Many members of this newsgroup, including members that have never dove
South Florida, have made generous contributions to Reef Rescue, for
which we are grateful and for which all the diving community should be
grateful: Reef Rescue has used these donations to stop the dumping of
sewage on the reefs, to reduce siltation on the reefs by dredging
operations, by proving and documenting the existence of new growth of
protected Acropora coral gaining federal protection of this habitat, and
other important projects.

Reef Rescue is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) action organization that has
used a tiny budget to establish a huge footprint in the effort to
protect dive sites.

2008 promises to be a pivotal year in protection of the South Florida
reef system. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has
accepted Reef Rescue’s research and called on us to back its proposed
legislation to close all ocean outfalls. Palm Beach County responds
immediately to any threats to the reef identified by Reef Rescue, as it
did last week when it stopped a dunes project solely on Reef Rescue’s
complaint that the sand used contained too much silt. The federal
government has accepted our research on Acropora and, as a result,
designated all the reefs north to the northern Palm Beach County line as
Acropora habitat and therefore protected. Reef Rescue has become the de
facto enforcement agency for protection of this reef system.

We operate with a very low five-figure budget, less than 4% of what the
sewer plants have paid their experts to oppose us. But we have won every
fight so far!

This year, we will be hit with extraordinary travel expenses to
Tallahassee to assure that the outfall closure legislation meets the
demands of the diving community, and to Washington, where we have been
asked to advise federal agencies on the protection of South Florida
reefs. We also expect a big increase in legal fees associated with these
projects and with other aspects of enforcement of state and federal law.
(Remember, one tactic is to threaten to sue in federal court under the
Clean Water Act – so far, threats have been enough but even a threat
involves a lot of expensive lawyers.) And, of course, there are several
other ongoing projects.

Last year, we spent about 35% more than we took in, but the results were
great. And we spent only $389 on fundraising!

WE NEED YOUR CONTINUING SUPPORT!

WE NEED YOUR MONEY!

There are four ways you can help:

1. Send a check to Palm Beach County Reef Rescue Inc. Palm Beach County
Reef Rescue is a 501 (c) (3) organization, to which contributions are
deductible under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.

2. Go to our website  http://www.reef-rescue.org/  and click on
“Donate”. You can use your credit card, and you can set up a recurring
donation.

3. Go to our website  http://www.reef-rescue.org/  and click on “Online
Store”. Buy some neat swag to show your support and give as gifts. We
get a nice cut.

4. Do all three of the above!

To everyone that has supported us in the past, THANKS! And you’ve got
your money’s worth. Please continue your support, we need it now more
than ever.

To everyone that is still standing in the wings, HELP! Whether you dive
the South Florida reefs or not, they are YOUR REEFS and their
preservation is in YOUR INTEREST.

ESG