06/17/2026, 13:03
Subject: Big News: “Inlet Ed” Kawecki Enters the Race + June JID Meeting Update
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for helping us surpass 650 signatures. Your voices are making a real difference — the Jupiter Inlet District is finally paying attention.
Major Development: Ed Kawecki is Running for the Jupiter Inlet District Board of Directors
We’re excited to share that Edwin “Ed” Kawecki has officially filed to run for Jupiter Inlet District Board Seat 4 in November.
"Inlet Ed", as we've dubbed him, has called Jupiter home for 50 years and has lived on the Loxahatchee River for four decades. He has transited the Jupiter Inlet more than 1,000 times and has watched the navigation conditions steadily deteriorate. A retired aerospace engineer with a PhD from NYU and decades of experience managing complex technical projects at Pratt & Whitney and Power Systems Manufacturing, Ed brings the exact skills this board needs: engineering discipline, project oversight, and a deep personal commitment to both safe navigation and protecting the Loxahatchee River.
We believe Ed will bring the technical focus and urgency this issue requires. If you live in the district, please plan to support him in November. Here is a link to his full bio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SWqAlAJALRVtE8TaTa1w5AEiASxV6Diu/view?usp=sharing
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Congressman Brian Mast’s office are now clearly aware of the dangerous conditions at the inlet, thanks in large part to the visibility created by Capt. Tyler Baruch and our petition.
- JID leadership met with the Army Corps Colonel to discuss the issues. While awareness is improving, the board still does not have a concrete action plan and has not yet submitted a permit application.
- The district’s recent sand migration study was completed but did not propose solutions for maintaining a navigable channel while allowing sand to bypass south. We will continue pushing for a more complete technical approach.
- The long-awaited drone-based bathymetric survey demonstration is now scheduled for the week of July 12th. This technology could finally allow the district to provide mariners with frequent, accurate depth information at lower cost.
Our Goals Remain Unchanged
- Dredge and maintain a reliable 12-foot channel
- Permanently mark the safe channel
- Conduct and publish monthly depth surveys for all boaters
Your Voice Matters — Please Attend the July 8th Meeting
The next Jupiter Inlet District Board meeting is Wednesday, July 8th at 7:00 p.m.
Location: 400 N. Delaware Blvd, Jupiter (Zoom link available on jupiterinletdistrict.org)
If you’ve experienced groundings, near-misses, business impacts, or safety concerns, please attend — in person or via Zoom — and share your story during public comment. Personal stories from actual users carry significant weight with the board.
Quick Ways You Can Help Right Now
We’re making steady progress because of people like you who refuse to accept unsafe conditions. Thank you for staying engaged.
Best regards,
Chris Ball
Safe Jupiter Inlet Petition
chrisball016@gmail.com
Tequesta, FL
06/17/2026, 13:02
Subject: Big News: “Inlet Ed” Kawecki Enters the Race + June JID Meeting Update
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for helping us surpass 650 signatures. Your voices are making a real difference — the conditions at the inlet are a clear priority for the Jupiter Inlet District.
Major Development: Ed Kawecki is Running for the Jupiter Inlet District Board of Directors
We’re excited to share that Edwin “Ed” Kawecki has officially filed to run for Jupiter Inlet District Board Seat 4 in November.
"Inlet Ed", as we've dubbed him, has called Jupiter home for 50 years and has lived on the Loxahatchee River for four decades. He has transited the Jupiter Inlet more than 1,000 times and has watched the navigation conditions steadily deteriorate. A retired aerospace engineer with a PhD from NYU and decades of experience managing complex technical projects at Pratt & Whitney and Power Systems Manufacturing, Ed brings the exact skills this board needs: engineering discipline, project oversight, and a deep personal commitment to both safe navigation and protecting the Loxahatchee River.
We believe Ed will bring the technical focus and urgency this issue requires. If you live in the district, please plan to support him in November. Here is a link to his full bio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SWqAlAJALRVtE8TaTa1w5AEiASxV6Diu/view?usp=sharing
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Congressman Brian Mast’s office are now clearly aware of the dangerous conditions at the inlet, thanks in large part to the visibility created by Capt. Tyler Baruch and our petition.
- JID leadership met with the Army Corps Colonel to discuss the issues. While awareness is improving, the board still does not have a concrete action plan and has not yet submitted a permit application.
- The district’s recent sand migration study was completed but did not propose solutions for maintaining a navigable channel while allowing sand to bypass south. We will continue pushing for a more complete technical approach.
- The long-awaited drone-based bathymetric survey demonstration is now scheduled for the week of July 12th. This technology could finally allow the district to provide mariners with frequent, accurate depth information at lower cost.
Our Goals Remain Unchanged
- Dredge and maintain a reliable 12-foot channel
- Permanently mark the safe channel
- Conduct and publish monthly depth surveys for all boaters
Your Voice Matters — Please Attend the July 8th Meeting
The next Jupiter Inlet District Board meeting is Wednesday, July 8th at 7:00 p.m.
Location: 400 N. Delaware Blvd, Jupiter (Zoom link available on jupiterinletdistrict.org)
If you’ve experienced groundings, near-misses, business impacts, or safety concerns, please attend — in person or via Zoom — and share your story during public comment. Personal stories from actual users carry significant weight with the board.
Quick Ways You Can Help Right Now
We’re making slow but steady progress because of people like you who refuse to accept unsafe conditions. Thank you for staying engaged.
Best regards,
Chris Ball
Safe Jupiter Inlet Petition
chrisball016@gmail.com
Tequesta, FL
05/11/2026, 16:48
Good Afternoon,
We are reaching out with an exciting opportunity for anyone who cares deeply about safe, dependable access to Jupiter Inlet.
Two Jupiter Inlet District Board seats (Seats 2 and 4) will be on the ballot in November 2026. We are actively seeking qualified candidates who will prioritize inlet maintenance, safety, and navigability — including dredging the access channel to at least 12 feet at Mean Low Low Water and installing reliable marker buoys.
Our community is behind this effort:
- 670+ local boaters, captains, and residents have already signed our petition.
- We have 300+ engaged followers on Instagram ready to amplify your message.
If you live inside the Jupiter Inlet District boundaries and are committed to making the inlet safer for everyone, we want to hear from you. Here is a link to the boundaries: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FLYFF5y3VesrR8HlCR8sTrKyQ0k7di4M/view?usp=sharing
Important timeline:
Candidate qualifying deadline is June 8, 2026.
We are prepared to support qualified candidates with:
- Campaign funding assistance
- Access to our 670-signature petition list and grass roots organization covering all types of users of our inlet and businesses who depend on it.
- Social media promotion through our growing Instagram audience
- Volunteer help for door-knocking and community outreach
This is your chance to make a real difference for local boaters, fishing tournaments, and the water-based lifestyle we all love.
Email me directly if you are interested or know someone who would be an outstanding candidate.
Thank you for caring about the Jupiter Inlet.
Best regards,
Chris Ball
Safe Jupiter Inlet Petition
Safejupiterinlet2026@gmail.com
Tequesta, FL
P.S. Forward this email to anyone in the district who shares our goal of a safe, navigable Jupiter Inlet!
05/11/2026, 10:35
Good Morning
Thank you for your continued support in making the Jupiter Inlet safe and navigable.
Important Update
Due to the strong public outcry and your participation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has scheduled a meeting with the Jupiter Inlet District on the 14th. This is a major step forward — we finally have the Corps’ attention.
However, the JID Board and their engineer have still not submitted a permit application to the Corps to extend the dredging operation. We need the District to act immediately by submitting the application and requesting a Letter of Permission (LOP) so dredging can begin at the first available opportunity.
Your voice is needed right now.
Please make every effort to attend the upcoming Jupiter Inlet District Board meeting. This is one of the most important meetings yet. Our collective presence will help ensure the Board submits the permit application and requests the LOP without further delay.
Next JID Board Meeting Details:
Date: Wednesday, May 13th
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: 400 N. Delaware Blvd, Jupiter
Zoom link: (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5955556133)
Captains and local boaters speaking up has already created real momentum. Let’s keep showing up strong so the Board and the Army Corps know the community is united and expects action.
Thank you,
Chris Ball
Safe Jupiter Inlet Petition
chrisball016@gmail.com
Tequesta, FL
03/25/2026, 11:55
Notice!
The Jupiter Inlet Board of Directors are having a Workshop to outline next steps to possibly Dredging and Marking the Jupiter Inlet in an expedited fashion. We also hope to get an update on when the next survey of the shoal will take place and when the Demo for a drone based solution will ocur. Basically, they will outline if they are willing to take important steps now or continue to talk and study. In our view, they need a solid pathway to action that authorizes the District Engineer to begin preparing a expedited permit application to present to the Army Corp of Engineers and the State. In addition, they need to start the process of determining which vendors could complete the dredging and how dredging can be accomplished.
Both meetings are open to the public and your attendance is extremely valuable.
Board Workshop is tonight, March 25th at 7pm at their office on 400 N. Delaware Blvd in Jupiter.
The next general board meeting is April 8th at 7pm at 400 N. Delaware Blvd in Jupiter.
Thanks for your support.
Chris
03/25/2026, 11:43
Change the end date of the petition to be able to communicate on the platform.
New deadline: 10/04/2026
Signatures at the time of the change: 596
02/24/2026, 10:18
Subject: Major Breakthrough at Feb 11 JID Meeting – 560+ Signatures Driving Real Change!
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for helping us surpass 560 signatures—your support is clearly shifting the conversation at the Jupiter Inlet District (JID)!
Key Takeaways from the February 11 Board Meeting
The meeting was a turning point: ~35 participants (in-person and Zoom) attended, including local captains who shared polite but direct stories about dangerous conditions and business impacts. This community turnout had a major effect.
Board members, led by Commissioner Mike Martinez and Chair George Gentile, expressed appreciation for the input and showed strong support for faster, more robust action.
Big Wins & Shifts Forward
- The most significant change (really a 180 degree shift from the prior meeting) is that the District Engineer and the board now understand that expedited permits from the Army Corp are possible. One type of expedited permit is called a Letter of Permission (LOP). In the last meeting, the engineer flatly said “No we will not qualify for a LOP as they are not issued for non-navigable inlets”. After the January meeting, we sent 4 recent examples of LOPs used for dredging non-navigable inlets and the engineers clearly did some homework prior to the Feb 11th meeting. In this meeting, the Engineer agreed and said we can request a permit and the Corp determines if an LOP is needed. That opens the door to a faster permit. LOPs can be issued in 90 days. The regular permit would take ~2 years according to the Engineer.
- The board asked for help securing support from our federal representatives to add urgency to the LOP request—we're on it.
Two Emerging Pathways
1) Preferred (faster but seasonal): Engineer completes their study by March → Submit permit application requesting LOP → Dredge SE channel with spoils placed on the beach (same location as current sand-trap dredging). Dredging could occur in fall 2026 or spring 2027 (avoiding turtle nesting season). This is far quicker than the previous 4–5-year timeline.
2) Alternative under exploration: Place spoils in the offshore dredge disposal area off Palm Beach instead of the beach. This may allow dredging during turtle nesting season, potentially accelerating the initial channel creation.
Other Progress
- The Drone-based bathymetric survey demo is scheduled for the first week of March (public welcome to observe). I'll send exact timing/details when confirmed. The goal is to lower costs significantly to enable monthly surveys and public survey updates. More info: gamma.app/docs/Drone-Based-Bathymetric-Surveying-for-Jupiter-Inlet-2vtovbybg076npx
- Latest survey (post-NE swell) shows the SE channel shifted south but remains ~7' at MLW—robust but still hazardous. You can see the survey here: www.jupiterinletdistrict.org/bathymetric-surveys#docaccess-ac72dc138820844aa0c88f3fc6a6f035c96fc83218d1fd59d36a93ee7563b513. To me, it is encouraging to see that the natural channel remains robust even during the heavy NE swell we had over the last month. It supports the theory that a dredged channel in the future may remain in place for extended periods without lots of maintenance dredging.
- District obtained FWC incident report summarizing reportable events (groundings included?).
- Jay Carpenter requested inlet cam reprogramming to better show the SE channel.
- Suggestion to contact Palm Beach Ocean Rescue to reposition their lifeguard station closer to the narrow south beach channel.
Our Core Goals remain unchanged:
- Dredge the inlet access channel to 12 feet
- Permanently mark the safe channel
- Conduct and publish monthly depth surveys
Your Role Moving Forward
This progress happened because of community voices like yours. The next regular board meeting is Wednesday, March 11 at 7:00 p.m. (same location: 400 N. Delaware Blvd., Jupiter; Zoom link on their site).
If you've experienced groundings, delays, business impacts, or safety worries—please attend (in person or Zoom) and speak during public comment. Your story carries weight.
Please forward this email to fellow boaters/fishermen.
Share the petition: www.openpetition.org/!safejupiterinlet
Plan to join March 11—your presence amplifies the message.
Together we're turning urgency into action. Thank you for staying engaged!
Best,
Chris Ball
Tequesta, FL
chrisball016@gmail.com
P.S. Petition link to share/sign: www.openpetition.org/!safejupiterinlet
02/10/2026, 05:30
Good Morning,
Thank you for your continued support of a safer more navigable Jupiter Inlet.
Reminder: Public Board Meeting This Wednesday, February 11 at 7:00 p.m.
In person: Jupiter Inlet District office, 400 N. Delaware Blvd., Jupiter, FL 33458
Via Zoom: Link and details on the official page: www.jupiterinletdistrict.org/2026-02-11-commission-regular-board-meeting
(Contact info@jupiterinletdistrict.org or (561) 746-2223 if you need assistance joining.)
This is your opportunity to attend, listen, and speak during public comment. Even a brief statement about how inlet hazards affect your boating, business, or safety can influence the elected commissioners.
A reminder of our simple goals
- Dredge the inlet access channel to 12 feet
- Permanently mark the safe channel
- Conduct and publish monthly (or better) depth surveysQuick Reminder of Our Goals
- Update Since my last communication.
The board has approved a contract for a demo of drone-based bathymetric survey technology. This low-cost method could enable monthly surveys and real-time depth updates—major progress toward better information for everyone using the inlet.
However, the board and their engineer still lean toward a multi-year permitting process for addressing the ebb shoal and seaward channel. We've urged them to pursue faster, temporary solutions (e.g., a one-time emergency permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) to reduce immediate navigation hazards.
- In my view, after 4 months, the Current Board Sentiment is somewhat discouraging:
2 members clearly support dredging and possibly marking the inlet access.
3 members remain neutral or cautious.
At this point, none of them believe any action can be taken by the end of 2027.
These are elected officials accountable to constituents like you. If the inlet's dangers have grounded your boat, delayed your trips, hurt your business, or raised safety concerns for your family—make your voice heard at Wednesday's meeting or by emailing the board directly.
Thank you,
Chris Ball - Tequesta
01/18/2026, 15:15
Good afternoon,
Thank you for your support in helping us collect over 500 signatures for a safer, more navigable Jupiter Inlet.
Key Takeaways from the January 14 Board Meeting of the Jupiter Inlet District.
In summary, there is progress—just slow progress. The Jupiter Inlet District (JID) is currently dredging the sand trap inside the inlet this week, but no immediate action is planned for improving navigation outside the inlet (e.g., the ebb shoal area).
Encouraging steps forward:
- The JID board requested a quote from the Districts engineer to study the effectiveness and detailed location of a southeast (SE) channel. This channel would align roughly with the existing 'natural' channel but be made a bit wider and deeper (to 12 feet). While this has been studied before, an updated study is needed for permitting. The study is estimated to take 4 months. The engineer's quote can be viewed here: drive.google.com/file/d/1u6SeLqjVG_Te1zIhc5eTtOAP_de3lrM1/view?usp=sharing
- There is continued strong interest in increasing bathymetric surveys to at least monthly, providing boaters and engineers with accurate, timely depth information. SPH Engineering (the drone-based survey company) offered their staff and equipment for free for a demo, but reimbursement for travel, processing, etc. (~$2-3k) wasn't approved in time. This technology could reduce costs by up to two-thirds and fit within the current budget. The board offered to approve this expenditure at their end of the month workshop if a contract is ready. More details here: gamma.app/docs/Drone-Based-Bathymetric-Surveying-for-Jupiter-Inlet-2vtovbybg076npx
Current Challenges
- The Board appears to need more data on the safety risks posed by the current ebb shoal conditions as they have no insight into incident rates today. Several recent incidents include multiple vessel groundings, and swimmers/surfers are now crossing the channel near the beach to reach the southern sandbar—directly in the path of boats exiting the inlet south along the beach. I've submitted a FOIA request to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Palm Beach County Rescue for a summary of incidents over the past year to provide the Board with concrete evidence.
- There was some discussion at the meeting about the lack of urgency for addressing the ebb shoal. We requested that the Board engage the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to seek a Letter of Permission (LOP)—an expedited authorization for work beyond current permitted areas, often used for urgent navigation and safety needs. The engineer from Taylor Engineering noted that Jupiter Inlet will not not qualify due to its non-federal (non-navigable) designation. However, we know of precedents for LOPs or expedited permissions in similar non-federal or local projects, such as multiple dredging authorizations for Sebastian Inlet, Philippi Creek in Sarasota (2025), and smaller-scale work near the St. Lucie Inlet outside of federal waters (2024). We will follow up to clarify this with USACE soon.
To Restate Our Simple Goals:
- Dredge the inlet access channel to 12 feet
- Permanently mark the safe channel
- Conduct and publish monthly depth surveys
Your support is the reason this issue is now a priority for the District. Recently, only a handful of us have been attending JID board meetings. we welcome broader participation—the next meeting is February 11 at 7:00 p.m. at their office (400 N. Delaware Blvd, Jupiter). If you're a boater, concerned about safety of the inlet, have experienced incidents, or your business relies on a functional Jupiter inlet, your voice at these public meetings will make a difference.
Please forward this email, share the petition link, and ask a friend who cares about our waterways to sign the petition
Thank you again.
Best regards,
Chris Ball
Tequesta, FL
chrisball016@gmail.com
P.S. Direct link to sign/share: www.openpetition.org/!safejupiterinlet
