View of Sulphur Springs Tower from North of
Lowry Park.
People should not be afraid of their
Government; Govenrment should be afraid of their People!
WHO ARE WE?
Friends of the River is a citizen
support group concerned with promoting health and environmental policies
that affect the quantity and quality of water in the Lower Hillsborough
River and the Tampa Bay by actively promoting the development and implementation
of natural resource management strategies which will improve and enhance
the current and future health, recreational, environmental and proprietary
values of the Lower Hillsborough River, the Tampa Bay, and adjacent lands
and bodies of water, and promoting general public awareness of the issues
with which F.O.R. is concerned.
Mr.
River, Alan Wright
Our
dear friend, Alan Wright, died early December 21, at Melech Hospice
in Temple Terrace.
We feel
blessed to have known this pure soul. Our gratitude for his friendship
and tireless work for the Hillsborough River is beyond words.
While Alan
was completely without ego or selfish motive, and a bit uncomfortable
with all the attention in the last months of his long struggle with
cancer, be assured he knew how much he was loved in this community
by all of us.
(Alan
Wright, left, and Sylvia Espinola were honored for more than 20
years of dedicated service at the Hillsborough Planning Commission's
Community Design Awards gala on April 5, 2007 at the Tampa Bay PAC.
Photo by Roberta Schofield, Tampa Trib.)
We who have known Alan
personally, and the citizens and ecology of Hillsborough County
are all better for his brains, dedication and perserverance.
Alan worked tirelessly
for over 20 years in his position at the city-county planning commission,
and even harder behind the scenes, to push for and assist in the
river's restoration. Know that none of the accomplishments of Friends
of the River or other river improvements would have been possible
without Alan's guidance and wisdom. Alan was always there for everyone
who cared about our river and our community. He will be deeply missed.
We will keep you informed
as more information is available on plans for a memorial service.
New Year’s
Day 2008: A New Day for Tampa Bay
TheLower Hillsborourh River will get most of water it needs in the
next 2 years:
• 1/1/08: 7.1 mgd TBC to Lower Hillsborough River @ Harney
Canal; 75% of 7.1mgd (5.3 mgd, or 8.2 cfs) released from dam. Added
to 10 cfs of Sulphur Springs water now released just below dam.
• 10/1/09: Sulphur Springs weir modifications done, all water
not needed for Sulphur Springs minimum flow diverted to River below
dam. Increases Springs part of minimum flow to 15 cfs.
• Based on the 5 year study of the river that Friends of the
River got Swiftmud & Tampa to do.
Go to this
page for Pictures of the 2007 holiday parade!
ABOUT
RECLAIMED WATER:
A
River needs fresh, clean water. River fish and wildlife cannot survive
in anything else. People also need fresh water: to drink, to cook,
and to shower! But there are a lot of things people do not need
fresh water for. So, YOU and Friends of the River still have a very
important job to do.
In addition to monitoring
this agreement to make sure it actually happens, Friends, will start
a campaign to encourage YOU to start using reclaimed water for the
following projects:
watering your lawn:
washing your car;
cleaning your house and driveway
Both Mayor Iorio
and SWFWMD have confirmed that the use of reclaimed water is important
to them, and they have promised that they will work hard to make
reclaimed water available to everyone.
We encourage you
to do your part, and start asking for it! Contact the mayor's
office and city
council that you think reclaimed water is important! Help make
Tampa a Green city!
Thanks for all you've
done to make this happen. Your voice has been heard. The River wins!
A message from Tampa Water Department:
Water Use Violators Hotline & Important Hurricane Information:
It hasn't rained in a very long time, and
that means that your lawn may have to suffer some. We all need to
conserve. That includes you, and your neighbors. (MORE)
Friends of the River, 1705 W. Sligh Ave,
Tampa, FL 33604
Friends of the River, Inc. is a not for profit,
organization. We rely on your donations to cover our expenses. Join
our membership for a (tax deductable) donation of at least $ 5.00
per year per family, to receive up to date news, and information
about the river. Click
here to join us.
