|
|
|
Saturday, May 5th, 2012
Get the Eco-Voice Daily Digest email
|
 | |
Fireflag dancer
Purple gallinule -- Mark Renz photo art
|
|
Climate change: What's the potential impact on Florida agriculture?
David Bennett
Are we readyfor continuing record-breaking warm temperatures and their consequences? According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), March this year was the warmest since records began to be compiled in 1895.
A NOAA report says, "Record and near-record breaking temperatures dominated the eastern two-thirds of the nation and ... more than 15,000 warm temperature records were broken during the month.
"The average temperature of 51.1° F was 8.6 degrees above the 20th century average for March and 0.5° F warmer than the previous warmest March in 1910. Of the more than 1,400 months (117-plus years) that have passed since the U.S. climate record began, only one month, January 2006, has seen a larger departure from its average temperature than March 2012." (Read the report at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/)
This isn't the first time NOAA has sounded climate alarm bells. In 2010, its "State of the Climate" report drew on data for 10 key climate indicators "that all point to the same finding: the scientific evidence that our world is warming is unmistakable."
More than 300 scientists from 160 research groups in 48 countries contributed to the report, which confirms that the past decade was the warmest on record and that the Earth has been growing warmer over the last 50 years. (Read the report at http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100728_stateoftheclimate.html)
Following such an incredibly warm winter, in April the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released a report of its own, "Ready or Not: An Evaluation of State Climate and Water Preparedness Planning."
The study ranks every state in a variety of categories and ranks their readiness for issues that continuing record-breaking temperatures could bring. (See the report at http://www.nrdc.org/water/readiness/water-readiness-report.asp
)
After a year spent digging through laws, regulations and plans, the NRDC claims only nine states have "taken comprehensive steps to address their vulnerabilities to the water-related impacts of climate change, while 29 states are unprepared for growing water threats to their economies and public health."
In an interview with Grove & Vegetable, Ben Chou, NRDC policy analyst and author of the report, discussed the study's methodology, how the Southeast - particularly Florida - is, or isn't, preparing for climate change and what can be expected in coming years. ....
more...
|
One Fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish. From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere. Mote Aquarium is the place to be to discover fascinating creatures from the deep blue sea! Join us June 2nd at Mote for World Oceans Day, a fun time for everyone to learn and play. www.mote.org/worldoceanday
|
 |
There are worse things they could call you.Go ahead and hug me.
Mark Renz photo art
|
|
|
Mote moves assets to Punta Gorda
The construction of a Mote Marine aquarium in downtown Punta Gorda may still be a couple years away, but Mote will be expanding its presence here as early as June 1, when it transfers its first two marine biologists to work out of Punta Gorda.
Title: Senior Scientist; Program Manager - Fisheries Habitat Ecology
Phone: 239-283-1622
Fax: 239-283-2466
Email: aadams@mote.org
Research at Mote Marine Laboratory
Mote Marine Laboratory was founded in 1955 as an independent marine research institution. Through the years, Mote has distinguished itself through the seamless integration of its research enterprise with education, public outreach and public policy programs. Mote's range of services is a keystone attribute defining its uniqueness among its peers. |
|
Lake O at 11.66' and falling. No current releases to Caloosahatchee (bad) or to St. Luice (good) .
A SFWMD water shortage warning remains in place, underscoring need for water conservation, but the only restrictions imposed at this time are cutting off water flows for salinity balance to the Caloosahatchee from Lake O.
|
Dry Conditions Expected to Improve With Arrival of Wet Season
At a joint briefing with the South Florida Water Management District, the National Weather Service released its forecast for the 2012 wet season, calling for an early start to the season and average rainfall for the coming months.
While above-average rainfall in April helped ease dry conditions in some areas of South Florida, it will take time once the wet season begins to recharge regional surface and groundwater sources. The region experienced a rainfall deficit of 5.5 inches from the beginning of November through the end of April. |
|
As the 14th year of consolidated reporting, the 2012 South Florida Environmental Report (SFER) showcases dozens of agency reports in a three-volume publication, complemented by the Consolidated Project Report Database.
|
 |
Crossing the yellow line Mark Renz photo art
|
|
|
DEP moving into new areas of possible water quality controversy
Florida Clean Water Network has new Website
Triennial Review Discussion
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wqssp/docs/tr_review/tri_rev_factsheet.pdf
With the recent adoption of nutrient standards for lakes, spring vents, streams and selected estuaries, the Department is now initiating the Triennial Review of our entire set of water quality standards. The Department is considering revisions to a limited number of rule sections at this time; however, all surface water quality standards in Chapter 62-4, Chapter 62-302 and Chapter 62-303, F.A.C., are open for review and may be revised as part of Triennial Review. Currently, the Department proposes to revise the human health-based surface water quality criteria based on updated research including fish consumption rate information. In addition, the Department is considering revisions to the criteria for dissolved oxygen in both fresh and marine waters statewide using Florida-specific data, science and information.
Three public workshops have been scheduled:
DATE AND TIME: Tuesday, May 15, 2012, 9:00 a.m.
PLACE: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Southeast District Office, 400 North Congress Avenue, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, Florida
DATE AND TIME: Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 9:00 a.m.
PLACE: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Central District Office, 3319 Maguire Boulevard, Suite 232, Conference Rooms A/B/C, Orlando, Florida
DATE AND TIME: Thursday, May 17, 2012, 9:00 a.m.
PLACE: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Bob Martinez Center, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Room 609, Tallahassee, Florida
The same material will be presented at each workshop, so you do not need to attend multiple workshops. This first round of workshops will focus on the technical basis of the proposed revisions to the water quality criteria. We plan to hold a second round of Triennial Review workshops in July to present specific rule language.
|
|
CHARTING A NEW COURSE
JUNE 15, 2012
NAPLES, FL. - All are invited to a special event of fun, fellowship, and professional development sponsored by the American Planning Association (APA) of Florida. ... Mark your calendars for the afternoon of Friday June 15 for Charting a New Course - How Planners are Changing Our Communities' Futures at the Waldorf Astoria, 475 Seagate Drive, Naples, FL. The event will give everyone a sneak preview of the APA of Florida's state conference - at the same venue - September 12-15.The educational portion of the program will be from 2 to 4:30 p.m. This free event will be followed by a reception, food, and drinks at special pricing - courtesy of the Southwest Florida/Promised Lands Section of APA of Florida. Confirmed speakers are Bill Spikowski, Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP) and Principal of Spikowski Planning Associates in Fort Myers; Robert J. Mulhere, FAICP, manager of Mulhere and Associates in Marco Island; Debrah Forester, American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and Charlotte County Redevelopment Manager; and Mary Gibbs, AICP, Director of the Lee County Department of Community Development. Please RSVP for the June 15 event by contacting Alexis Crespo at AlexisC@waldropengineering.com or 239-405-7777, ext. 207.
|
 |
Bluesy crane Mark Renz photo art
|
|
http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/intecol/ June 3-8, 2012, Orlando
We are pleased to announce the Society of Wetland Scientists and the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Conference will meet in conjunction with INTECOL 9, and their
presentations on planning, policy and science will be integrated into the program. We welcome our colleagues to this premier event - the largest wetlands conference in the world. |
WAVE4 Act - Bad Deal for Taxpayers and the Environment
The WAVE4 Act (H.R. 4342) will shift the burden for funding costly inland waterway infrastructure expenses onto taxpayers, possibly leaving taxpayers on the hook for over $10 billion over the next 20 years! The WAVE4 Act will not fund necessary work to maintain the locks and dams and increase the backlog of infrastructure projects. Some of the fundamental flaws with this legislation.
The 20-year investment strategy lists almost 150 lock and dam construction and rehabilitation projects that will cost $15 billion over the next 20 years. But, if H.R. 4342 passes, navigation will contribute only $5 billion for these projects, while taxpayers will be on the hook for $10 billion plus any cost overruns! If the cost overrun trend continues, this means that taxpayers could be on the hook for $20-30 billion over the next 20 years. Several of the projects on the list have not been funded by Congress because they are not economically justified. Instead of increasing costs for unnecessary projects that are environmentally damaging, let's re-evaluate project priorities, planning and funding to alleviate the backlog of projects.
Lake Okeechobee | Florida
In 2006, engineering experts calculated that in any given year there is a 1-in-6 chance that the Herbert Hoover Dike will fail, releasing waters from Lake Okeechobee. If that happened, South Florida's water supply could be contaminated, and 40,000 lakeside residents could be threatened by flooding. The Army Corps of Engineers has been working on improvements.
After Hurricane Katrina flooded New Orleans, engineers fearing a similar fate here declared the aging, leaking dike around Lake Okeechobee a "grave and imminent danger to the people and the environment of South Florida."
In a 2006 report that spurred a $1 billion repair job, they argued that the Herbert Hoover Dike "needs to be fixed now, and it needs to be fixed right." As a result, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers embarked on the gold standard of dike repair to erect a 2-foot-thick, 70-foot-deep wall in the center of the 80-year-old earthen berm.
After committing $200 million to complete a 22-mile section, now half-finished, corps officials plan to announce next week that they're not going to continue the Cadillac plan after that section is done. Instead, they'll re-engineer, looking for less-costly alternatives that meet safety goals. The reason is the high cost of the wall construction - $10 million a mile - and competition for scarce federal money, spokeswoman Susan Jackson said.
A second factor, however, is the refusal last year by the South Florida Water Management District to pay for land needed to expand and strengthen the berm....... |
The goal of the Central Everglades Planning Project is to deliver within two years a finalized plan, known as a Project Implementation Report (PIR), for a suite of restoration projects in the central Everglades to prepare for congressional authorization as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). USACE is leading this planning effort in partnership with the South Florida Water Management District.
|
|
|
 Promote Your Event You too can promote your organization's upcoming event - complete with a link to your web site - for seven days, by sponsoring the Daily Digest with a donation of $25. Send your message, date(s) of your event , and logo to sponsorship@Eco-Voice.org. |
|
|
|
|
|
Sincerely,
Eco-Voice Moderator
Eco-Voice, Inc.
|
|
Eco-voice, Inc. is an independent, volunteer-run organization and provides this website as a public service. The opinions of those posting on this site are not necessarily those of the site managers or their sponsors.
License to solicit: A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES By CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.'' REGISTRATION# CH31394. " |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Post Online |
To post to the website: Email suggestions for posts to ecovoicemoderator@msn.com . Add dates and specific locations to your messages if appropriate, and they will display on the site map and calendar. If posting media material please include link to the original publication.
| | at Eco-Voice.org |
|
|
