply with the Waterkeeper Alliance standard that requires the employ of a full time Waterkeeper. All Indian Riverkeeper work was done by volunteers and attorneys contracted at special rates.