Our Mission
To protect, restore, and preserve the environmental integrity of the Jupiter Narrows marine ecosystem and its surrounding environment.
Our Vision
To stabilize and restore the iconic mangrove islands and seagrass beds that are the backbone of the Jupiter Narrows ecosystem.
Our Approach
We are committed to stabilizing the rapid decline of mangrove and seagrasses and restoring the coverage of these critical habitats to historic levels. We are doing this by engaging government agencies, NGOs, local businesses, guides, scientists, and passionate residents to develop a sustainable, community-led approach towards long-term preservation. Using evidence-based, scientific methods to mitigate wave activity, combined with educating the public on how to be stewards of their public wilderness areas, we believe we can secure the future health of the ecosystem and ensure that outdoor enthusiasts of all forms can enjoy these areas for generations to come.Loxahatchee River
Jupiter, FL
Indian River Lagoon
Jupiter Narrows
Atlantic Ocean
Jupiter Inlet
Where We Are Located?
Our Story
“The Jupiter Narrows has been an important part of my family’s history for nearly 55 years. We have experienced the beauty and vibrancy of the intracoastal while swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and walking. We’ve marveled at the abundant life teeming around our dense mangrove islands - the birds, manatees, turtles, fish, rays, and even sharks. However, over the decades, there has been a significant deterioration in the once healthy, lush mangrove islands that extend from Cato’s Bridge, north to Coral Cove. In fact, their decline has accelerated at an alarming rate. They have withered from robust, thick mangrove islands to sparse, spindly mangrove patches that look like they’ve been hit by many hurricanes. Sadly, our mangrove islands are truly a case of the tragedy of the commons. People have impacted the health of this ecosystem by anchoring boats in the seagrass beds, causing propeller scarring; throwing trash into the water; climbing on, and tying watercraft to the mangroves; and creating massive wave action that causes erosion. Something has to be done or we will lose these precious resources and all of the life and benefits they hold!”— Susan Panella, President and Co-Founder, Jupiter Narrows Conservation Alliance
"I am an avid fly fisherman who loves this area, but if our mangrove ecosystem disappears, the fish and other wildlife go too! I am passionate about the Jupiter Narrows Conservation Alliance because of our vision for a long-term, community-driven restoration of the mangroves and seagrasses to their historic coverage [mid-80s]. I am confident the restoration efforts will result in aesthetic, educational, recreational, and survivalist [manatee] benefits that will scale to our adjacent Indian River Lagoon shorelines and ultimately to similarly afflicted Florida neighborhoods."— Thomas Heller, Board Member - Jupiter Narrows Conservation Alliance
“These mangrove islands and seagrass beds are where I developed my spirit of adventure and my love for the sea. I grew up exploring every inch of these habitats from sunrise to sundown with my rod, cast-net, mask and snorkel. The wildlife that inhabited these islands was so abundant back then. Seeing it first-hand taught me to be curious and to take a fear of the unknown and turn that fear into an exciting opportunity to learn and expand my horizons. The fact that they are dying and need protection is personal to me, and it should be personal for anyone else that loves this place.”— Jeff Panella, Underwater Photographer/Guide - Jupiter Narrows Conservation Alliance
“The Jupiter Narrows is a fundamental part of the overall Indian River Lagoon, which spans 154 miles down the East Coast of Florida and is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. I’m a sixth generation Floridian born and raised on the Indian River in Brevard County, so doing this sort of conservation work is quite literally in my blood. I love the IRL from top to bottom, and it is my privilege to fight alongside passionate colleagues who care about this place as much as I do.”— Jon Paul (“J.P.”) Brooker, Founding Board Member - Jupiter Narrows Conservation Alliance; FL Director - Ocean Conservancy
Our Community
Since 2021, our team has grown tremendously and our team’s efforts have followed suit. What began as a single phone call to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to see what could be done has since sprouted into a widespread, multi-faceted effort to save what we love so dearly. We reached out to any and all people and organizations who we thought might be able to help. We knew this would “take a village,” as well as persistence and grit.
In March of 2023, we hosted an open meeting for neighbors along the intracoastal who share our concern about the mangrove decline. We heard presentations/comments from several experts at Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management (PBC ERM), Federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area (JILONA), the Village of Tequesta Environmental Advisory Group (VoT), and the University of Miami. It became very evident at that meeting and subsequent gatherings that our community is committed to doing something to protect and restore this ecologically and economically important habitat.
Since then, we have been fortunate to attract the attention and interest of many government agencies, NGO’s, local businesses, scientists, and residents who want to help. Starting initially at the local Jupiter level, our network quickly expanded to include individuals and organizations across the county, greater South Florida, as well as the state.
In Spring of 2023, we were introduced to Ocean Conservancy (OC) which also shares our passion for preserving the mangrove ecosystem in the Indian River Lagoon. We officially partnered with OC in May of 2023, and this partnership has been a game changer. Ocean Conservancy brings tremendous expertise, science, legal advice, advocacy prowess and credibility to the project. As the nation’s oldest marine conservation organization, they simply know how to get things done.
Milestones
March 2023 - Met with neighbors and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management, Bureau of Land Management, and Village of Tequesta Environmental Advisory Committee
May 2023 - Partnered with Ocean Conservancy
June 2023 - Published op-ed in Palm Beach Post and The Invading Sea
July 2023 - Surveyed neighbors to understand their interest in this project
August - September 2023 - Hired Taylor Engineering to conduct a natural resources survey of the seagrasses and mangroves
October 2023 - Hired Taylor Engineering to develop conceptual plans for protection and restoration and to conduct preliminary permitting discussions
January 2024 - Established Jupiter Narrows Conservation Alliance (JNCA) as a Florida not-for-profit corporation and applied for 501(c)3 status
March 2024 - Media Day - Invited press and neighbors to waterfront to formally launch JNCA
March 2024 - Presented to Village of Tequesta Council and got their unanimous support and a letter of resolution supporting our efforts. Since then we have entered a public-private partnership, and as our municipal partner, they have submitted grant applications on our behalf
March 2024 - Began permitting and planning process for informational buoys and signage
April 2024 - Attended the Wild & Scenic Film Festival at the Jupiter Lighthouse to share informational materials about JNCA’s efforts
May 2024 - Received 501(c)(3) status from IRS
May 2024 - Installed signs/banner on private dock pilings/ seawalls of all condos along Jupiter Narrows to ask people to exercise caution around mangrove islands and seagrasses and raise awareness for restoration efforts
Summer 2024 - received formal letters of support from PBC - Environmental Resources Management, Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves (part of FDEP), Sustainable Palm Beach County, and WPB Fishing Club, representing over 1600 members
November 2024 - Media Day #2 - Announced formal partnerships with Village of Tequesta and the Andrew “Red” Harris Foundation (ARHF). ARHF has committed $175,000 to the project. JNCA is trying to name the islands in memoriam for Andrew “Red” Harris
March 2023 to present - Building our Community - we have been so pleased at the interest and support among neighbors, local municipalities, scientists, NGO’s, media, and local businesses. THANK YOU!
Our Board
Susan F. Panella - Co-founder and PresidentJon Paul “J.P.'“ Brooker - Co-Founder and General Counsel
Thomas Heller - Director
Jeff Panella - Director