2010 Summit General Information

Details: On September 15^th and 16^th the St. Johns River Alliance will host the 2010 St. Johns River Summit at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center in Jacksonville, Florida.  The River Summit is open to the public and will feature presentations from academics, elected officials and scientists regarding the issues facing the St. Johns River.  The River Summit will encourage the protection, restoration, enhancement and preservation of the river from its headwaters in Indian River and Brevard Counties, through the lakes of central Florida, to its mouth in Duval County.

Goals:

• To draw active participants and interest groups from all areas of the St. Johns River watershed.
• To increase stakeholder knowledge and involvement in decisions related to the challenges facing the St. Johns River.
• To improve legislative and grassroots support for river improvements and conservation.
  
• To foster development of green economy through ecotourism.
• To improve opportunities for river project funding.
  

Topics:

• What We Need to Know from Science:  Research Gaps that Limit Management Efforts
• Locally Resourceful Tourism for a Sustainable River Economy
  
• Lessons Learned from Other American Heritage Rivers
  
• Savor Every Drop:  What We Need to Know About Water Conservation for the Next 10 Years
• History, Culture, and Politics of the St. Johns River
• The Latest Challenges for the St. Johns River:
  • Water Supply Issues
  • Proposed Dredging
    
  • Sea Level Rise
  • Springs
  • Numeric Nutrient Criteria and State Standards for the St. Johns River
  • Lakes and Tributaries Siltation
• Funding for the River - Federal, State, Regional, and Local
  
  

Locally Resourceful Tourism for a Sustainable River Economy

This session will show how the combination of favorable new policy by national DOT and formal recognition of Florida as #1 trails state in America positions all Florida for far-reaching gains.  Speakers will address the economic impacts of trails, trails for fitness and health, for multi-modal transportation, and for quality of life.  The session will also preview Visit Florida's trails-tourism website that launches October 4th, and will conclude with a plan for locally resourceful tourism as the basis for a sustainable river economy.

Co-chaired by Herb Hiller of the St. Johns River Alliance and the Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation, and by landscape architect Steven Davis of the East Coast Greenway Alliance.