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Friday, July 20th, 2012 #1371
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An Eco-Voice 2012 Sponsor
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To fight for a safe, healthy and ecologically balanced St. Lucie River Estuary and Indian River Lagoon, natural resources that are vital to the economy and quality of life of Martin County
and the Treasure Coast. |
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http://www.riverscoalition.org/ |
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Advocacy
From its inception, the Izaak Walton League and its members have been advocates for conserving, protecting and enjoying our country's incredible array of natural resources. Our active engagement coupled with a practical approach to problem solving has made a difference from town halls to the halls of Congress for 90 years. The Advocacy section of this Web site provides the tools, information, and other resources you need to affect public policy - from the nation's capital to your home town.
| Urge Congress to Support Strong Mercury Standards |
Please urge Congress to support new national standards that will reduce mercury and other toxic air pollution.
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I wonder if we're not the only ones
who enjoy a rising or setting sun?
Sandhilld cranes -- Mark Renz photo
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http://www.ccfriendsofwildlife.org/
Mangrove Gathering Eco Cafe - Free Event
Entertainment
by Kurt & Nancy Van Drie. Come learn about local environmental happenings
and share concerns and solutions. For additional information call John Kiseda at
239-432-2163.
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Fri Jul 20 7:30pm - 10pmEastern Time | |
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Rotary Park Environmental Center, 5505 Rose Garden Rd., Cape Coral FL 33914 (map) |
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U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, front right, rides an airboat through Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge .
U.S. Interior Secretary Salazar: GOP budget 'death knell' for conservation
AP staff
LOXAHATCHEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE - Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said today that budget proposals by congressional Republicans could amount to "a death knell" for conservation programs nationwide.
Visiting the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge outside Boynton Beach, Salazar at times struck a political tone, criticizing the GOP while touting the Obama administration's Everglades restoration efforts. He said he feared a turnaround in a variety of conservation efforts because of budget cuts that "basically decimate" core programs.
"A great fear I have is that there will be a U-turn," he said.
The state and federal governments recently cleared a major hurdle in the seemingly never-ending Everglades clean-up, with a judge's approval of an $880 million plan to try filtering phosphorous from water flowing into the ecosystem. Phosphorous comes, in part, from fertilizer and promotes the growth of unhealthy vegetation that chokes native plants.
In an airboat tour of the Loxahatchee refuge, which is part of the Everglades ecosystem, Salazar got a look at the damage that pollution has done. Near the edge of swamp, invasive cattails and willows suck up nutrients and damage the food chain. About a half-mile away, though, was a glimpse of a healthy Everglades, with tall sawgrass, and thick algae below the surface, an important food source for fish.
The goal is to return all of the Everglades, a vast expanse of wetlands that is a key water source for millions, to its original state, before decades of damage from farms and development, untold pollution from fertilizers and urban runoff and the erection of dikes, dams and canals that have effectively drained much of the swamp.
"It literally turns the Everglades into something else," said Shannon Estenoz, who heads the Interior Department's initiatives in the Everglades and accompanied Salazar on his tour. "It's going to be terrific over the next several decades to see this landscape change back."
The cleanup plan backed by a federal judge last week will take an estimated 12 years to finish and Salazar acknowledged much work was left to do. But he said "we have been able to move more the last three-and-a-half years than we have, I think, in the last 20 years."
He is the second cabinet member to visit Florida in less than a week to tout the administration's efforts in the Everglades, considered an ecological jewel and often enjoying bipartisan support in the state. On Friday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new funding for land easements as part of restoration efforts and touted a newly compiled figure of $1.5 billion as the Obama administration's total investment in Everglades restoration.
Salazar promised the federal-state cleanup agreement is enforceable and would prevail across presidential administrations, saying "no one can walk away from it." But he still expressed worry that Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, would live up to the agreement. "I don't know whether or not he is committed to this for the long term," he said.
Brian Burgess, a spokesman for Scott, said "the governor is committed to his end of the bargain and we hope the feds are, too."
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Pecks to the beat of a slower drummer
(compared to the faster beat of other woodpeckers)
Downy woodpecker -- Mark Renz photo
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Funding Cuts for Water Management Districts Jeopardize Progress on Restoration and Water Resource Protection
Despite passage of SB 1986, which was signed into law by Governor Scott in April 2012, there are even further funding reductions coming to the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) - the agency charged with Everglades restoration.
Last week, the SFWMD Governing Board decided in a unanimous vote to "roll-back" the millage rate, which will result in collecting even less money than proposed last year. This decision was made despite an almost $5 million shortfall in the District's budget.
While the SFWMD has done an impressive job of trying to do more with less in the past year, these further reductions are jeopardizing the agency's ability to carry out their core missions of water supply, flood control, and Everglades restoration. Funding for the agency's water supply program, which develops and maintains our region's water resources for our growing population, has 70% less funds than two years ago. Likewise, funding for science and monitoring funds is half of what it was in 2011.
The SFWMD's ability to maintain and manage their public lands for the public good has also been compromised. Click here for additional information from Audubon.
While Florida's water resources are in jeopardy through these new reductions, the owner of a $150,000 home will save just $0.74 a year, less than a can of soda.
Because of an odd wording in state law, if the water management districts do not "roll-back" the millage rate to collect the same amount of ad valorem revenues as the prior year, they are "raising taxes." And due to an error in estimating the property values in Miami-Dade county, the SFWMD is almost $5 million under what the state legislature recommended, even with the drastic cuts last year.
There were similar funding decisions for other Florida water management districts last week.
Audubon Florida is working to ensure that the SFWMD will have enough funds to sustain its core missions in the future. The protection of Florida's incredible water resources cannot be compromised.
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ERP rules
Join DEP's forum to discuss the draft rule for statewide environmental resource permitting A Draft version of Chapter 62-330, F.A.C. is Now Available from the Rule Drafts Page!
Currently, between DEP and Florida's five water management districts, at least five different versions of the ERP rules
are in place statewide. Reducing the number and complexity of the rules will make it easier for everyone to understand and apply what is expected of them during the ERP regulatory process, and will improve predictability and consistency in permitting decisions. A statewide rule will not raise or lower environmental standards. DEP will work with the water management districts, local governments, citizens and businesses throughout the development of the statewide rule. About this website This website will be the primary source of public information on the progress of this rulemaking and will be updated weekly. You are encouraged to check for updates. DEP and the water management districts will engage the public during rule development by: - Hosting public workshops and comment pages for "real time" feedback from the public.
- Posting and updating draft rules online, for review and comment, allowing more people to interact with our experts and comment on our rules.
While comments may be provided directly to agency staff, providing comments through the Discussion Forum will ensure that the appropriate staff members are made aware of your comments, suggestions and concerns. All comments will be reviewed and DEP staff will respond to individual comments, when appropriate, for clarification. |
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Coming in August...
The 2012 Florida Waterfowl Summit
Ocala Hilton
Registration will be open soon
Mark your calendars; The 2012 Florida Waterfowl Summit is scheduled for August 23-24; with a free Wild Game Reception Thursday evening behind the Ocala Hilton pool and the Conference being held all day Friday starting at 0800 in the Ocala Hilton Ballroom. Lunch will be provided at the conference, courtesy UW-F. Everything is free for those who attend.
The Waterfowl Summit Mission:
- Present the latest wetland/watershed science, current state project reports, and historical context.
- Provide a forum for networking among agency staff, professionals and other stakeholders.
- Identify new restoration funding partnerships and new funding ideas through discussion and awareness.
- Identify creative restoration solutions that fit industry, agriculture, and the priorities of sportsmen and other stakeholders.
"As Waterfowl Hunters, public wetlands and liberty go hand in hand. For so many of us, our public wetlands and our watersheds in Florida define our heritage. So it's fundamental and imperative that we work together to preserve and restore the remaining public wetlands and wetland buffer areas in Florida. We must find solutions to facilitate and fund these restoration projects, and find solutions that accomplish what is necessary in ways that all stakeholders can come to agree upon. "
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South Florida Water Management District
Citizens committee takes up the hunt for Collier off-road site
The long hunt for a site for off-roaders to run kicked off a new phase Wednesday with the first meeting of a citizens committee to sort through options.
The five-man committee met for more than an hour in a Collier County government conference room and heard an update from county land buyers about the progress of the search so far.
Stantec Consulting Services has drawn up a map of possible sites, and the county has sent letters of inquiry to owners of some 80 parcels - from fewer than 100 acres to more than 5,000 acres - in agricultural areas around Immokalee and in East Naples.
A handful have expressed interest in talking with the county but most have said they have little or no interest or have not responded. The county wants to exhaust all options before giving up, the county's point man on the search told the committee.
"We, as Collier County staff, are really looking for you guys to get engaged," the county's growth management division Administrator Nick Casalanguida said.
County commissioners appointed the committee in June. The committee named Ave Maria School of Law employee Joe Pelletier as its chairman; other members are rental company workers Felix Garcia and Jeff Close, Collier County paramedic Jonathon Harraden and county fleet management employee Mario Menendez. The county still is looking for two alternate members.
Committee members agreed they wanted any riding spot to be controlled and family-friendly, focused on ATVs and dirt bikes, and to not attract a rowdy crowd with trucks and buggies.
"I'm hoping this just doesn't turn into a mud pit and beer drinking," Pelletier said to nods of agreement around the conference room table.
The search for an ATV riding site has alienated many riders who have grown mistrustful of government after years of dead ends and what they consider broken promises.
In 2003, the South Florida Water Management District pledged to find 640 acres for riders in exchange for the county handing over roads in southern Golden Gate Estates for an Everglades restoration project. By 2009, the county took the district to court over the failed search.
The two sides settled the litigation in 2011, and the county got $3 million to continue to search by itself.
The committee set its next meeting for Sept. 12. More information about the search is available at www.colliergov.net/atvpark
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Photo by DAVID ALBERS, Daily News // Buy this photo
North Fort Myers' Jessica Gagnon, 18, and Steve Bruer, 22, race along the main drag on an ATV as night falls on the Independance Day festivities at the Redneck Yacht Club on July 4, 2009, in rural Charlotte County, Fla. David Albers/Staff
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Life in downtown Fort Myers for the birds
Written by Annabelle Tometich - News-Press
From colonies of terns nesting on the gravel-topped roof of Harborside Event Center to flocks of purple martins swirling in and out of the oak trees along Hendry and Main streets, downtown Fort Myers is home to a surprising array of birds.
Roger Clark would like to introduce you to them.
"We are hoping to get everyday people to come out, not necessarily just the birders," said Clark, an Audubon member who will be leading a free Urban Birding Field Trip through downtown Fort Myers at 7 p.m. Friday.
"Obviously we've completely altered the urban landscape, but many wildlife species have adapted and even thrive around urban areas, birds especially."
Clark's love of nature started when he was a boy in his native North Carolina. He spent his free time wandering the woods around his home, catching bugs and lizards for closer inspection. He majored in wildlife biology at North Carolina State before moving to Southwest Florida more than 30 years ago.
The area's plethora of shore birds and migrating birds and water birds captivated Clark almost instantly. But it's these creatures' adaptability that amazes him most.
Those Harborside terns, for example, usually excavate shallow holes of nests into our shelly-sand beaches. But as humans and hotels have taken over the shorelines, the terns learned to raise their young on the expansive, gravelly roof tops of grocery and department stores, and places such as Harborside. There they find peace and quiet, few predators and plenty of insects to feed their little ones.
"If my memory is right, there are more terns nesting now on roofs than there are in natural areas," Clark said. Whether that's just the bird's preference or a direct result of human encroachment is up for debate. As Clark put it, "only the birds know for sure and they're not talking."
Other feathered friends that could be spotted downtown include gray kingbirds, which usually nest in mangroves but have come to love the protection of the scrubby oak trees planted in many local parking lots. There could be chimney swifts, as well, quick little birds that look like "cigars with wings," according to Clark. These birds usually live in hollowed-out tree trunks, but have adapted to chimneys and other sheltered openings.
The urban birding tour groups have had luck spotting purple martins during past downtown visits, but Clark is doubtful these flocks of small, black-purple birds - the ones you see crowding onto power lines and flying in synchronized swirls - will be around Friday.
"It might have been the warm spring," Clark said of the purple martins early departure. "Martins form these staging flocks prior to migrating, so they all kind of come together and book the same slight south and then they're gone."
What: Urban Birding Field Trip. Wildlife biologist and Audubon member Roger Clark will lead a walking tour looking at the various bird populations that call downtown Fort Myers home. The tour follows a 5:30 p.m. history and architecture tour of the area led by landscape architect Joe Beck and historian Gerri Reaves.
* When: 7 p.m. Friday
* Where: The birding tour will leave from the Fountain of the Three Friends across from Harborside Event Center on Edwards Drive in Ft. Myers.
* Cost: Free
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Vessels
Click Mark Renz photo for thoughts on human vessels
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Sincerely,
Eco-Voice Moderator
Eco-Voice, Inc.
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