Hi everyone. Thanks to Chris and to all of you for allowing me to join this discussion board.

As a member of the Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District, I opposed the plan to draw 5.5 million gallons of water per day from the river. Seminole County wants that water to fuel new sprawl in rural areas in the northwest portion of the county and has done little in terms of conservation.

So why should teachers - who have enough on their plates - care about the river? The obvious reason is that you care about the welfare of future generations. If you didn't, you wouldn't be teachers. Beyond that, this issue is critical because as you know sprawl put enormous burdens on our schools, which are forced to absorb an ever-growing number of students but must fight for adequate funding.

Please consider getting involved in this issue, which is critical to the long-term health of the St. Johns, our wetlands and our aquifer and springs.

If you have any questions, please contact me.
Thanks,
Steve