Two members of the Clean Water Coalition of Indian River County, a fishing guide and a rancher, are applying for seats on the St. Johns River Water Management District board.
Capt. Paul Fafeita, a Sebastian fishing guide and the coalition's co-founder and president, and Bryan Corrigan, a co-owner of the family-owned Corrigan Ranch in Indian River County and a coalition board member, hope to fill one or two of the six vacant seats on the nine-member water district board.
"If we both got on the board, that would be great because we both have similar desires for the lagoon," Fafeita said. "But if only one of us got on, that would be one more voice than we had before."
The District covers 18 counties stretching from Jacksonville to Orlando to Vero Beach. Area 5, which includes Indian River County, has been represented by Douglas C. "Doug" Bournique, executive vice president of the Indian River Citrus League, since 2008.
Bournique's term ended in March 2020, but he still serves on the board under an emergency declaration.
An at-large seat also is vacant. The remaining empty seats are tied to other geographical areas.
Corrigan said his agricultural background as a fourth-generation rancher, would be "valuable to the board because I see firsthand the effect of water management district regulations, how they affect agriculture and businesses. ... There's no substitute for on-the-ground experience, and that's what I hope to bring to the table."
Up until a few years ago, the nearly 9,000-acre Corrigan ranch straddling Interstate 95 in western Indian River County spread sewage sludge, also known as biosolids, on pasture land.
Sewage sludge was originally touted as "a green solution" to fertilizing, Corrigan said. "But as our family looked deeper into biosolids we stopped using them. This was several years before all the publicity came out about how bad they are."
A TCPalm investigation in June 2018 revealed how Blue Cypress Lake in western Indian River County was getting highly toxic blue-green algae blooms as tons of sewage sludge were being dumped on nearby ranchland, the county initiated a series of moratoriums on the use of biosolids and the state Department of Environmental Protection began revising regulations of the practice.
More: Clean Water Coalition formed for united voice on environmental issues
TCPalm investigation: Are biosolids polluting Blue Cypress Lake?
In 2014, about 8,800 acres of the Corrigan ranch were annexed into Fellsmere, a move seen as a step toward developing housing in the area.
"We've turned down several offers for development we didn't think they suited our family's values or the land," he said. "My family isn't in the development business; we're cattle ranchers."
Fafeita, a Marine Corps veteran and a 30-year deputy with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office before becoming a guide in 2004, said he applied for the board because "it's time to have someone there with true conservation efforts in mind who's not associated with any outside interests and has nothing but protecting the Indian River Lagoon at heart."
More: Floridians will pay for clean water, Clean Water Coalition poll shows
And: Clean Water Coalition wants to stop boats dumping in lagoon
Fafeita has been a vocal and visible advocate for the lagoon, speaking out on issues including stopping development of the Oslo Road boat ramp, cleaning up the Bethel Creek section of the lagoon and preventing construction of a wastewater pipeline under the lagoon.
The water management district has made progress toward protecting and restoring its waterways, Fafeita said, but not enough.
"You can't keep throwing pocket change at a multi-million-dollar issue," Fafeita said.
The coalition was formed in late 2018 by the Indian River Neighborhood Association, the Coastal Conservation Association, the Indian River Land Trust and the Pelican Island Audubon Society to provide a united voice advocating for the county's environment. It now has over 800 partners.
"The governor needs to fill these positions with folks who care about our water and environment and appreciate nature," said Audubon chapter president Richard Baker. "Our Blue Cypress Lake is the headwaters to the St. Johns River; and the St. Johns River, St. Sebastian River and Indian River Lagoon, as well as other areas in the state, are in serious trouble and need caring, knowledgeable folks to be installed immediately."
To comment on applicants to the board seats, contact DeSantis by email at GovernorRon.DeSantis@eog.myflorida.com or by call his office at 850-717-9337.
Tyler Treadway is an environment reporter who specializes in issues facing the Indian River Lagoon. Support his work on TCPalm.com. Contact him at 772-221-4219 and tyler.treadway@tcpalm.com.
More: Indian River County extends Class B biosolids ban
More: DEP discusses pollution from biosolids dumped on farmland
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Clean Water Coalition members seek seats on St. Johns River Water Management District board - TCPalm
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