“Conservation is a cause that has no end. There is no point at which we say ‘Our work is finished’”.
Rachel Carson

To read about wildlife around the world click here

Provide Your Input on the 2060 Florida Transportation Plan
Public comments are now being accepted on the draft 2060 Florida Transportation Plan (FTP). The draft is attached and also is posted on the project website (click here to review). The public comment period goes through Monday, November 22nd. During this period, the FTP will also be reviewed by the Florida Transportation Commission.

When the public comment period ends, the Florida Department of Transportation will consider the feedback received and make revisions as appropriate. The revised final FTP will be forwarded to the FDOT Secretary for adoption. We encourage you to review the document and provide any further input using the online comment form. Please use line and page numbers for referencing any comments you may have. 1000 Friends of Florida is also reviewing the draft and will be submitting comments in the next few weeks. Please let us know if there are any issues you think we should address (send any comments to friends@1000fof.org). We will post our comments on our web site at www.1000friendsofflorida.org when they are ready.Thank you for your input on this important document!

Big Cypress: Indian Arts Festival
Nov. 5-7, 2010
American Indian Arts Celebration (AIAC) on the Museum festival grounds in the Seminole Indian Big Cypress Reservation. A three day long event, Nov 5-7th, it focuses on the traditional and contemporary arts, dance and music of the Seminole, Southeastern and other Indian tribes from across the country.

http://www.ahtahthiki.com/ahtahthiki-museum/american-indian-arts-celebration.cfm

Birds

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS
We are wondering if you would be able to help us out with a research study being conducted this semester at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Many birds are killed each year by various forms of human technology and activity. Some of these human-made hazards attract much more attention than do others. We are interested in how various factors that have been shown to influence people’s perceptions of the risks posed by nuclear power or sources of water pollution (e.g., is it a ‘new’ hazard, how 'natural' does the hazard seem) may also contribute to peoples’ perceptions of various hazards to birds. This information will be useful in helping us strategize in campaigns to raise awareness with regards to different kinds of threats to birds and other natural systems.

We would greatly appreciate it if you could fill out the survey found at the following link:

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22BDFEUJWXT

Your participation will remain anonymous and confidential. The survey takes about 25 minutes to complete.

At the end of the survey, you will be re-directed to a separate page upon which you can request a summary of what we find. This research project has met Muhlenberg College ’s Institutional Review policy requirements.

If you have any questions about the project, please do not hesitate to
contact Dr. Jeffrey Rudski at rudski@muhlenberg.edu

Thank you for your consideration,

Jeffrey Rudski, PhD
Professor of Psychology
Muhlenberg College
Allentown, PA
18104

Leucistic American Robin from Massachusetts
Leucism is a very unusual condition whereby the pigmentation cells in an animal or bird fail to develop properly. This can result in unusual white patches appearing on the animal, or, more rarely, completely white creatures. It isn't the first sighting of a leucistic robin we have had from Massachusetts.

See Leucistic American Robin

Lucky Hammock, Florida City, Florida
This small hotspot outside Everglades National Park is a great spot to find White-crowned Pigeon, Wood Stork, and Swallow-tailed Kite.
By Angel Abreu

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Birdwatching on the edge of the Everglades at STA 5 in Florida
STA 5 is one of the best birding spots in all of South Florida
By Mark Kiser
By Selena Kiser

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12 red-cockaded woodpeckers have a new home
It took all night, but the red-cockaded woodpecker experts were able to accomplish their mission.

The catch teams captured 12 of the rare birds and moved them to their new home, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists.
Six pairs of red-cockaded woodpeckers from the Citrus Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Citrus and Hernando counties are now residing in the J.W. Corbett WMA in Palm Beach and Martin counties.

"This was the first time Citrus had donated this many birds, and because of the dedicated work of multiple agencies, it was a great success," said Marsha Ward, FWC biologist in South Florida.

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Invasive species

ArborGen Joins Fray Over Engineered Eucalyptus Trees ArborGen Inc. has intervened in a suit that seeks to shut down the company's field-testing of genetically engineered eucalyptus trees on the grounds that the federal government's approval of the experimental plots didn't take into account environmental dangers.

Judge K. Michael Moore of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Tuesday let ArborGen in on the action, given the fact that the company will have to cut down its experimental cold-tolerant eucalyptus trees if the plaintiffs prevail in overturning the planting permits.

The Center for Biological Diversity and other environmental groups filed suit in July against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the judge found that ArborGen deserved the opportunity to defend against allegations that the hybridized eucalyptus trees posed unexamined environmental risks and threatened to run amok.In its motion to intervene, ArborGen noted that if the permits were revoked the company would have to chop down its hybrid eucalyptus trees, as many had reached maturity and were too tall to safely remove flowering buds by hand.

To read entire article, click here.

Florida Panthers

8 Texas cougars save Florida panthers from extinction
They didn't stay around long, but the eight lady pumas from Texas who temporarily set up housekeeping in southwest Florida in the late 1990s left a lasting impression. Their genes may have saved from extinction, for now, Florida's last remaining panthers by bringing fresh blood into a dwindling, inbred population, according to research published Friday in the journal Science.

"Once they got in, they didn't waste much time," said Stephen O'Brien, chief of the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity at the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Md., who helped lead the study and has worked on the restoration project for decades. "Now every panther in Florida has an ancestor from Texas."

Whether they're called a panther, cougar, puma, mountain lion or catamount, scientists say all the big cats of North America share the same roots -- a small group of Central American panthers that moved into the continent at the end of last ice age.

Endangered Species

Urbanization of wildlife increasing
When you think of urban wildlife, do pigeons and squirrels come to mind, or is it honeybees and hawks? In big cities across the country, wildlife once pushed from our borders is now feeling increasingly welcome to return. Even here at Wildlife Conservation Society headquarters in New York, we have falcons on Fifth Avenue and seals on Staten Island. It's a testament to the refuges that parks, green rooftops, and clean waterfronts can provide to people and animals alike.

This fall, WCS launched the New York Seascape project to protect some of the Big Apple's backyard wildlife. While many New Yorkers know the city's waterways only as the borders that separate us from our neighbors, or a dumping ground for waste, our waters in fact attract dolphins, sea turtles, and whales, along with some 300 species of fish. WCS is working to reconnect New Yorkers with the rivers and coastline at our doorstep, and to help these marine habitats continue to recover.

So far, our efforts are paying off. A healthy sign of ecological resurgence popped up in the Bronx River this summer, in the form of a buck-toothed, paddle-tailed creature: a beaver. Justin Beaver, as WCS fans named him, is only the second wild beaver to return to New York City in more than 200 years. He joins "José," discovered in 2007 and named for Bronx Congressman José E. Serrano, a tireless advocate for the river's restoration.

Moving turtle eggs “a good move”
As oil from the Deepwater Horizon disaster oozed close to the beaches of Florida and Alabama, state and federal officials launched a desperate effort to save a generation of sea turtles. The plan: Dig up thousands of turtle eggs and move them to Kennedy Space Center, so they would hatch in an oil-free environment.

If even a few survived, officials said, it would be considered a victory.

Now, based on preliminary figures, "it's been more of a success than we thought it would be," Chuck Underwood, a spokesman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said Friday.
Of the more than 25,000 eggs that were relocated, 14,676 successfully hatched and were released into the Atlantic Ocean, he said. That means more than half of them hatched — in fact, nearly six out of 10 made it into oil-free water.

"We do feel it was a success that we got that number of hatchlings into the sea," said Patricia Behnke, a spokeswoman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "Of course, what happens to them after that, we don't know. But we never do."

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New Critically Endangered carnivorous mammal discovered in Madagascar - First in 24 years
A new species of small carnivore, known as Durrell's Vontsira (Salanoia durrelli) has been identified by researchers from the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, the Natural History Museum, London, Nature Heritage, Jersey, and Conservation International (CI).

The small, cat-sized, speckled brown carnivore from the marshes of the Lake Alaotra wetlands in central eastern Madagascar weighs just over half a kilogram and belongs to a family of carnivores only known from Madagascar. It is likely to be one of the most threatened carnivores in the world.

The carnivore was first seen swimming in a lake by researchers from the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust on a field trip surveying bamboo lemurs in 2004. After briefly examining the animal, the team suspected they had witnessed a new species and so took photographs. By examining brown-tailed vontsira specimens in the Natural History Museum's collections, Museum zoologists confirmed the animal was a new species. The brown-tailed vontsira is the closest relative of the new species, which was named in honor of the conservationist and writer Gerald Durrell, who died 15 years ago.

Fidimalala Bruno Ralainasolo, a conservation biologist working for Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust who originally captured the new carnivore, commented “We have known for some time that a carnivore lives in the Lake Alaotra marshes, but we've always assumed it was a brown-tailed vontsira that is also found in the eastern rainforests”.

However, differences in its skull, teeth, and paws have shown that this animal is clearly a different species with adaptations to life in an aquatic environment. It is a very exciting discovery and we decided to honour our founder, the world renowned conservationist Gerald Durrell, by naming this new species after him.

The future of the species is very uncertain because the Lake Alaotra marshes are extremely threatened by agricultural expansion, burning and invasive plants and fish. It is a highly significant site for wildlife and the resources it provides people.

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust is working closely with local communities to ensure its sustainable use and to conserve Durrell's Vontsira and other important species.

New Snub-Nosed Monkey discovered in northern Myanmar
A team of Burmese and international primatologists have discovered a new species of monkey in Northern Myanmar (formerly Burma). The researchers revealed how Rhinopithecus strykeri, a previously undescribed species of snub-nosed monkey, has an upturned nose that causes it to sneeze when it rains.

The team discovered the new species, also called the Myanmar snub-nosed monkey, as part of the nationwide Myanmar Primate Conservation Program in early 2010. Hunters reported the presence of a monkey species with prominent lips and wide upturned nostrils, which did not fit the description of any primate currently known from the area.

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Global police swoop traps tiger traders
Campaigners at the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) welcome the news that INTERPOL, the world's largest international police organization, has joined the fight to end the tiger trade.

An international law enforcement operation coordinated by INTERPOL against the illegal trade in tigers has led to the arrest of 25 individuals suspected of taking part in the illicit trade of one of the world's most endangered species.

The two-month operation (August-September 2010) involved national enforcement agencies in six tiger-range countries (China, India, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam) and was coordinated by Interpol’s Environmental Crime Program at its General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon, France. It worked in close collaboration with its participating member countries to provide a single platform to National Central Bureaus for the exchange and co-ordination of intelligence via Interpol’s I- 24/7 secure police communications system.

Direct enforcement action during the operation included the arrest by Indian authorities of ten suspected wildlife criminals, while in Thailand the Royal Thai Police arrested a number of alleged tiger smugglers connected to cross-border trade, including at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok. In a single raid in Hanoi, Vietnamese police seized six whole tiger skeletons and six tiger skulls, while in a separate case two tiger carcasses were seized along with 50kg of tiger bone. In Russia, criminal intelligence obtained by national authorities revealed key smuggling routes.

"The national agencies involved in this international operation supported by INTERPOL have shown unscrupulous criminals who target threatened species that action will be taken to combat their illegal activities," said INTERPOL Environmental Crime Program Manager David Higgins.

With as few as 3,200 wild tigers remaining, time is running out to stop the dealers who profit from the international illegal trade in tiger skin and bone. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will be hosting world leaders at a summit in St Petersburg, Russia, in November, to decide on future global actions to save the last tigers.

"It's great to see news of arrests of criminals rather than seizures alone. Organized crime needs an organized response and Operation Tigre is a step in the right direction, but must be sustained" said Debbie Banks, Head of EIA's Tiger Campaign.

"Increased resources for slick, professional policing operations to bust the criminal networks controlling the tiger trade should be at the top of the agenda for the St Petersburg tiger forum."

Another 'extinct' poison frog rediscovered in Colombian jungle
Examples of the mysterious La Brea poison frog have been found in the jungles of Cauca along the Colombian Pacific Coast.

Many details about the elusive frog remain unknown as it has been so rarely seen. Indeed, the name of this species (occultator) was given because of its ‘hidden' conduct in the middle of the jungle.

The first few times it was seen in the wild during the Seventies it was found that preferred the upper parts of trees and branches, where it mimicked the environment of the forest. It was said that it sang at heights over 1.50 cm and their song was rarely heard. However, now they have been seen singing up to 10 cm off the ground, in severely deforested areas and in different locations to La Brea.

Although some scientists have been able to enter the area in years past (in the 90s and early 2000), nobody has seen any more pictures of this magnificent and little known species in its natural environment.

Read the article

Black-tailed prairie dogs gaining foothold in historical range of southern Arizona
Just two years after being reintroduced to the state after a 50-year absence, black-tailed prairie dogs are showing positive signs of re-establishing themselves across part of their historical range in southern Arizona.

Monitoring studies indicate that the animals are breeding at both of the reintroduction sites, with at least 16 pups observed in the spring. Now, the Arizona Game and Fish Department have furthered their effort to repopulate the species with the release on Oct. 7 of 119 prairie dogs at a third site in the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area near Sonoita.

"Black-tailed prairie dogs are a critical keystone species in Arizona, meaning that they play an important role in maintaining the grassland habitat and balancing the ecosystem," said Bill Van Pelt, the program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. "The effort to bring the species back to Arizona is part of a national and international conservation program aimed at reviving the black-tailed prairie dog enough that it does not end up on the endangered species list."

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Urgent U.S. Action Needed to Save Tigers
In the past century, wild tiger numbers have declined 95 percent, reaching the lowest number ever recorded. To address this critically urgent issue, world leaders will gather in Russia November 22 - 24, 2010, for something that’s never happened before: a summit of heads of state convened for the purpose of saving a species from extinction.

Rangers aim to curb smuggling of native bromeliadsPoachers are partly to blame for the clearing of these native plants in Florida’s parks.
In the dense cypress swamp west of Boynton Beach, a ranger points at a bare cypress tree trunk once dotted with rare bromeliads.

Poachers pluck the spiky air plants from trees at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, and there aren't enough rangers to catch all the thieves.

It's frustrating, said U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service ranger William Calvert.Poachers are among the biggest threats clearing the park of these nativeplants.

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Everglades and Water Quality Issues

SFWMD Invests in Multiple Improvements for Southwest Florida Residents and Ecosystems Projects to enhance water quality, supply and flood protection
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board recently approved a suite of projects for Southwest Florida that will improve the quality of water flowing into Naples Bay, increase reclaimed water production in the City of Marco Island and Collier County and enhance flood protection in the City of Naples.

"These are core water quality, restoration and flood control projects that will provide meaningful and long-lasting benefits to residents and ecosystems in Southwest Florida," said SFWMD Governing Board member Charles Dauray.

Caloosahatchee River at risk
On October 20, The News-Press held a forum about the crisis plaguing the Caloosahatchee River. More than 130 government officials, scientists and citizens came to listen to five panelists who also answered audience questions.

The forum grew from the newspaper’s September River at Risk series, which examined the health of the 75-mile-long Caloosahatchee that flows from Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico.

The river is critical to the region it traverses — Lee County’s $2.6 billion tourism industry depends on it — but its health is challenged by wastewater runoff, toxic algae blooms, leaky septic systems and too much or too little water from Lake Okeechobee.

Kim Taplin of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told the audience that when the Caloosahatchee was engineered, the goal was to fundamentally change the landscape by containing the lake and moving floodwaters out to sea as fast as possible. The Corps’ first responsibility is to keep the public safe from floods, even if that hurts the river, according to Taplin.

When water levels in the lake rise, they threaten the old, earthen dike that contains the lake. To help relieve the pressure, the Corps sends water down the Caloosahatchee, which can damage the health of the river’s animals and plants. So can too little lake water.
Taplin acknowledged the balancing act is difficult — and sometimes impossible.
“We do know that it’s destroying your estuary,” she said. “It pains us to make those discharges.”

"It is also painful to the rest of the community when the poor health of the river affects drinking water supplies, property values, river-front economies and the quality of life for the residents of Southwest Florida," said Marti Daltry, Conservation Organizer at Sierra Club's Fort Myers office.

Participants at the forum divided into small groups to brainstorm solutions to these problems. Among the ideas suggested was the need to pass a fertilizer ordinance in Cape Coral. Over 40 municipalities and counties statewide have adopted fertilizer ordinances to reduce nutrient runoff. Cape Coral is the only municipality in Lee County that has not adopted such an ordinance.

Agencies release draft Report to Congress for Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District and the Department of Interior are seeking agency and public comment on the draft 2010 Report to Congress for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). The agencies will accept comments through Nov. 29, 2010.

This is the second CERP report prepared for Congress and required by the Water Resources Development Act of 2000. The report covers implementation progress between mid-2005 and mid-2010 as well as activities planned for the next five years. The secretaries of the Army and the Interior will jointly submit the final report to Congress later this year.

Federal and state partners have made significant progress on CERP implementation over the past five years. Federally-funded construction began on the Picayune Strand Restoration Project in January 2010 and a second federally-funded project, the Site 1 Impoundment, breaks ground Friday. In addition, the state of Florida began construction of the C-111 Spreader Canal Western and Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Phase I projects. The federal government greatly increased funding in the past three years, and signed important agreements with the state of Florida. These are among the many accomplishments and highlights covered in the report.

The draft report is available online at www.evergladesplan.org, under “What’s New” on the home page. The Corps and Interior will accept comments in writing through Nov. 29, 2010. Please email comments to deborah.h.scerno@usace.army.mil or submit by mail to Debby H. Scerno, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (DR-EI), 701 San Marco Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32207-8175. For additional information about the report, please call Scerno at 904-232-2805.

Public and agency comments accepted through Nov. 29, 2010.

Water conservation can help meet challenges of roller coaster weather extremes
With the strongest La Niña for this time of year since 1955 forecast to create exceptionally dry conditions, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) joined the National Weather Service today to brief the public and encourage water conservation as a measure to guide the region through the 2010-2011 dry season.

“Weather extremes are a fact of South Florida living. While there is a level of uncertainty with seasonal forecasts, as water managers we do take this information into account when making operational decisions,” said Susan Sylvester, the SFWMD Director of the Operations Control and Hydro Data Management Department. “We continuously strive to balance flood control, environmental protection and water supply during both droughts and deluges with dedicated maintenance of the system and by encouraging a water conservation ethic among residents.”

Wise water use will be especially crucial to protect the public water supply in the coming months as La Niña, or colder than normal ocean surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, drives dry weather into South Florida. A strong La Niña suppresses cloudiness and rainfall in the region, especially during winter and spring.

While about 12 inches of rain falls on average across the district from November through March, La Niña-influenced dry seasons often produce only about two-thirds of the average during this five-month period. A late-season tropical storm is still a possibility that could significantly impact rainfall amounts.

Regional well levels have already begun to fall with the end of the rainy season sea breeze cycle. Notably, the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes is falling below regulation schedules. In particular, Lake Istokpoga is heading toward water shortage conditions for water users in its immediate area. These conditions also threaten to create a potentially severe wildfire season, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Predictions of abnormally dry conditions follow a below average South Florida wet season. An average of 26.91 inches of rain fell between June 1 and October 15, representing 86 percent of the normal amount and a deficit of 4.24 inches. This was also the hottest summer on record in Southeast Florida and the second hottest in Naples, according to the National Weather Service.

"The expected presence of La Niña into next spring means that South Florida will likely have a drier-than-normal dry season,” said Robert Molleda, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service. “Previous La Niña events during the last 60 years have contributed to an average dry season rainfall amount of about 60 to 65 percent of normal across South Florida.”

In fact, the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting record La Niña conditions for each month from October to April, along with several related dry season predictions, including:

1 to 2 winter storms over Florida for the dry season, which is 4 to 5 below normal.

La Niña pattern produces lower risk for tornadoes across the Florida peninsula compared with El Niño years.

Latest long-range model projects a warmer-than-normal winter, though freezes are still a possibility.

Average winter temperature predicted to be 64-66F interior/west to 67-69F east.
Weather Roller Coaster

Forecasts of a drier-than-normal dry season once again showcase South Florida’s weather extremes and water management challenges.

Florida receives an average of 52 inches of rainfall a year, with 70 percent falling during the five-month wet season from approximately June through October.

The 2010 wet season so far has produced an approximately 4-inch rainfall deficit, despite localized rainfall that totaled 3 inches or more in some areas.

The 2009-2010 dry season recorded 131 percent of average dry season rainfall, representing 5.88 inches above normal from the beginning of November through the end of May.

In 2009, the sea breeze cycle ushered in the wet season in May. With 9.04 inches of rain falling across the District, May 2009 became the wettest May on record, according to District records dating back to 1932.

The 2008-2009 South Florida dry season was the third driest on record as of March 1, 2009.

October 2009 was one of the driest Octobers on record, with only 1.16 inches of rain falling, compared to a historical average of 3.76 inches.
Record Dry Conditions: November 2008 through April 2009 marked the driest six-month period in South Florida, according to District records dating back to 1932.

The South Florida Water Management District’s Comprehensive Water Conservation Program was approved by the Governing Board in September 2008 to encourage more consistent use of water resources throughout South Florida. Numerous stakeholders worked with the District to define specific regulatory, voluntary and incentive-based programs and in-depth education and marketing plans that will help foster a year-round conservation ethic. The program includes Year-Round Landscape Irrigation Conservation Measures that took effect in March 2010.

The SFWMD continues to closely monitor water levels and is urging residents and businesses to conserve water and follow landscape irrigation restrictions in effect. More information about irrigation restrictions by area is available on the District’s water restrictions website. For water-saving tips, visit www.savewaterfl.com

Everglades restoration ‘a wise investment
Restoring the Everglades is a wise investment for Florida, resulting in higher home values, increased tourism and a stronger fishing and boating industry, a new study suggests.

The study, commissioned by the nonprofit Everglades Foundation, shows that, for every dollar spent on Everglades’ restoration, $4.04 in economic benefits will be generated.
Projections in the study indicated a possible additional 442,644 jobs over 50 years. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also estimates there will be 22,966 new short- to mid-term jobs created as a result of actual restoration projects.

Restoration was defined as the federal plan known as the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, which is estimated at about $11.5 billion, but years behind schedule.
The study projects that restoration will produce an increase in economic benefits of about $46.5 billion, and up to $123.9 billion, based on an investment of $11.5 billion.

“As we look to the future of Florida, jobs in new categories are clearly important to the sustainability of our economy,” said Barry Johnson, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, during a morning teleconference.

Michele Miller, executive director of the Marine Industries Association of Florida, indicated her support for study and its results, noting that, despite the economic downturn, boating is still a $16 billion industry in Florida.

The study assumes that cleaner water and environment will result in higher real estate values.

Everglades Foundation CEO Kirk Fordham said the study relied on concrete evidence from real estate professionals who said sales can be killed by algae blooms and warnings against eating fish in contaminated waters.

Read more: Everglades restoration ‘a wise investment’ South Florida Business Journal

New weir on the Golden Gate canal expected to improve water quality in Naples Bay
In the 1960s, the Gulf American Corp. dug a network of 70 miles of canals to drain land to build Golden Gate Estates
.
Ever since, the Golden Gate canal has dumped too much fresh water into Naples Bay and robbed underground drinking water supplies.

Water managers say they’ll be able to do a better job corralling all that water with a new $3.6 million weir that’s been built along 31st Avenue Southwest east of Golden Gate Parkway and Collier Boulevard.

Two other weirs costing a total of $7 million have been built downstream from the newest weir since 2003 to try to reverse Gulf American Corp.’s damage.

“We’re slowly solving that problem,” Big Cypress Basin member and Naples councilman John Sorey said Tuesday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the weir.

An old weir, essentially a wall built across the canal, had notches in it to let water through when the water got deep enough.

Instead of notches, the new weir has three panels, like drawbridges, that can be raised to hold more water back or lowered to let more water flow over them.

Automated controls check the level of the canal at 10-minute intervals and can adjust the height of the panels in six-inch increments using huge air bladders that are inflated or deflated.

The weir keeps the water level higher during the dry season to help recharge underground drinking water supplies and keeps the water lower during the wet season for flood control.

Keeping the water levels higher means keeping more water from flushing into Naples Bay, where it has wreaked havoc on a delicate ecosystem.

The system can be overridden for emergencies or to lower water levels in the case of an approaching storm, such as Tropical Storm Nicole this fall.

New reservoir could mean more water for Broward
A reservoir and water-sharing plan for Broward and Palm Beach counties could get new life thanks to support on Wednesday from South Florida water managers. Utilities in Broward and Palm Beach counties for the past few years have suggested building a new reservoir west of Royal Palm Beach that could be used to boost water supplies all the way down to Broward County.

But the estimated cost of more than $300 million, scandals from a previous reservoir deal and the political minefield of determining how to divvy up water supplies left the project in limbo. Now, a task force of Broward County government officials has made the reservoir one of their top priorities in a newly released report.

South Florida Water Management District officials are giving the project another look.

Read more..

Water managers delay decision about health of Caloosahatchee River
Frustration over the pace of plans to improve the health of the Caloosahatchee River was on display Thursday in a West Palm Beach hearing room.

Still, after three hours of debate, the South Florida Water Management District governing board was unable to reach a decision on how to respond to a petition filed last month by the Conservancy of Southwest Florida that seeks to increase the minimum flow in the river.

Without enough freshwater in the river, high salinity levels harm oysters and seagrasses and chase away sensitive marine life like crabs.

Water management district executives recommended denying the petition. They said the district doesn't have enough science to back up an increase and that it would delay progress toward better fixes for the river, including laying the groundwork for a reservoir in Hendry County to even out flows to the river.

Instead, governing board members said they wanted more information and delayed a decision until their next meeting, set for Nov. 9 and 10 in Fort Myers.

Read more

Stevens Hydra Probe Soil Sensors Deployed in Florida Swamp for Restoration Study
Coastal wetlands provide a large number of critical functions that can benefit the surrounding ecosystems but the neighboring human population centers. The healthy wetlands of the southeastern US help distribute billions of dollars into the local economy from commercial fishing, recreation, and tourism. Coastal flood plains and wetlands help prevent the flooding and destruction of coastal communities by storm surges, acting as a natural buffer to protect communities near the coast.

Despite their many benefits, there are many natural and manmade factors that threaten coastal wetlands. Federal and state laws now require the protection of these areas through better land use and water resources management practices. However, it's not always clear which policy or management practice will be the most effective while weighing in other economic considerations.

The bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is one of the dominant tree species of southeastern coastal floodplains. Bald cypress can flourish in wetlands, but is also very sensitive to certain environmental factors. The soil needs to stay moist for seeds to germinate and seedlings to thrive.

If the soil gets too dry or stays overly saturated for too long, the ecosystem cannot sustain itself. The bald cypress is also sensitive to salt, and the intrusion of saline coastal waters can kill seedlings and even mature (>1000 year-old) trees.

Changes in hydrology and saltwater intrusion that threaten many coastal habitats are in part caused by manmade factors such as reduction in stream flow from dam diversions; municipal withdrawals from coastal fresh water aquifers, and changes in land drainage patterns. Excessive municipal water withdrawals can also pull saline seawater into the groundwater. Once in the groundwater or soil water (also known as porewater), salts threaten plants that thrive on fresh water like the bald cypress.

A four-year study was recently completed that characterized and modeled the hydrology of Florida's Loxahatchee River floodplain. Conducted by Dr. David Kaplan and Dr. Rafael Muñoz-Carpena of the University of Florida's Department of Agriculture and Biological Engineering, the study characterized and modeled the hydrology of Florida's Loxahatchee River floodplain.

Soil moisture and porewater salinity data were collected with Stevens Hydra Probe soil sensors at 24 locations. Meteorological data, groundwater levels and river flows were also monitored in the study.

To study how salt water intrusion was affecting the ecosystem, two study areas (transects) were selected, one upstream transect that contains freshwater, and a downstream transect that is transitionally-tidal, with changing salt water content during daily tide changes.Several stations were installed along each transect, with each station containing three Stevens Hydra Probe soil sensors installed in vertical columns, to measure water content and salt water intrusion into the groundwater. The soil data provided by the Stevens Hydra Probes was recorded to a data logger at each station and downloaded by the research team every three to four weeks.With this data, useful relationships between river channel flows, soil moisture and porewater salinity were developed to better predict the effects of proposed restoration and management scenarios.

The study found that the proposed wetland restoration plan, which includes maintaining adequate channel flows and limitations on groundwater withdrawals for agricultural and municipal uses, will provide adequate soil moisture and maintain porewater salinity below identified thresholds for bald cypress health, protecting the wetlands from further harm.

Wildlife and Habitat

Sierra Club & Allies Reach Agreement with Mosaic to Protect Wetlands
Limited mining at South Fort Meade will proceed as lawsuit continues.
Sierra Club Florida, ManaSota-88 and People for Protecting Peace River (3PR) have reached agreement with The Mosaic Company on a partial settlement in their lawsuit against the company’s South Fort Meade extension phosphate mine in Hardee County, pending approval by the Federal District Court in Jacksonville. The partial settlement provides for the protection of critically important wetlands and surrounding areas that would have been destroyed by the mine in exchange for allowing Mosaic to proceed with approximately four months of mining elsewhere on the site.

The legal challenge asked the Court to dismiss Mosaic’s permit for failure to consider alternatives under the Clean Water Act and for failure to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act.

The District Court issued a preliminary injunction against mining under the permit on July 30, 2010.

FWC about coyotes
As development encroaches upon wildlife habitat, encounters between humans and wildlife - including coyotes - are bound to increase. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reminds South Florida residents that coyotes are present.

FWC biologists say just seeing a coyote in the neighborhood doesn't indicate a threat to human safety. In fact, coyotes have lived in and among humans in urban settings for many years with little fanfare, but coyotes may see small pets as potential food.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
President Obama signs the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act on September 30.

The Wildlife Conservation Society applauds the September 28 House passage of H.R. 1454, the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act. After the Senate passed a modified version of the bill in July, this vote sends the bill to the White House for final signature into law.

The bill provides for the issuance of a special U.S. Postal Service stamp whose premium price would directly contribute to funding for projects supported by the Multinational Species Conservation Funds (MSCF), which are administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Its passage has been a major legislative objective of WCS and represents a victory for supporters of wildlife and fiscally responsible governance.

"I thank Rep. Henry Brown (R-SC) and Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) for their leadership in helping pass this very important piece of legislation," said John Calvelli, WCS Executive Vice President of Public Affairs. "The conservation of imperiled species is greatly enhanced by the infusion of more resources, especially through creative funding mechanisms such as sale of semi-postal stamps that have no impact on the U.S. taxpayer.

"H.R. 1454 passed through the U.S. House of Representatives with broad bipartisan support in December 2009 under the leadership of House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Subcommittee Chairwoman Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam), and then through the U.S. Senate with some modifications in July 2010.

Important Senate champions of the legislation include Sens. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Tom Udall (D-NM). An analysis by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office found that the bill's implementation "would have no significant discretionary cost to the Federal government.

"The MSCF program supports the conservation of many of the world's most charismatic species. Despite its modest size, the program has broad-based support, including from more than 20 million members of the Multinational Species Coalition. It also stimulates public-private partnerships and has leveraged more than three times as much in matching funds from conservation groups, corporations and other governments.

The stamps, depicting highly imperiled species such as tigers, African and Asian elephants, rhinoceros, great apes or marine turtles, would offer a convenient way for the public to support conservation projects. They would be sold at U.S. post offices nationwide, as well as at institutions like zoos and aquariums.

WCS has strongly advocated for the MSCF Semipostal Stamp Act since it was introduced and helped steer a coalition representing millions of Americans in support of the bill. In May 2009, WCS Executive Vice President for Conservation and Science Dr. John Robinson testified before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans & Wildlife in support of the bill. Through a campaign of WCS's "Take Action" online advocacy program, 15,927 WCS supporters sent a total of 28,615 letters to their Senators in 2010 urging them to pass the MSCF Semipostal Stamp Act.

Global Warming and Climate Change

FGCU students work on to combat climate change
A group of Florida Gulf Coast University students and faculty members joined ecologically-minded citizens across the globe Sunday by working on campus with the international climate crisis in mind. Their efforts as part of 350.org's Global Work Party were mirrored at similar events worldwide in as far-reaching places as Madagascar and New Zealand.

Mather Report on Value of Everglades Restoration Kirk Fordham, CEO of the Everglades Foundation, along with the economic study's principal investigator, Robert McCormick from Mather Economics, is joined by Tamara Pigott, Executive Director, Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau; Barry Johnson, President/CEO, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and Michele Miller, Executive Director, Marine Industries Association of Florida; via media conference call to discuss the economic benefits of an $11.5 billion investment in Everglades restoration.

The study, conducted by Mather Economics [ http://www.mathereconomics.com/about-us.php ], projects that for every dollar invested in Everglades restoration, $4 in economic benefits will be generated. In addition, hundreds of thousands of jobs will be created.

Summary: http://everglades.3cdn.net/90fb17eeadba310af8_6tm6barv5.pdf

Report: 173 pages - http://everglades.3cdn.net/8edd03d0943ae993fe_e0m6i4gx2.pdf


Offshore & Ocean

Collier, Lee county Invasion of fighting conchs stumps scientists
Scientists say mating is not the reason thousands of fighting conchs washed up on beaches in Bonita Springs and north Collier County on Tuesday, but the cause for the influx is still unclear.

The small, hard-shelled amber mollusks, which range from 1 to 3 inches, continue to flop around in the sand on Bonita Beach just beyond the water’s edge. Scientists are still searching for answers, which could range anywhere from natural reasons to a parasite.
“I went down there to take a look,” said Rick Bartleson, a research scientist with the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation. “They were all alive, but they weren’t acting like they were conscious.”

Beachgoers haven’t noticed any lingering odor from the influx since the conchs are still alive and squirming. It is illegal to remove a live conch from the beach.Bartleson hypothesized earlier this week that several algal blooms between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Springs could be to blame. He said the blooms, which deplete oxygen in the water, caused a die-off of coquinas on Fort Myers Beach.

“My oxygen measurements were normal and so were Lee County’s,” Bartleson said. “We did take one back and it’s doing well (in our aquarium). For me, it’s still a mystery.”
The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute also collected samples of the mollusks and the water, said Carli Segelson, spokesperson for FWRI.

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Loss of Indian River Lagoon seagrass beds threatening fish breeding grounds
The lower Indian River Lagoon is a crossroads at a crossroads, according to R. Grant Gilmore Jr., senior scientist and president of Estuarine, Coastal and Ocean Science Inc. in Vero Beach.

Speaking on Thursday to the Rivers Coalition, Gilmore called the area of the lagoon near the St. Lucie Inlet and the St. Lucie Estuary a “crossroads” of biodiversity because it serves as the nursery for fish species found throughout the Eastern Seaboard.

But the lagoon is at a crossroads, he added, because loss of its seagrass beds threatens the nursery and the fish raised in it.

“Seagrass is a major food source for all kinds of little critters that live in the estuary and the lagoon,” Gilmore said, adding that a study in the 1970s showed 10,000 fish are produced per year on each acre of the lagoon.

“But if there’s no seagrass,” he added, “that drops by 90 percent.”
Within 10 miles of the St. Lucie Inlet, Gilmore said, 800 species of fish can be found — 400 of them in the lagoon. “The seagrass beds the inlet are some of the most important breeding grounds in the country,” he said.

But Gilmore said at least 80 percent of the seagrass beds within 3 miles of the St. Lucie Inlet were lost between 2004 and 2006, a result of hurricane damage, releases of nutrient-rich freshwater from Lake Okeechobee and local — often polluted — water runoff.
Since 2006, he added “a lot of the seagrass has come back, maybe 60 to 70 percent of it.”

The coalition, a consortium of civic groups, homeowner association and fishing clubs, is suing the Army Corps of Engineers in an effort to stop the Lake O releases; and Gilmore said the discharges continue to be a “main component” of the seagrass loss by dropping salinity levels the grass needs to grow.

“But the problem goes beyond that,” he said. “The water in the lake comes from as far north at Orlando; so what happens in Disney World affects the water here. And more locally, (the fertilizer) you put on your lawn goes into the estuary.”

The short-term outlook for seagrass is good, Gilmore said, thanks to predictions of a drier-than-normal dry season this winter and spring. “A drought would make the seagrass take off like a house on fire,” he said, “because very little freshwater would be coming into the lagoon.”

Land Conservation

Detroit River refuge getting former missile site
A former Cold War anti-aircraft missile site is becoming part of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

A ceremony was planned for Saturday at the 40-acre Gibraltar Bay Unit, located at the southern tip of Grosse Ile. The 40-acre site that once was home to Nike missiles includes coastal wetlands, meadows and prairie.

Grosse Ile Township, the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance are involved in the preservation effort.

Tours of the site located south of Detroit also will be offered.

The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge includes 5,700 acres along the Detroit River and Lake Erie.

South Florida Water Management District Acquires Land to Help Revive the River of Grass
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has closed on the purchase of land from the United States Sugar Corporation, providing 26,800 acres of strategically located property south of Lake Okeechobee for Everglades restoration.

The $194 million acquisition places 42 square miles of agricultural land into public ownership for the construction of water quality improvement projects that will bring meaningful environmental benefits to the famed River of Grass.

"Hard work and a steadfast commitment to restore the River of Grass has successfully brought to fruition - in an affordable way - an opportunity to further improve water quality in the Everglades and address important federal mandates," said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Eric Buermann. "Once considered out of reach, the District now has ready access to thousands of acres of strategically situated property to advance Florida's steady progress in restoring the Everglades."

Miscellaneous

Fish kill in St. Johns River
This week, Riverhugger received several calls about fish kills in the St. Johns River near the San Marco and Lakewood areas of Jacksonville. These reports differ greatly from those we received during the summer when a significant number of redfish, gar and rays died from a mysterious cause that has still not been fully identified. Scientists suspect it was related to toxins released by algae.

The recent kills were menhaden, a small sardine-like fish commonly used by fishermen for bait. What is alarming is the fact that most of the hundreds, if not thousands, of dead or dying fish that have been reported have large sores on them.At this point the cause is unknown. Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission scientists are conducting a study.

Ellis Island's Oral Histories Now Available Online
Visitors used to have to travel to Ellis Island National Monument to hear stories of America's immigrants. Now, more than 1,700 oral histories recorded by the National Park Service are available online. The records are part of the Ellis Island Oral History Collection hosted by Ancestry.com.

Millions of immigrants entered the United States through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954 when the facility was closed. The recordings, made long after many of the participants had entered the country, include Lawrence Meinwald's memory of first entering New York harbor: "My father and I dressed and went to the deck. There were people of all denominations, some on their knees making the sign of the cross, Jews in their prayer shawls as we were passing the Statue of Liberty."

This collection contains some 2,000 oral histories collected by the Ellis Island Oral History Program through the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Begun in 1973, the project aims to collect first-hand information about immigrant experiences from everyday life in their country of origin, family history, reasons for coming to America, the journey to the port, experiences on the ship, arrival, processing at Ellis Island, and adjustment to life in the U.S. Most interviewees are chosen from submitted questionnaires, range in age from 46 to 106, though the average age is late eighties, and are from many countries.

Ellis Island was in operation from 1892 until 1954 and processed 12 million immigrants. Upon arrival 29 questions were asked including name, occupation, and the amount of money carried. Immigrants were quickly looked over for any medical problems and 2 percent were deported back to their home countries for chronic contagious disease, criminal background, or insanity. In 1924 immigration was restricted and the only immigrants to pass through the Ellis Island station were displaced persons or war refugees.

Information in this database:
Surname
Interview date
Birth date
Birth place
Country immigrated from
Immigration date
Age on arrival
Ship name
Port of departure
Additional information respective to immigrant’s interview

For further information about the Ellis Island Oral History Project, please contact:
Oral History ProjectEllis Island Immigration MuseumNew York City, New York, 10004
Phone: (212) 363-3200, ext. 156Fax: (212) 363-6302

The Ellis Island Oral History Collection will remain permanently free on Ancestry.com.
Visit the collection Ancestry.com

Harlequin ladybirds
Harlequin ladybirds (Ladybugs) are natives of Asia, but were introduced into North America in 1988 and are already the most common species of ladybird there.

They arrived in the UK in 2004, and have now spread through much of the country. They can breed very fast; a single female can lay as many as 1000 eggs at a time, just 4 weeks after their own hatching!

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FWC biologist honored
Recognized as one of the state’s premier experts on Lake Okeechobee ecology, Donald Fox, a biological administrator with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), was named 2010 Fisheries Biologist of the Year by the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Fox, who has been with the FWC for nearly 30 years, received the honor at the association’s annual conference in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Living Planet Report 2010 Webcast from WWF on Vimeo.

Global biodiversity is down 30 percent since 1970. This decline is due mostly to habitat loss in tropical regions, where biodiversity has declined by 60 percent.

Many species have experienced significant population declines in recent years, including Atlantic bluefin tuna, Peary caribou and whale sharks. One species, the white-rumped vulture, declined by more than 50 percent between 2000-2007, while the population of leatherback turtles fell 20 percent between 1989-2002.

Natural resources are being consumed faster than the Earth is replenishing them. We are currently consuming the equivalent of 1.5 planets to support human activities. If current trends continue, by 2030 we will need the capacity of two planets to meet natural resource consumption needs and absorb CO2 waste.

Humanity’s ecological footprint has doubled since 1966, largely because of the carbon footprint, which has increased 11-fold since 1961.

There are solutions to ensure Earth can sustain a global population projected to surpass nine billion by 2050. One example is the important role companies can play by sourcing, producing and purchasing raw materials that are sustainably harvested.

Audubon Honors Buermann, Estenoz as Champions of the Everglades
Audubon of Florida on Friday honored South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board members Eric Buermann and Shannon Estenoz as champions of the Everglades for their leadership in acquiring land to revive the River of Grass and their commitment to restore and protect Florida’s natural habitats, resources and wildlife.

“This honor reflects the commitment of the entire South Florida Water Management District to restore the Everglades and, most notably, recognizes the successful acquisition of 42 square miles of agricultural land to improve water quality and the environment in the River of Grass,” said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Eric Buermann. “An occasion such as this also serves as a reminder to Ms. Estenoz and me that we must build on the successes and continue moving forward with new ideas to meet the complex challenges of Everglades restoration.”

Mr. Buermann and Ms. Estenoz received the award at the 2010 Audubon Assembly in St. Petersburg, which notes 110 years of connecting people with conservation. With chapters in 44 communities, Audubon of Florida strives to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.

The organization’s Champion of the Everglades Award recognizes individuals whose long-term commitment to the Everglades has moved restoration forward.

“We have learned a great deal about restoring America’s Everglades, and I for one am honored that the efforts of this agency and my colleagues are being recognized by those who are equally as passionate about protecting our environment,” said SFWMD Governing Board member Shannon Estenoz. “Along with Chairman Buermann, I feel we must advance the commitment to restoration so that the Everglades are improved for future generations.”

Mr. Buermann and Ms. Estenoz join the ranks of environmental advocates such as Gov. Charlie Crist, former senator Bob Graham and the Everglades Foundation’s Mary Barley in winning the award.

“To successfully restore the Everglades, we need champions,” said Eric Draper, Executive Director of Audubon of Florida. “The strong leadership and tough decisions Eric Buermann and Shannon Estenoz have made in favor of the River of Grass over the last four years demonstrate that they truly are champions of the Everglades.”

Mr. Buermann and Ms. Estenoz were also honored in 2009 for their leadership in Everglades restoration. Mr. Buermann was recognized by the Everglades Coalition with the James D. Webb Award, given each year to a public official who has made an outstanding contribution to the Everglades. The award is named for James Webb, who worked as the Florida representative of The Wilderness Society from 1986 to 1995 and was instrumental in expanding Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve.

Ms. Estenoz was honored again in 2009 by the Everglades Coalition with the George M. Barley Conservationist of the Year Award, which the coalition gives to an individual who has made a great contribution to Everglades restoration and protection. George Barley, a seventh-generation Floridian, founded the Save Our Everglades Foundation and advocated for the cleanup of water flowing into the Everglades and Florida Bay.

New Discoveries in the Greater Mekong A 23-foot tall carnivorous plant, a fish with vampire fangs, and a frog that sounds like a cricket are among 145 new species identified last year in the Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia. Between 1997 and 2008 an incredible 1,231 species were discovered by science across this region alone!

Message from our new President
After traveling 15,000 miles in 29 days, visiting 6 Audubon Centers, meeting 24 chapter presidents and seeing 184 species, I’ve landed back in New York today to put to use all I’ve learned on my listening tour.

I want to share my story and some pictures with you. It’s at http://magblog.audubon.org/field-report-audubon%E2%80%99s-president-david-yarnold. There’s much more to tell, but I wanted to keep it brief.

My travels introduced me to terrific Audubon staff, volunteers and partners. I’m optimistic that, with greater focus, better communication and a sense of urgency, Audubon’s future has never been brighter.

With best regards,
David
David Yarnold

President
National Audubon Society
www.audubon.org

New Dioxin rules may force more cleanups
The government has spent many millions of dollars in recent decades cleaning up sites contaminated with dioxin and, in extreme cases, relocating residents of entire tainted neighborhoods.

But tough new pollution standards proposed by the Obama administration could require additional dioxin cleanups at scores of abandoned factories, military bases, landfills and other locations declared safe years ago, officials say.

If the guidelines receive final approval this fall, federal and state officials will examine sites with known dioxin contamination, including the former village of Times Beach, Mo., where about 2,000 people were relocated, and the notorious Love Canal neighborhood of Niagara Falls, N.Y., to determine how much more work needs to be done and at what cost.

Science museum shows Clyde Butcher's photos
An exhibit of photographer Clyde Butcher's work is on display at the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale.

For 40 years, Butcher, a passionate conservationist, has documented the natural beauty of the earth with his landscape photography. Now an exhibit of his work, Wilderness Visions of America, is on display through Jan. 9 at the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale.
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Division of State Lands posts calendar
DEP’s Division of State Lands (DSL) is pleased to announce its inaugural calendar, available for downloading, exclusively on the DSL website.

The beautiful 2011 calendar features photos depicting all forms of state lands, from trails to parks to forests, submitted by DSL staff and several other land managing agencies including DEP’s Division of Recreation and Parks and the Office of Greenways and Trails, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Division of Forestry. The DSL also updated its downloadable desktop wallpaper located on the website to showcase the same stunning photos that are in the 2011 calendar.

“The Division of State Lands takes great pride that Florida has been a leader in the nation for land conservation,” said Deborah Poppell, Director of the Division of State Lands. “Through the Preservation 2000 and Florida Forever programs, more than 2.4 million acres of land have been protected with the specific goal of preserving those natural and cultural resources which are so essential to our quality of life and community. The Division is committed to ensuring that these resources remain open and accessible to everyone.”

DEP’s Division of State Lands provides management oversight for more than 12 million acres of state lands. These include sovereign lands under lakes, rivers and the territorial waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as many islands, in addition to the 3.4 million acres of the state’s parks, wildlife management areas and forests. State lands not only serve to cleanse and restore the state’s water and air, but also provide a home to numerous rare and endangered species while helping to ensure that Florida’s residents and visitors have the opportunity to appreciate Florida’s magnificent landscapes.

To access and download the calendar and/or desktop wallpaper, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/lands

Florida State Parks Website Receives National Award
The Department's newly redesigned Florida State Parks website, www.FloridaStateParks.org, recently received an award from the National Association of Government Webmasters (NAGW).

The website, which was launched in early 2010, received the NAGW’s Members’ Choice Award for 2010 and also finished as a top three finalist for the Pinnacle Award. The website received high marks for being easy to …

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Pioneering Chinese activist Liang Congjie, who helped found the country's first environmental organization, died last week at age 78.

According to Friends of Nature, the group he helped founded, Liang passed away Oct. 28. Services for him will be held Tuesday at Beijing Shitian Hospital.Considered the first environmental nongovernmental organization to be legally recognized in China, Friends of Nature was created in 1994 by Liang and colleagues to raise public awareness about the country's vast array of environmental problems.

Liang, a historian who worked and taught at the Academy for Chinese Culture, decided to set up the organization after hearing about the activities of international environmental groups like Greenpeace and realizing that China had no domestic equivalent.Friends of Nature has focused on the plight of endangered species like the Tibetan antelope and threatened forest lands, while working to raise environmental awareness at public schools and nurturing other environmental groups.

"Though we have achieved some important victories for nature, possibly FON's greatest achievement is helping to foster a growing network of grassroots environmental NGOs throughout China," the group said on its website.

The group said Tuesday's ceremony for Liang will be "simple and plain."