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Saturday, June 30th, 2012 #1352 |
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Coccoloba Chapter - Florida Native Plant Society
Meetings - The 2nd Thursday of each month between September and April
6:30 pm social gathering, 7:00 pm meeting at Rutenberg Park, Ft. Myers
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If you do not find the Daily Digest in your inbox in the morning, blame it on the sun spots. You can access a copy on our Facebook page or in the events box of the Eco-Voice website - www.Eco-Voice.org |
 | Serpent fern or cabbage palm fern
(Phlebodium aureum)
I may surprise you with all they claim I can do...having been used as a special drink in Central American folk medicines ranging from asthma to heart disease. The long list continues under "Cultivation and uses" at Wikipedia. Click Mark Renz photo to go there.
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Coccoloba Chapter of The Florida Native Plant Society, an Eco-Voice Sponsor, will participate in the Taste of Lee Tropical Fruit Fair
Sat June 30 9 AM until 2 PM
First Baptist Church Community Room
1735 Jackson St. The River District downtown Fort Myers
Native Edibles on display for tasting as well as tropical fruit samples.
$1 admission over 12, all samples free including fresh fruits,ice cream,drinks
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Palm Beach Chapter of the Rare Fruit Council International, Inc.
To Host Annual TROPICAL FRUIT TREE & PLANT SALE
At the South Florida Fairgrounds - July 21
Both Admission & Parking are FREE
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 | Early warning system
But who am I?
Click Mark Renz photo to find out...Of course, you already know the answer.
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The Florida Conservation Coalitionemphasizes the following priorities: Restoring reasonable funding for Florida's regional water management districts to provide for water quality protection, adequate water supplies, flood protection, and natural resources protection. Funding Florida Forever including acquiring land for water resource protection. Reaffirming Florida's commitment to restore the ...Everglades, upon which South Florida's water supply and quality of life depends.
Managing Florida's water resources at the regional, not state level.
Ensuring that growth management laws and policies support sustainable use of water.
Promoting efficient use and conservation of water.
Opposing efforts to privatize Florida's water.
http://www.floridaconservationcoalition.org/
The coalition includes Audubon of Florida, 1000 Friends of Florida, the Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Trust for Public Land and League of Women Voters
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Disaster Preparedness
Hurricane season is upon us and, with 1,197 miles of coastline and all cities within 75 miles of the coast, there are no areas in Florida that are immune to the forces of a hurricane. Your safety and the safety of your family must be paramount as a hurricane strike becomes imminent, so it's imperative that you have a plan and stay informed.
Stay Informed
For additional information, contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at www.800helpfla.com or by calling 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) within Florida, 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832) en Espaņol or (850) 410-3800 from outside of Florida. FEMA now has the capability to deliver Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to your cellular phone, relaying Presidential, AMBER and Imminent Threat alerts. These WEAs use cell broadcast technology that will not get backlogged during times of emergency when wireless voice and data services are highly congested. WEA will not have to be opened like SMS text messages, but will "pop up" on your device's screen. There is no charge to you to receive these messages. Customers of participating wireless carriers with WEA-capable phones will not need to sign up to receive the alerts and should automatically receive WEAs in the event of an emergency, if they are located in or travel to the affected geographic area. FEMA also offers additional information by request. Cell phone users can text SHELTER + your ZIP code to 43362 (4FEMA) to find the nearest shelters in your area. You can also text PREPARE to 43362 (4FEMA) to sign up to receive monthly disaster safety tips. |
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Spooning for sushi, crustaceans, aquatic insects, frogs, newts and more... Roseate spoonbill -- Mark Renz photo
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Photo by DONN BROWN, Staff
Air potato, a kudzu look-alike, overtakes an entire lot along Golden Gate Blvd. The invasive vine flourishes in the South Florida and when left uncontrolled, will eventually grow over almost any fixed object in its proximity, eventually killing the host plant by blocking the sunlight. The intrusive plant can be pleasing to the eye.
USDA spends $6.7 million to fight invasive plants in Florida
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
TAMPA - U.S. Department of Agriculture will spend $6.7 million to prevent the introduction and spread of plant pests that threaten Florida's agriculture and environment.
Officials said several projects will help prevent invasive species from taking over. The projects include enhancing inspection activities, additional detector dog training, developing tools to identify citrus pests and conducting outreach programs for international travelers who may unknowingly bring plan-based pests into Florida.
Florida's warm climate allows a variety of non-native species - both plant and animal - to thrive. Sometimes the non-native species kills or threatens native plants and animals.
Air potato, a kudzu look-alike, overtakes an entire lot along Golden Gate Blvd. The invasive vine flourishes in the South Florida and when left uncontrolled, will eventually grow over almost any fixed object in its proximity, eventually killing the host plant by blocking the sunlight. The intrusive plant can be pleasing to the eye.
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Open Letter from the Rivers Coalition Defense Fund,
June 26, 2012
Re: Everglades Restoration
Dear Floridians,
The Rivers Coalition Defense Fund has urgently requested all elected officials to support a flowway between Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades so that clean and continuous water supply south is guaranteed, and excess water can move natur...ally again to the Everglades rather than be shunted east and west to the coastal estuaries, where it wreaks havoc in wet years.
Unfortunately, the Sugar Industry, using its drained Glades, does not want a flowway. Selling land to the public for a flowway would decrease the cane growers' bountiful profits.
We urged Florida Senators Nelson and Rubio to vote against continuing the federal sugar subsidies. Both failed to oppose the handouts, causing consumers in the United States to pay far more than the world price for sugar, at the expense of taxpayers, American jobs, and the environment of South Florida. Kudos to the Senators who called this part of the Farm Bill what it is: riches to a few at the expense of the rest of us.
The Sugar industry enjoys guaranteed profits, perfect drainage and perfect water supply, all paid for by you and me. Meanwhile the "new" plan to ostensibly restore the Everglades relies on Everglades Agricultural Area drainage for water supply, and taxpayers for construction and operation of more water quality treatment areas to clean up the dirty drainage.
Apparently, we can break this cycle of abuse only by electing new and responsible leaders.
The Farm Bill, which includes the sugar subsidies, will come up again in the future. We must demand that our congressmen eliminate the wasteful program that not only costs the public billions in extra supermarket prices but causes immense damages to the Everglades and estuaries.
With hopes for a restored estuary,
The Rivers Coalition Defense Fund
RiversCoaltion.org
Ph. 772 225-6849, P.O. Box 2627, Stuart, FL 34995 |
 | Great weather we've been having!
River otter - Mark Renz photo
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Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was not detected in water samples collected this week alongshore between Hillsborough and Collier counties or offshore of Pinellas County. One sample collected alongshore of Pinellas County contained background concentrations of K. brevis.
Present Status; Northwest Coast:Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was not detected in water samples collected this week alongshore of Escambia and Okaloosa counties or offshore of Okaloosa County.
Present Status; East Coast:Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism,was not detected in a water sample collected this week in the Indian River Lagoon (Brevard County).
Please follow this link to the current statewide interactive Google Earth map:
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Register for Webcast on
"USDA's National Water Quality Initiative"
Register at: www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts
Join us for a Watershed Academy Webcast on
July 10, 2012 from 1:00 -3:00 pm Eastern
to learn more about USDA's National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI).
USDA's NWQI is focusing on 157 priority watersheds in the U.S. in 2012. These 157 watersheds were identified with assistance from state agencies, key partners, and USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Technical Committees. NRCS will make available at least $33 million in financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners this year in these priority watersheds to implement conservation practices to improve water quality and aquatic habitats in impaired lakes and streams. Using funds from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, NRCS will provide financial and technical assistance to producers for implementing conservation practices such as cover crops, nutrient management, filter strips and terraces. This webcast will highlight how this Initiative is working and how USDA's NRCS is working with state water quality agencies and others to implement this Initiative in priority watersheds.
To register for this webcast, please visit: www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts
Anne Weinberg
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Communications Coordinator
Assessment and Watershed Protection Division
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 | Survival of the wealthiest
Mark Renz photo
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http://www.evergladesfoundation.org/
To Protect Water Quality
To preserve a quality of life offered nowhere else on earth
To save a water supply that sustains millions of people
To create and sustain jobs in tourism, commercial fishing, agriculture and recreation
To ensure the survival of 67 endangered species and one of the world's last great places
To encourage and plan for future growth of the economy
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It's not the Everglades that needs restored. It's us. -- Mark Renz
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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.
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