Wednesday, October 18 at 6 p.m. at Azalea City Brewing

It is critical that we all do our part now to tackle climate change, rising waters and saltwater intrusion to protect our waterways and the future of Northeast Florida. Join us in Downtown Palatka for our second Brewing Up Solutions Putnam event in our River Rising series.

Our advocacy team will be on Day 2 of our October 2023 SAVe our River’s Grasses Expedition and will join conservationists Ben and Louann Williams to explore the importance of the St. Johns River’s submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) to the river’s health and to its fisheries, as well as the importance of protecting and restoring our land, wild spaces and wetlands.

Register

RSVP here to let us know you’re coming.

This event is part of our 2023 series of brewery conversations exploring solutions to climate change, sea level rise, and the pollution problems threatening the health of our river and our communities. Brought to you by St. Johns Riverkeeper’s Water Policy Group.

Meet the Panel

Ben and Louann Williams are the owners of Wetland Preserve LLC, Custom River Excursions and the founders and 35-year owner of Fisherman’s Dock Seafood Markets. They are actively conserving a 3,725-acre area in northeast Florida so diverse it encompasses forests, flatwoods, sandhill and swamps, and borders Rice Creek. They have lived on the eastbank of the St. Johns just south of Julington Creek for nearly 35 years. Ben and LouAnne were the 2021 Jon Gould Florida Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year.

The Williams have taken on many roles as Florida land stewards. They work cooperatively with the FWC’s Landowner Assistance Program on conserving native wildlife and habitat, and helped pioneer the first landowner-led prescribed burn association in the state. Along with being founding members of St. Johns Riverkeeper, they belong to the FWC’s local Black Bear Stakeholder Group, and offer recreation opportunities to wounded veterans through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Operations Outdoor Freedom. They also use best management practices as a Stewardship Forest under the Florida Forest Service.