Our Board
Susan F. Panella - Co-founder and PresidentJon Paul “J.P.'“ Brooker - Co-Founder and General Counsel
Thomas Heller - Director
Casey Darling Kniffin - Director
Dr. Lisa Krimsky - Director
Jeff Panella - Director
Our Stories
“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 Follett 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, Director - JNCA
“Although comparatively new to the area, I've spent my career protecting south Florida's coastal waters and environments. The gradual decline of the Jupiter Narrows mangroves is not a price we should be willing to pay to live and recreate here. All too often environmental degradation is accepted as the norm. The Jupiter Narrows Conservation Alliance believes differently, and I am proud to work with this community-driven project to protect and enhance the mangrove and seagrass habitats that are so important to this area's vibrancy. ”
— Dr. Lisa Krimsky, Director - Director JNCA; Water Resources Extension Agent, University of Florida
“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, Director - JNCA; Underwater Photographer/Guide
“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 - JNCA; FL Director - Ocean Conservancy
Our Key Partners
Local residents partnered with the FL Director of Conservation of OC to establish JNCA. OC brings tremendous expertise in conservation, science, advocacy, and outreach. They believe JNCA will be a model for other community-led conservation efforts in the Indian River Lagoon and other Florida waters.
Village of Tequesta Council has supported JNCA’s restoration project and naming efforts with formal resolutions. They applied for a grant on JNCA’s behalf. They have featured JNCA’s efforts on their webpage and quarterly newsletter, Smoke Signals. And they included a line item in their budget to support this restoration.
Andrew “Red” Harris lived adjacent to the mangrove islands JNCA is restoring when he was tragically killed while snorkeling. He was an avid waterman with great love and respect for our local waters. ARHF pledged financial support to JNCA, and we worked with local municipalities and FL legislators State to name the islands in Andrew’s memory. The legislation was passed unanimously by the House and Senate and signed into law by the Governor, effective July 1, 2026.
Foundation/Organization Supporters
(donating >= $10,000)
