Friday, June 29th, 2012 #1351

In This Issue

CHNEP Water Atlas

County Coalition Meeting Now Aug.

FWC - No take of Gulf Snook

Search for Sawfish

Storm surge increases esturine salinity

CEPP PDT next week

Water Choices V

Ding Darling Summer Programs

Florida's new energy law

Taste of Lee Tropical Fruit

Climate Progress Website

CREW Trust

Wildlife 2060

Everglades HUB info

Green News Links

Optimist's sunrise

Mark Renz photo art

Snook season to remain closed in Gulf waters

by: Steve Waters

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted to keep the snook season closed for another year in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Keys and Everglades National Park.

The closure, which will run through Aug. 31, 2013, provides additional protection to snook after a 2010 cold spell killed thousands of the fish in those waters. Catch and release fishing for snook is allowed in Gulf waters.

The vote came Thursday at the FWC's meeting at PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens after staff presented an updated stock assessment that showed snook populations are improving in Atlantic waters and are not in biological jeopardy in the Gulf. The next assessment is due in 2015.

"If we have a bad winter this year, we will benefit from this caution; if we don't have a bad winter, we will let all these breeding fish come through the slot," said commissioner Kenneth Wright, referring to the snook slot limit of 28 to 33 inches in Gulf of Mexico waters. "We'll really have done something good and we'll have protected some of these fish."

The snook season was closed in Gulf and Atlantic waters by executive order in January 2010 after an extended cold spell. ...

The search for a sawfish on Sanibel

Endangered fish is first one documented at site; FWC wants to tag it for research.

State researchers Wednesday were a day late and a sawfish short.

Smalltooth sawfish are an endangered species, and the first sawfish documented in Sanibel Island's Tarpon Bay had been hanging around the boat ramp every day from June 18 to Tuesday.

So a team of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission researchers and volunteers came down from Port Charlotte on Wednesday to catch and tag it as part of an ongoing study.

"We've tagged sawfish in the Myakka River, Peace River and Caloosahatchee River, and we really want to catch this one," FWC biologist Jacquelyn DeAngelo said. "This is an amazing fish to work with, because there is so little known about them."

DeAngelo said Tarpon Bay looked like good sawfish habitat.

"I can't call one area more sawfishy than another," she said. "We're still learning about their habitat. But if I were a sawfish, I wouldn't mind being here."

Once ranging from New York to Texas, the U.S. sawfish population, which has declined by an estimated 95 percent, is now restricted to Southwest Florida. Reasons for the species' demise include overfishing by recreational fishermen.

Sawfish saws were once popular souvenirs.

Commercial fishermen never targeted the species, but many sawfish were killed when they became entangled in gill nets.

With the remaining U.S. population now entirely in Southwest Florida, 221,459 acres in Charlotte Harbor - including Pine Island Sound, Matlacha Pass, the Caloosahatchee River and Estero Bay - and 619,013 acres in the Ten Thousand Islands were designated in 2009 as critical smalltooth sawfish habitat......

To report a sawfish sighting

Email: Sawfish@MyFWC.com
Telephone: 941-255-7403
Include the date and time of the encounter, the location, the estimated length of each sawfish, the water depth, and any other relevant details.

Bad toupee day

Crested caracara

Mark Renz photo

This week's Caloosahatchee Condition Report

Information about the condition of the Caloosahatchee and estuary.

Recommendation: We request that the CORPS continue proactive water releases to help gradually lower salinity downstream of S-79 to acclimate estuarine organisms to lower wet season salinities.

Tropical Storm Debby's storm surge increased salinity throughout the estuary; however, the rainfall associated with the storm is expected to decrease salinity over the next week as basin runoff flows through the system. Flows to the Caloosahatchee estuary averaged 578 CFS during the past week through S79. Chloride levels at the Olga Water Treatment plant increased from 85 to 110 mg/L. The river has exceeded its MFL of 10 psu for 184 days since December 27, 2011 and has exceeded the one day 20 psu threshold for 16 days this year since the first exceedance on April 10, 2012. In-situ chlorophyll concentrations east of S79 decreased from 27.7 µg/L to 4.9 µg/L. In situ chlorophyll levels west of S79 ranged from 7.9 - 12.3 µg/L on 6/24 (previous week: 5.0 - 7.5 µg/L) . Dominant phytoplankton species at Beautiful Island and 31 Bridge was the diatom Skeletonema sp. CDOM remains high and light penetration limited at all sampled sites in the upper estuary. Salinity continues to exceed levels suitable for tape grass survival and recovery. Only background concentrations of red tide were detected (on 6/13-18, FWRI) in Lee County waters and offshore of Sanibel last week.

Past reports and background information on Caloosahatchee conditions are available online at: http://www.sccf.org/content/201/Caloosahatchee-Condition-Reports.aspx

The next Central Everglades Planning Process Project Development Team meeting is scheduled for July 2nd and 3rd

Project Delivery Team meeting for Central Everglades Planning Project

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) will be holding a Project Delivery Team (PDT) meeting for the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP).

PDT meetings enable federal, state and local agencies and tribal governments to provide their input into the Central Everglades Planning Project. Members of the public may attend the PDT meeting and provide public comment at the end of the meeting.

The agenda for the PDT meeting is coming soon and will be available at:
http://evergladesplan.org/pm/public_meetings/MeetingItem.aspx?meetingId=467

Water Choices V

"Finding Opportunities in Collaboration"

Friday, September 21, 2012, Straughn Extension Center, University of Florida, Gainesville

Water Choices V will be held at the University of Florida's Straughn Extension Center in Gainesville on Friday, September 21, 2012. Continuing the progress made in Water Choices I-IV, Water Choices V will focus on developing mechanisms that can facilitate solutions to water challenges in the State of Florida. For a complete agenda and registration, go to http://floridaearth.org/waterchoicesV.

Water Module 2012

"Understanding Nutrients in Water Quality"

August 23 & 24, 2012, South Florida Water Management District

Water quality continues to be a substantially important and no less controversial subject. As an effort to keep stakeholders informed Florida Earth will deliver its 2012 edition of its Water Module on Thursday, August 23 and Friday, August 24, 2012. Thursday's session will be held at the headquarters of South Florida Water Management District with experts in the fields of water chemistry, nutrient removal technology, water policy and water law. Friday's experience will be in the field on airboats looking at nutrient effects in the Everglades System and visiting a Stormwater Treatment Area (STA). The $200 registration fee covers all materials transportation and lunch on Friday. For a complete agenda and registration, go to http://floridaearth.org/watermodule2012.

Still waters run deep

Telegraph Creek - Mark Renz photo art

'Ding' summer family programs

School's out, but the learning goes on all summer long at J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. Free, fun programs designed especially for families mean kids absorb educational enrichment without even realizing they are learning.

With support from the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS), the refuge is offering five free education programs this year. No pre-registration is necessary.

·NEW!! Natural Wonders, every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 1 p.m.: What makes a bird a bird? Why is a manatee called a "sea cow?" Is it a crocodile or alligator? Find the answers to these questions and more as you join a naturalist in exploring the refuge's unique ecosystem. Geared for adults and children, this 30-minute program meets in the Education Center Lab.

·Reading at the Refuge, every Monday and Friday at 11 a.m.: Attendees of each 45-minute reading-and-crafts session will receive a free Nature Journal (one to each child) in which to record their impressions of their refuge visit and future nature encounters. Meet in the Education Lab.

·Indigo Trail Hike, every Tuesday at 10 a.m.: Join refuge naturalists as they lead a one-hour tour identifying and discussing the ecosystem's plants, animals, birds, and reptiles - fun for adults and children alike. Bring water and bug spray. Meet at the flagpole in front of the Education Center.

·Refuge Caravan Tour, every Wednesday and Saturday at 9:30 a.m.: Ride along on a car caravan tour of the refuge's Wildlife Drive. This 90-minute tour highlights the natural wonders of the unique mangrove ecosystem and the wildlife that call it home. Meet at the flagpole in front of the Education Center.

·Family Beach Walk, every Thursday at 9 a.m.: Back by popular demand and in partnership with the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, the program convenes at Gulfside Park for a one-hour exploration of the refuge's gulf-front Perry Tract. (City parking fees apply.)

For more information on the refuge summer programs, call 239-472-1100 or visit www.dingdarlingsociety.org

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam's "modest" energy plan, which became law without Gov. Rick Scott's signature, is the first comprehensive overhaul of energy planning in five years. In addition to providing up to $100 million in tax ince...ntives for renewable energy investments over five years, the plan includes:
* A renewable energy technologies sales tax exemption capped at $1 million a year.
* Reinstatement of the biofuel portion of the renewable energy technologies investment corporate income tax credit up to $10 million per year.
* Reinstatement of the renewable energy production corporate income tax credit that is equal to 1 cent per kilowatt-hour of energy produced from renewable sources. The energy would be sold with a cap of $5 million in the next fiscal year, $10 million a year through 2017.

http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/student-prayer-pip-reform-adam-putnams-energy-bill-among-new-laws-sunday?utm_source=constantcontact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=062812

Hard landing

As I leave, I check my speedometer. A human pace. My world demands that I get there now. For a few minutes, I refuse to give in. I slow to half the speed limit until a line of cars builds behind me and I can tell there is tension building. Then once again, I join my kind. Guilt gives way to recognizing responsibilities. I must earn a living. I must provide for my loved ones. I must think of my family...

Click Mark Renz image for rest of photo story

Everglades National Park.

Flamingo entrance

Information: 239-695-2945

Activities: Morning bird walks: 8:30 a.m.; Discovery walks: 1:30 p.m.; Naturalist's knapsack talks: 2:30 p.m.; Evening programs, 7:30 p.m. (Sunday, Monday only)

Royal Palm entrance

Information: 305-242-7700

Activities: Anhinga amble: 10:30 a.m.; Glades Glimpse: 1:30 p.m., a 30-minute presentation

Shark Valley entrance

Information: 305-221-8776

Activities: Tram tour: 11 a.m. daily; extra fee; reservations requested; Ranger walks: 11:15 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; Ranger talks: 1:15 p.m. and 2:15 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Gulf Coast entrance

Information: 239-695-3311

Activities: There are boat tours, but those are not on a set schedule

Big Cypress National Preserve

Information: 239-695-1201

Activities: There are no set events this week, but visitors can enjoy the area while they're visiting the national park. Admission is free all year.

APS:

Chimani National Parks: The first, from the park service, features basic information on 383 National Park Service units. Take a look at it online at: www.chimani.com/parks.html#nationalparks

National Parks by National Geographic: APS - The second has breathtaking photography, and the overview is free. You're permitted to access one park guide free; after that you pay per park for the service, which includes trail maps and best photo spots. Preview that one online at: http://bit.ly/Jg0yGS

Everglades HUB - lots of news and background info

Auxillary motor
Taz (wearing life jacket) -- Mark Renz photo

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The search for a sawfish on Sanibel

Endangered fish is first one documented at site; FWC wants to tag it for research.

Check out our page. Post suggestions for the digest there.

Links to Latest News on the Environment

Check out our page.

Post suggestions for the digest there.