Breaking news:  the city of Clearwater had to release wastewater into endangered Stevenson Creek for the second time in a month!  

Another 11.1 million gallons of partially treated wastewater had to be released in Stevenson Creek because of how obsolete the Marshall Street Plant is.  The plant can no longer handle heavy downpours, and has to release wastewater into the creek and Gulf of Mexico quite regularly.

Our leadership has the time and the taxpayer funds to dedicate to the private interest predatory developers of the city, but it is dragging its feet (another 5 years they say) to move forward with the significant wastewater issues that have polluted the city's waters for decades and that nearly killed Stevenson Creek 25 years ago.  

Over $100 million dollars were paid by taxpayers to clean this creek up.  But our current leadership has decided to ignore the creek's troubled history of human endangerment and near death.    

How does that work?  These are the city's recent decisions:
YES to private multi-boat commercial docks on our public waters for a handful of millionaires, at the taxpayer's expense.
NO to decommissioning the obsolete and decrepit Marshall Street Plant because there are other budgeting priorities at this time.

Mind you, I guess millionnaires don't care if they are in dirty waters.  But we do.  Because if they allow pollution of the creek again as happened in the past, this time they might just succeed in killing anything alive for good.

What can you do?  Let Bruce Rector and his team know what you think, for example with the email below (you can cut and paste or edit as desired).  

To:  bruce.rector@myclearwater.com
Subject:  Stop polluting Stevenson Creek!

"Dear Mr. Rector:

I am extremely concerned about endangered Stevenson Creek and the apparent lack of interest city leadership has demonstrated in protecting this vital waterway of the city.  

1. It is imperative that the the Marshall Street Plant be decommissioned asap and a new better wastewater treatment built.  In the past month alone, the city had to resort twice to dumping tens of millions of gallons of wastewater into the creek.  The city issues no warnings to citizen when this happens, people bathe in the waters and eat the fish.  This is absolutely unacceptable.  

2. The private multi-boat commercial docks which Valor Capitol/Serena's plans to build in endangered Stevenson Creek is equally unacceptable in waters where mangroves, sea grass, oyster beds and manatees are present, especially when taxpayers are currently funding the reconstruction of the city marina less than 1/2 mile away.  

It is my hope that city leadership will reconsider its position about Stevenson Creek and will stop putting to waste the $100 million dollars in taxpayer funds spent to rehabilitate this endangered environment between 1999 and 2014.  The city should be vigorously protecting Stevenson Creek which is vital to tidal and stormwater management as well as to human and wild life.  Please stop disregarding the significance of this natural habitat for this area.

Respectfully,"

It takes 5 minutes to send an email which could have an impact on our city and environment for centuries to come.  

THANK YOU!