Our Mission

The mission of the Friends of St. Sebastian River is to help maintain and improve the health and beauty of the St. Sebastian River and its watershed.

The Friends of St. Sebastian River is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 1989 and governed by an independent Board of Directors elected by the general membership. The following are the goals of the organization, as established by our Articles of Incorporation and the Board:

• To promote and protect the environment and recreational opportunities of the St. Sebastian River and tributaries.
• To promote public education and awareness . . . and encourage an attitude of conservation.
• To protect wildlife . . . and support effective manatee protection.
• To improve water quality, working to eliminate point and non-point sources of pollution . . . and stormwater runoff.
• To promote safe boating practices . . . and compatible uses.
• To support the restoration and preservation of the St. Sebastian River, and tributaries, to their natural state.
• To participate and cooperate with agencies and organizations protecting the St. Sebastian River basin through such programs as the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM), Florida Yards and Neighborhoods (FYN) and the Marine Resources Council (MRC).

Who Protects Water?

Approximately 250,000 rivers flow through America’s landscape. More than 8,500 groups, Indigenous communities, and government agencies work at local, state, and regional levels to protect and restore rivers and drinking water. The River Network organization has produced an interactive map, below, showing some of the many groups working to protect our waterways, including rivers protected by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act – some 12,000 miles of 200+ rivers designated in 40 states and Puerto Rico.

Rights of Nature

We support the concept of the "Rights of Nature," that ecosystems and all species are fundamentally interconencted, and the inherent right of existence of the natural world, which ultimately and incalculably benefits humans and all species on earth. The concept of the Rights of Nature is brilliantly and profoundly expressed in this TEDx Talk by Patricia Siemen.

The Friends of St. Sebastian River was incorporated as a nonprofit corporation on June 30, 1989. Our name was changed in 1998, with the official recognition of the historical name of our local river.

The idea of forming an advocacy organization to protect and improve the St. Sebastian River and its watershed originated with the Roseland Property Owners Association (RPOA, now the Roseland Community Association). At several board meetings in early 1988 the abuses to the river and the surrounding uplands were discussed. Some of the abuses were: 1) speeding boats injuring and killing endangered manatees, 2) high coliform bacteria counts due to dairy farms in the watershed of the river, 3) residential construction very close to the river, 4) inadequately treated effluent from the Barefoot Bay sewage treatment plant entering the North Prong of the river, etc. At the RPOA board meeting of May 10, 1988, director Frank DeJoia made a motion to organize a separate group to look after the affairs of the river. He believed that the river was very important not only to Roseland, but to a larger area of north Indian River and southern Brevard counties. His motion was approved and an organizational meeting was advertised and held at the Roseland Community Center on September 20, 1988.

The Friends started out informally in the latter part of 1988 electing a Board of Directors and officers and initiating monthly board meetings and bimonthly general meetings. Our first president was Bill Rogers followed by Scott Taylor, who served as president for several terms. Our current president, Tim Glover, has served continuously since 1995.

John Evans, a Roseland attorney, assisted greatly, at no cost to the Friends, in getting us incorporated as a non-profit group. John has continued to advise the Friends on legal matters throughout our 20 years.

As we celebrated our 20th year we are very proud of our accomplishments. We are recognized as the most respected and long-lived environmental group in north Indian River and southern Brevard counties. We have played a positive role in many issues that concern the river and its adjoining habitats.

Perhaps the most important accomplishment during these years has been the heightened awareness that we have brought to our members and the general public in matters of concern to both the St. Sebastian River and Indian River Lagoon.

Some of our major accomplishments/issues we’ve advocated for are:

• Acquisition of the St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park (formerly Buffer Preserve), acquired through the Florida Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) program.
• Removal of dairy farms from the River flood plain.
• Adoption of boat speed limits and ban of airboats on the River.
• Referendum to purchase environmental/conservation lands in Indian River County.
• Building setbacks on the River in the City of Sebastian.
• Limit and improve the treatment of effluent discharged from Barefoot Bay sewage plant.
• Dredging of muck from the River.
• Establishment of the George Schum Award for Sebastian River High School senior.

Organizing Committee of the Roseland Property Owner’s Association for the establishment of the Friends of the (St.) Sebastian River

Original Board of Directors of the Friends of the (St.) Sebastian River

  Awards Presented

  George Schum Memorial Award

George Schum was a longtime member of our Board of Directors, and was involved in many other community activities and volunteer organizations. He was a selfless person and very giving of his time. He was involved in such activities and organizations as the Sebastian Volunteer Fire Department, a Sebastian City Councilman, the Indian River County Parks and Recreation Department, a founder of the Sebastian Area Historical Society, crossing guard at Sebastian Elementary School and as one of Santa's "Helpers" at Riverview Park in Sebastian and other events during the holiday season.

George passed away in April 1997 and the Friends developed this Award to honor George's spirit of volunteering and community service. Our Schum Award is presented each year to a graduating Sebastian River High School senior who has demonstrated similar community spirit, and preferably also demonstrates an interest in environmental and conservation issues. In 2019 we expanded the qualification to also include home-schooled students who reside within the district of the School.

The Award includes a $500 scholarship, and since 2013 we have been able to present a second Schum Award, thanks to the generous donations of Kimberley Maxwell, our 2004 Award recipient! Congratulations to everyone and best wishes for your future academic achievements and service to your local communities.

The following is a list of the award recipients to date:

   The award is presented to the project or persons that most enhances the St. Sebastian River environment, in one or more of the following areas:

1. Landscaping
1. Using environmentally friendly plants
2. Pest plant removal
2. Water quality projects
1. Storm water runoff control
2. Muck removal
3. Pollution reduction - fertilizer and other chemicals, installation of sewers, etc.
3. Open land conservation
1. Donation or purchase of conservation easement
4. Erosion control
1. Planting of appropriate plants along vulnerable areas

  Awards Received

Appreciation of Contribution, May 17, 2001
Sebastian Elementary School
"Hand-on-Habitat" Environmental Group

"Academy of Stars 2001", May 15, 2001
Indian River County School District

Certificate of Appreciation, December 19, 1995
Sebastian River Chamber of Commerce
1995 Winter Wonderland Activities

Indian River County Commission Proclamation, May 16, 1995
Shoreline enhancement work - Donald MacDonald Park, Sebastian

Eleanor Kleckner Memorial Conservationists of the Year, 1995
Pelican Island Audubon Society