June is Florida Rivers Month

This year is the 27th annual Rivers Clean-up event in Northwest Florida.

Gov. Rick Scott has signed a proclamation that declares June as Florida Rivers Month. This proclamation is the result of a request by the Santa Rosa Clean Community System Rivers Watch Group in Milton and has spread across the state.  Cpt. Walt Reese has spearheaded this effort for 27 years.

Since its inception, more than 200 pick-up truck loads of trash have been removed from local waterways. Other partners of the effort include Blackwater River State Forest, UF/IFAS Santa Rosa County Sea Grant Extension, NAS Whiting Field, and local canoe vendors.

As the canoe capital of Florida, Santa Rosa County’s local water bodies are very important to the area economically, recreationally and ecologically. By participating in the Rivers Clean-up, volunteers can contribute to the beauty of these natural areas and help keep them clean at the same time.

For more on this story, see the June 23 issue of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.