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Tuesday, June 12th, 2012 #1334 |
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 | Invasion of the snail snatchers
(Mostly limpkins and Everglades snail kites hang out here at Harns Marsh)
Mark Renz photo
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UF study in Immokalee shows panther kills of calves
not as common as feared
By ERIC STAATS
IMMOKALEE -Neither ranchers nor researchers knew what to expect when they kicked off a two-year study last year to try to figure out how often Florida panthers are attacking newborn calves around Immokalee.
A report on the first year of the study is putting some hard numbers to the problem, for the first time, and is revealing some surprises, they say.
"I think we have a good handle on what happened," said University of Florida graduate student Caitlin Jacobs, who conducted the study with the help of ranchers.
Getting to the bottom of the problem of panthers preying on cattle herds looms large because private landowners' cooperation is key to the survival of a rebounding population of the endangered species that's running out of room in Southwest Florida.
The study is helping guide the development of a possible program to compensate ranchers for calf losses, either paying ranchers per killed animal or paying a so-called "ecosystem services" fee to reward ranchers for the environmental benefit of their land.
Scientists estimate that as many as 160 panthers live in the wild, up from as few as 30. A recovery plan calls for establishing new panther populations in other parts of Florida, raising concerns about conflicts between pantherduring calving season from September 2011 to April 2012.
On the JB Ranch, eight calves were lost from the study herd, or about 8 percent. Half of them, or about 4 percent of the study herd, were confirmed to be killed by panthers. The study also documented the deaths of four untagged calves.
At the Immokalee Ranch, seven calves were lost from the study herd, or about 6 percent. One calf, or 1 percent of the study herd, was confirmed killed by a panther. The study documented the deaths of another 15 untagged calves at Immokalee Ranch.
Calves, both tagged and untagged, were lost at the two ranches after abandonment by the mother because of the stress of the tagging, abandonment for unknown reasons, sickness, attacks by other predators like bears, coyotes and vultures. Some calves went missing for unknown reasons, according to the report.
The number of calves killed by panthers at the JB Ranch was less than what ranch owners had estimated in 2010, when they guessed that as many as 70 calves were killed by panthers, or about one-third of all calves born that fall.....
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David Guest: The DEP is blind to state's 'green slime'
By David Guest
Special to The Sun
In May, the Santa Fe River near Gainesville - a gorgeous river with sandy bottom limestone banks, and 75 springs - was blanketed with an unprecedented, nauseating green slime.
Folks couldn't swim, fish, paddle, jet ski, boat or float in its spring waters over the hot Memorial Day weekend because the algae outbreak is a health threat.
What a mess. What a mess for wildlife, what a mess for our drinking water, what a mess for property owners, and for all of us who make our living from tourism. (Given the way Florida's economy works, that's most of us.)
I wish I could say this is an isolated event. But over the Christmas break, a nasty algae outbreak wrecked the holiday for folks on gorgeous Sanibel Island, a top tourist destination in Southwest Florida. Dead fish covered the beaches and the ocean breeze carried a nauseating stench.
The culprit in both outbreaks: manure, fertilizer and inadequately treated sewage in the water, which fuel noxious algae. This pollution is preventable. What we need are effective, enforceable limits on the amount of sewage, fertilizer and manure allowed in our waterways.
The algae outbreaks can be prevented by upgrading aging sewer systems, using smarter fertilizer application techniques and implementing modern manure management on agricultural operations.
But the state is dragging its feet, and the official lax attention is having disastrous effects. Right now, a drinking water plant for 30,000 people on Southwest Florida's Caloosahatchee River is shut down due to continued algae outbreaks. The bottom of the once-clear Silver River is infested by weeds, which are fueled by the phosphorus and nitrogen in sewage, manure and fertilizer.
The St. Johns River near Jacksonville was slimed repeatedly for six years, with one 2010 outbreak stretching 100 miles long. On Southeast Florida's St. Lucie River near Stuart, a slime outbreak caused waterfront property values to plummet by $500 million. Check out the Sierra Club's online "Slime Crimes" map for photos of noxious algae outbreaks happening right now.
This is the sad reality out there in our beautiful state. But in the Tallahassee bureaucratic bubble, we're all doing great! At least that's what Drew Bartlett, director of the Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration, would have you believe in his May 20 Speaking Out.
Bartlett writes: "Florida has always been a national leader in assessing and addressing the health of our waterways," and "one of the top priorities of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is getting Florida's water right in terms of quality and quantity."
Nice words, but Bartlett needs to get out of his office and see what's happening out here. Families are showing up at their favorite recreation spot and finding "No Swimming" signs posted by the health department. People are getting rashes and having breathing problems from the algae. I think we can all agree this is not the Florida we want.
The science has already been done for enforceable limits for this pollution. But lobbyists for polluters have blocked cleanup at every turn - from the statehouse in Tallahassee to Congress. They even got their politician buddies to threaten to withhold part of the federal budget for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to block Florida's clean water standards!
At the industry-friendly Florida DEP, lobbyists for polluters basically drafted their own rules, and the standards are so ineffective that they don't even require the state to take any action until it's too late and our water has already been slimed.
What to do? We have formed a citizen's group to fight back against the preventable pollution that's wrecking our favorite places. It is called the Florida Water Coalition, and you can learn more by visiting www.floridawatercoalition.org
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It is time for us to take our public waterways back.
David Guest is an attorney for Earthjustice. |
 | Interview with a phytoplankton
Click image for interview
Mark Renz photo art
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Red Tide Report
This Website also provides links to additional information related to the topic of Florida red tide including satellite imagery, experimental red tide forecasts, shellfish harvesting areas, the FWC Fish Kill Hotline, the Aquatic Toxins Hotline (for information or to report human health effects), and other wildlife related hotlines:
(http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/events/status/contact/. ) and click on "Harmful Algal Bloom Species". Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks, Karen Karen E. Atwood Harmful Algal Bloom Group FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute |
DEP Celebrates National Marina Day
In recognition of National Marina Day, The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Office of Sustainable Initiatives today hosted a designation ceremony at Bluewater Bay Marina Complex in Niceville.
On National Marina Day, marinas statewide and around the world highlight the marine industry as a family-friendly gateway to rivers, lakes and oceans, while recognizing the importance of being a steward to the environment.
"Florida's $16.8 billion boating industry depends on clean water," said Sustainable Initiatives Director Brad Stombock. "National Marina Day provides an opportunity for marinas to educate boaters and the community about the important environmental practices they can implement to protect Florida's waters."
Bluewater Bay Marina was recognized by DEP's Clean Marina Program as the 258th Clean Marina in Florida. Presenting the marina with a flag and plaque, DEP's Northwest District Assistant Director Darryl Boudreau and local industry representatives acknowledged Bluewater Bay Marina for addressing critical environmental issues such as sensitive habitat, waste management, stormwater control, spill prevention and emergency preparedness by implementing Best Management Practices.
"Florida Marinas which are open to the public are great examples of a private/public partnership," said Brett Hinely, Bluewater Bay Marine Complex President. "We at Bluewater Bay Marina agree with the State of Florida in encouraging marina's to become Clean Marinas to demonstrate that good ecological practices can also be good for business. We have chosen to announce our Clean Marina designation on National Marina Day to help bring attention to these important practices and to demonstrate our stewardship of the public trust."
Florida has more than 920,000 registered motorized vessels and approximately 2,000 marinas - the largest number of marine facilities in the country. Drawing millions of visitors each year, Florida's clear waters, world-class beaches and coral reefs support a $67.3 billion tourism industry and a fishing industry that injects more than $8.3 billion a year into Florida's communities.
Due to the vital role marinas play in Florida, Clean Marinas across the state promote clean boating outreach and information along with events and activities. The Florida Clean Marina Program is a collaborative effort between businesses and government to promote the sustainable use of materials and marina resources.
Hundreds of marinas all over the country are hosting events for National Marina Day. Activities include: Children's activities, boat rides, paddle board and kayak rides, Sea Scouts skill and event training, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel safety checks and Fire Department fire boat demonstrations.
For details on participating marinas throughout the state, please visit http://www.nationalmarinaday.org/about/participating-marinas/. |
 | There is an art to everything...including eating
Purple gallinule -- Mark Renz photo
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Eco-Voice, Inc. is a non-partisan, independant communication portal for individuals and organizations interested in the environmental issues impacting the southwest Florida environment. The opinions of those posting on this site are not necessarily those of the site managers or their sponsors. If posts are found to have factual errors or partisan political statements not appropriate for a 501c3, they will be deleted without comment by the moderator. Eco-Voice, Inc. does not sell, share, trade, distribute or otherwise use your e-mail address other than to send you the notices to which you subscribe.
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.
Checks to support Eco-Voice can be sent to Post Office Box 50161, Fort Myers, Fl 33994. |
Tropical Audubon Society
The Voice of Conservation in South Florida
Tropical Audubon Society
| 5530 Sunset Drive Miami, Fl 33143
| (305) 667-7337 |
www.tropicalaudubon.org
Turkey Point Expansion & Everglades Restoration: Competing Interests South Florida already struggles to meet water supply demands, yet an application by Florida Power & Light (FPL) to build two new nuclear reactors (6 & 7) would increase water demands by over 90 million gallons a day. Meanwhile, our federal and state governments are spending an estimated total of $22.5 billion to restore Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park, and the proposed expansion of Turkey Point directly conflicts with planned restoration projects. Water Impact · FPL proposes to place radial collector wells approx. 40 feet below Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, in the upper levels of the Biscayne Aquifer (the Fort Thompson Formation). This depth may be within the "take zone" of the Biscayne Aquifer. · FPL proposes to inject 40 million gallons a day (MGD) of waste in the boulder zone, a layer of the lower Floridan aquifer. This assumes infinite holding capacity within this layer. · The Turkey Point expansion would require either approximately 90 MGD of reclaimed water, 124 MGD from its radial wells under Biscayne Bay or a combination of both. By comparison, the entire Florida Keys uses about 17 MGD. Everglades Impacts · the proposed expansion will impact over 800 acres of wetlands. FPL's plan to mitigate this loss is not sufficient. · At least 3% of the water to be used in the radial collector wells will come from the Biscayne Aquifer. This will result in a reduction of more than 3 million gallons a day of groundwater flow needed to support the flora and fauna of Biscayne Bay. The proposed expansion is in direct conflict with the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands project, the goal of which is to return the bay to less saline conditions. · The availability of reuse water to meet both the projected needs of FPL to operate the new plant and the needs of the Everglades restoration is questionable. The outcome of a reuse feasibility study is expected in 2011. · The plan includes construction of transmission lines within the Everglades and along US1. · FPL's proposed transmission corridors impede upon lands within Everglades National Park and the footprint of BBCW and seek to fill more than 300 acres of wetlands. · US1 is an important corridor for growth because it is a public transportation route. If growth cannot occur along this corridor, sprawl is more likely to happen. · The proposed rock mining project, which is planned within the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands footprint (part of Everglades restoration), violates Miami-Dade County's Comprehensive Development Master Plan, interferes with planned restoration projects and could worsen saltwater intrusion and chloride contamination in the Biscayne aquifer-South Florida's primary drinking water supply. · Planned road expansions would block water flow to wetlands within Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and compartmentalize the areas to be used in wetland rehydration. · Releasing 30 MGD of steam from the reactor cooling process into the atmosphere (known as aerosol drift) has potentially damaging implications for local climate, wildlife and wildlife habitat, Biscayne Bay and locally grown food. · The Turkey Point property is a known habitat for endangered or threatened species such as indigo snakes, Florida panther, wood storks and roseate spoonbills and is critical habitat for the American crocodile. Contaminant loading into the Cooling Canal System and loss of habitat through plant operation and construction may negatively impact these species.. |
Periodic Scientists Conference Call -
Lake Okeechobee/Estuaries
The next conference call is scheduled for Tuesday, 10:30am.
The call-in number is (877)322-9654 and the code is 842466.
Members of the public can "listen in" but are not participants in the discussion.
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 | Turtle sculpture
Peace River - Mark Renz photo art
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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The United States Environmental Protection Agency's Everglades Ecosystem Assessment Program is a long-term research, monitoring and assessment effort. Its goal is to provide critical, timely, scientific information needed for management decisions on the Everglades ecosystem and its restoration. Since 1993, three phases of marsh sampling and one phase of canal sampling have been conducted throughout the Everglades at over 1000 different locations. The Program is unique to South Florida in that it combines several key aspects of scientific study: a probability-based sampling design, which permits quantitative statements across space about the condition of the ecosystem; a multi-media aspect; and extensive spatial coverage.
This Program:
- contributes to documenting the effectiveness of phosphorus and mercury control efforts;
- contributes to the joint federal-state Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) by quantifying conditions in three physiographic regions: Everglades ridge and slough; marl prairie/rocky glades; and Big Cypress Swamp;
- provides information on four groups of Everglades restoration success indicators: surface water, soil and sediment, vegetation, and fish;
- provides a baseline against which future conditions can be compared and the effectiveness of restoration efforts can be gauged;
- assesses the effects and potential risks of multiple environmental stressors on the Everglades ecosystem, such as water management, soil loss, water quality degradation, habitat loss, and mercury contamination; and
- provides data with multiple applications - updating and calibrating surface water management models; updating models that predict periphyton or vegetation changes in response to phosphorus enrichment or phosphorus control; developing empirical models in order to better understand interrelationships among mercury, sulfur, phosphorus, and carbon; developing water quality standards to protect fish and wildlife.
www.sfrestore.org
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 | Megalodon Shark Hunter
Marisa Renz photo of Mark and Coonie (not Darwin)
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51st ANNUAL MEETING
Island Beach State Park, Seaside, New Jersey
September 20 - 23, 2012 |
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This 51st annual meeting of the Society will be held at Seaside Park, NJ, starting Thursday evening, September 20, and ending Sunday, September 23. As usual, the long weekend is an excuse to get out into littoral territory to see nature in action. |
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 Submit your artwork for the CHNEP 2013 calendar We live in a beautiful place and many of you have captured this beauty in your artwork, as is evidenced by the calendars produced by the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) since 2005. The CHNEP is a partnership program working to protect the natural environment of Florida from Venice to Estero Bay to Winter Haven. We hope you will consider being a part of the 2013 calendar. Please let others know who you think may be interested in participating. You can have your artwork published. Have you captured an image of the beauty of the natural environment? The image could have been captured today or 50 years ago in any medium (photography, oil, illustration, etc.) within the CHNEP study area of Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee and Lee counties and portions of Highlands, Manatee, Polk and Sarasota counties. Whether you are young or old, professional or amateur, you may submit up to three (3) digitized entries for consideration by the people within the region for inclusion in a 2013 calendar. There are two ways to submit your images: by email or on a compact disk (CD). No matter which way the images are provided, they must be received by 5 p.m. July 14, 2012. If you hand deliver them, they must be dropped off at the office before 5 p.m. on Friday, July 13. Each entry mustbe accompanied by a release form that allows the CHNEP to use the entries in items such as the calendar, the Harbor Happenings newsletteror on the program website. Images will only be posted for selection if a completed release form (available at www.CHNEP.org) is received and if the images are submitted as digital files. A signed model release form (available at www.CHNEP.org) must also be provided for each recognizable person in the image(s). Send the images by email to mhilgendorf@swfrpc.org. Do not consider them received until you receive an email confirming they were received. If you do not receive this confirmation email, your entries were not received. In lieu of the printed release form, go to the website and complete an online version of the entry form. (Our email has been upgraded so we are now able to accept large files.) |
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Sincerely,
Eco-Voice Moderator
Eco-Voice, Inc.
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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. " |
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