Problem
The St Johns River Water Management District, and its partners, are planning to undergo a project in Flagler County in an attempt to reverse what the Army Corp of Engineers did over 70 years ago when trying to control mosquito populations by creating Dragline Ditches through the wetlands. However, this specific area in Flagler County has, through natural succession, healed itself and is currently a healthy, thriving estuary that is home to thousands of protected Black & Red Mangroves, Saltmarsh grasses, and other vegetation which provides a perfect sanctuary for the abundant Fish, Birds, Crustaceans, Oyster Reefs, Otters, Manatees, Turtles, and much more. This area is not in need of restoration, as it currently provides everything that they are hoping to restore to the area. This invasive process requires a large amphibious excavator to bulldoze islands, bury the mature Mangroves, Oak trees, Cedar trees and Palm trees into the water. They don't have evidence of exactly how long it will take for the area to recover fully. Though their motives are well-intentioned, they do not have any site specific scientific studies of the project area, do not have site-specific studies of their past projects (which have received much criticism from the communities which are still affected negatively post-restoration) and do not have plans to do so in the future. This project is flawed. It needs more time and grant money in order to do it correctly with as few negative impacts as possible. As it is, it looks more like demolition than restoration.

Solution
On December 11th, the Governing Board of the St Johns River Water Management District has a final vote on whether or not the project will proceed. We need as many people as possible to sign this petition so we can present it, along with our research and personal messages, to the District.