Spring would not be spring without bird songs, any more than it would be spring without buds and flowers. I only wish that besides protecting the songsters, we could also protect the birds of the sea-shore and the wilderness. Theodore Roosevelt
Read about Wildlife around the world
Read the Hendry/Glades Audubon newsletter
American Bird Conservancy's Bird of the week
Of interest to all
Army Corps of Engineers wants phosphate mining comments The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is soliciting public comments on what should be included in an comprehensive review of phosphate mining's impacts on Florida.
The Corps plans to study mining's environmental, socio-economic and other impacts in the Central Florida Phosphate District. The district, also known as "Bone Valley," is a 1.3-million-acre area covering parts of Manatee, DeSoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Polk and DeSoto counties.
Comments on the study's scope can be made by going to the project website, http://www.phosphateaeis.org/. The comment deadline is April 25.
House OK's repeal of septic tank inspections The Florida House has voted to repeal a requirement for septic tank inspections that was passed last year.
The repealer bill (HB 13) was approved overwhelmingly by a vote of 110-3 on Friday. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
State Rep. Marti Coley is the bill's sponsor. The Marianna Republican said the requirement was intrusive and became a burden on lower-income homeowners.
Democratic Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda of Tallahassee was one of only three lawmakers to vote against the bill. She told the chamber that the requirement protected underground springs from leaking tanks.
Thursday, April 21 @ 7:30 p.m. is the FINAL monthly meeting of the season until we resume in September 2011 @ Fern Forest Nature Center.
There are NO BIOS awards being presented for 2011!
Two of the four student award winners from the 2011 Broward County Science Fair that South Florida Audubon Society recognized and awarded will make brief 15-minute presentations of their science projects in addition to the speaker for the evening, Brian Sheridan, Details below.
The students making presentations are:
Amber VanHemel 1st Place Junior Section Lyons Creek Middle School 'Sea Turtles: The Underlying Issues'
Dylan Weitzman 2nd Place Senior Section University School 'Electromagnetic Oil Spill Clean-up'
We look forward to a great final meeting.
The Everglades Coalition is pleased to announce -- The 2011-2012 Everglades Coalition Co-Chairs are:
Julie Hill-Gabriel, Audubon of Florida
Dawn Shirreffs, National Parks Conservation Association
The 2011-2012 Everglades Coalition Board of Directors are:
Tom Bausch, Martin County Conservation Alliance
Malia Hale, National Wildlife Federation
Laurie MacDonald, Defenders of Wildlife
Drew Martin, Sierra Club, Florida Chapter
Mark Perry, Florida Oceanographic Society
Laura Reynolds, Tropical Audubon Society
Jason Totoiu, Everglades Law Center
Other important outcomes of the Annual Meeting were the decisions to hold the 2012 Conference on January 5 – 8, 2012 and to negotiate a contract with Hutchinson Island Marriott as the venue.
EPA to see $1.6 billion funding cut, unsure how it will impact Florida programs A six-month spending bill unveiled by House Republicans Monday night would see large cuts in environmental spending in the U.S. According to Politico, the Environmental Protection Agency's budget would be come in "about $1.6 billion below 2010's funding." That adds up to a 16 percent cut to the EPA, and could lead to drastic reductions in funding for some of the agency's key projects.
But what will such a large cut mean for some of the agency's key projects — specifically those in Florida, such as Everglades Restoration and the implementation of a set of proposed water quality rules?
According to EPA Public Affairs Specialist Davina Marraccini, those details aren't yet known. "EPA staff is reviewing the funding levels in the continuing resolution and we will have more details when that review is complete," says Marraccini. "We understand the need to make difficult decisions to ensure the government lives within its means."
Congress is poised to take a meaningful step to protect you and your family from toxic chemicals. Senator Frank Lautenberg and 3 of his Senate colleagues have introduced the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 that would be the first major overhaul of America's dangerously weak toxic chemicals law, which hasn't been amended since it was adopted 35 years ago.
You shouldn't have to worry about which products in your home are safe and which ones may contain toxic chemicals like lead, formaldehyde or dangerous plastic additives. So are we.
Americans shouldn't need a Ph.D. in chemistry to make safe purchases at the checkout counter.
The Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 would require chemical makers to prove their chemicals are safe before they are allowed in our homes, schools, and workplaces.
Just as we have laws against people breaking into our homes and threatening our safety, we need laws against chemical intruders that enter our bodies. Without our knowledge or consent, these toxic intruders threaten our health and the health of our children.
Science is linking toxic chemical exposures to all kinds of serious diseases and disorders, including childhood leukemia and brain cancers, breast and testicular cancer, neurological disorders like autism and Alzheimer's, and fertility problems.
Free Tour of Miami Art Museum Exhibit for Audubon Supporters Audubon's members and E-Conservation Network are invited to take advantage of free admission to the Miami Art Museum. If you're in South Florida come by on the 1st or 3rd Sunday from April through June to learn more about Miami Art Museum's Regarding Nature, Tours of The Wilderness and Mark Dion's South Florida Wildlife Rescue Unit.
Tours of both exhibits will be offered on 1st and 3rd Sundays. Click here to print a flyer for free admission during regular Museum hours.
Study finds UF has $8.76 billion economic impact on Florida The University of Florida's economic importance in Florida has continued to grow in recent years, thanks to an increase in research grants and rising demand for health care services, according to a new study by UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Read more
FWC chair steps down The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wrapped up its two-day meeting Thursday in Havana, learning that Rodney Barreto is stepping down from his chairmanship of the seven-member board.
"Our fish and wildlife agency is so dedicated," Barreto said after other commissioners praised his leadership over the years. He repaid the compliments by praising employees' diligence and commitment, epitomized by a video of FWC biologist Adam Warwick swimming in the Gulf with a bear under his arm so the animal wouldn't drown.
Barreto anticipates continuing to work with the FWC.
US Court of Appeals Stays Mosaic's South Fort Meade Extension Permit For 90 Days On April 8, 2011, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit vacated a preliminary injunction on Mosaic's phosphate mine known as the South Fort Meade extension. The Court of Appeals found a procedural flaw in the injunction that had been entered July 30, 2010 by the U.S. District Court in Jacksonville based on violations of the Clean Water Act. However, the appellate court continued the stay of Mosaic's permit for another 90 days and sent the matter back to the district court to make a final ruling in that time.
Specifically the appellate court's three page decision found that the district court should not have remanded the permit to the U.S. Corps of Engineers when it issued its injunction. The appellate court did not rule on the merits of the permit, i.e. it did not decide whether the permit was legal or that it complied with the law.
"We are disappointed that the court of appeals did not affirm the injunction in its entirety," said Eric Huber, Sierra Club Senior Staff Attorney. "But we are glad that it stayed the permit for another 90 days which protects the wetlands while we have another hearing in Jacksonville."
Mosaic's strip mine would cover 7,687 acres and destroy 534 acres of wetlands, 26 acres of open water and more than 10 miles of streams associated with the headwaters of the Peace River and other streams. Phosphate strip mining entirely removes the land surface down 50 or more feet, destroying wetlands and significantly impacting ground and surface water flow. While surface reclamation occurs in theory, it is substantially delayed, often unsuccessful and does not repair groundwater impacts. This disruption in flows affects water quality and quantity in the watersheds involved, including the Peace River which flows into the Charlotte Harbor Estuary, a federally recognized "aquatic resource of national importance".
The parties reached a partial settlement last November allowing mining to proceed at Phase 1 of the mine, comprising some 200 acres. In return, Mosaic agreed to protect 14.3 acres of environmentally desirable and difficult to replace "bayhead wetlands," as well as surrounding uplands, in the upper Peace River watershed, for a total of 40.9 additional acres protected from mining.
For more information visit http://www.ourphosphaterisk.com/ and http://www.protectpeaceriver.org/
No St. Lucie Inland Port Officials trying to build a cargo distribution center in western St. Lucie County have not decided what the next step will be after Port St. Lucie officials shot down the project.
After five hours of heated discussion that began Monday night and carried into early Tuesday, the Port St. Lucie City Council voted 3-2 against allowing heavy industry on 7,139 acres of land west and south of Glades Cutoff Road. Council also voted against annexing the property.
Officials with the Treasure Coast Intermodal Campus, formerly dubbed an "inland port," have claimed it could create between 12,000 and 36,000 jobs by the time the 30-year project is complete.
Some council members and critics called the cargo distribution plan "pie-in-the-sky" and "smoke and mirrors."
Johnathan Ferguson, the attorney representing the campus, said after the discussion it was too soon to figure out what the next step would be for the campus.
"Obviously, we're disappointed with the vote," Ferguson said. "These types of proceedings are always difficult because people can get up there and say what they want with disregard for the facts. There were clear misstatements by the public and council members. Clearly, a majority came in the meeting with their minds made up, and we'll be evaluating our options."
Project officials could try to get the project approved through St. Lucie County.
Project officials have met with county staff in the past, County Growth Management Director Mark Satterlee said.
By going through the county, the project must be reviewed by the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council as part of a process that determines its regional impacts. That process is different than one for annexation into Port St. Lucie.
County Commission Chairman Chris Craft suggested Monday night that the city get feedback from the state. Even if City Council had approved it, the matter would be sent to the state and the council would be asked to approve it again.
"The general idea of the project... is exactly what our community needs," Craft said Tuesday. "There's obviously some environmental issues. There's obviously some traffic issues. But what this could potentially mean to our community and economic development and providing jobs makes it worth the conversation."
If the project shifted to the county for approval, Craft said he did not know how he would vote.
Campus officials originally went to the county seeking a letter of support in late 2009, but commissioners had questions that the group was not ready to answer, Craft said. The project has never gone to county officials for approval.
"They needed that letter immediately, and for whatever reason, decided to move in the direction of the city at that point," Craft said.
Ever since, the city has been looking over project details.
Everglades advocates warn that Senate budget cuts could harm restoration efforts In a letter to Sen. Mike Haridopolos Tuesday, four leading environmental warn that the proposed Senate budget, which cuts millions from the water management districts and sweeps their budgets under legislative control, could have the effect of harming Everglades restoration.
The letter, by Eric Draper of Audubon of Florida, Kirk Fordham of the Everglades Foundation, E. Thom Rumberger of the Everglades Trust and Manley Fuller of the Florida Wildlife Federation, commends Senate Budget Chief J.D. Alexander for "ably" crafting the budget. But it warns that the new approach to water management district "may have the effect of limiting South Florida Water Management District funds for Everglades restoration projects
"We do not disagree that the water management districts may be able to tighten their budgets,'' the group writes. "Our request is that the Senate authorizes $394 million in ad valorem spending for the South Florida Water Management District and $50 million from state sources." According to Politifact, Alexander's claim that some water management districts are sitting on unspent cash is false. The governing boards of state's five water management districts are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate, and the governor must approve water management district budgets each year. But Alexander has move to put the districts budgets under legislative review, allowing them to potentially lower the property taxes they collect.
Senate rejects assault by polluters On Wednesday, April 6, 2011 the Senate defeated a series of pro-polluter amendments that would have gutted the Clean Air Act and to varying degrees blocked EPA from protecting Americans from dangerous air pollution.
None of the amendments received even a simple majority, even though a super majority of 60 votes were required to pass the Senate.
This is a very big deal and we thank the more than 145,000 of you who sent emails and thousands more who called your Senators to oppose these pro-polluter amendments. Today proves that when we stand together, we can stand up to the lavishly funded polluter lobby... And that we can win!
This outcome is very pleasing; many thanks to all the Senators who stood up for clean air and climate action. As we look ahead, it remains to be seen which Senators will continue to side with clean air and who will vote to go backward.
Wasserman Schultz, Deutch, other House Democrats send letter to Boehner urging reconsideration of EPA cuts In a letter sent to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, House Democrats expressed their concerns with anti-environmental policy "riders" in the forthcoming continuing resolution that would fund the government for the remainder of 2011.
The House's Spending Bill, which was passed in February, contains 19 anti-environmental riders, some of which would prevent the EPA from implementing policies affecting water, air and toxic emissions. Some of the policies, like the EPA's numeric nutrient criteria, would directly affect Florida. According to many environmentalists, the lack of them could be detrimental to both public health and the livelihood of marine flora and fauna.
The reps argue that the riders could "significantly jeopardize the protection of American communities and ecosystems" and would "roll back 40 years of bipartisan efforts to strengthen environmental protections."
The letter, sent yesterday, was signed by 53 House Democrats, including Florida Reps. Debbie Wasserman Shultz and Ted Deutch.
Florida Sen. Bill Nelson also took a strong environmental stance this week, signing onto a resolution calling for continued implementation of the Clean Air Act.
"With polluters and their allies in Congress trying to hijack a must-pass government funding bill this weekend with an all-out assault on the air we breathe and the water we drink, Sen. Nelson, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz and Congressman Deutch's leadership is critical," said Environment Florida's Sarah Bucci, in a press release. "We urge Congress and President Obama to follow their lead and reject attacks on Floridians' health and our environment, and instead stand up for cleaner air and a healthier future."
Read the full letter here
Victory for Clean Air and Water After weeks of political wrangling and attempts to gut the Environmental Protection Agency, an eleventh-hour budget deal was brokered, narrowly averting a shutdown for the federal government. The budget agreement appears to be free of any threats to the Clean Air Act, EPA and other vital health and environmental protections.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune issued the following statement:
"The Sierra Club commends President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid for standing strong in the ongoing battle against corporate polluters' attacks on our air and water and the health of millions of Americans. In a race against the clock, our nation's leaders were able to defend essential environmental and health protections from multiple assaults by corporate polluters and their friends among the House Leadership.
"This is an important victory for all Americans who want clean air and water and healthy families. But this isn't the last we'll see of polluters' assault on the Clean Air Act and the EPA. We urge President Obama and our leaders to continue standing up for our health in this fight."
Audubon Society wants to weigh in on suit against Rick Scott The Florida Audubon Society filed a motion in the Florida Supreme Court on Friday asking to enter a brief supporting a suit challenging the constitutionality of Gov. Rick Scott's executive order freezing rule-making.
Specifically, the motion mentions a rule intended to protect Miami's Biscayne Bay that's on hold. "This delay only exacerbates and aggravates the current degradation of Biscayne Bay's vulnerable ecosystem and aggravates and increases the difficulty (and cost) of restoration," say court papers.
Eric Draper, the Audubon Society's executive director, said other rules on hold are also at issue.
"But the Biscayne Bay rule is a good example of the problems we're having with what the governor's doing," Draper said. "It takes a long time to develop environmental rules. There are lots of public hearings involved. There's a lot of discussion among stakeholders. And to take the process and just stop it means that thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of work are wasted. We don't know when this rule is going to get reviewed, and environmental protection is brought to a standstill."
The rule freeze was one of Scott's first acts as governor, included in an executive order signed less than an hour after his Jan. 4 inauguration. More than 900 rules on their way to approval were affected. Many have received an okay from the governor, but many more are still on hold.
Earlier this week, a blind woman from Miami seeking to reapply for food stamps filed a petition in the Florida Supreme Court saying the freeze violates the state Constitution.
Rosalie Whiley, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, said one of the stalled rules would make it easier for her to apply for food stamps online. She wants the executive order revoked.
Among other things, the lawsuit alleges that Scott is usurping the power given by the Legislature to agency heads to make rules. It also charges that the standards for reviewing agency rules are too vague and that the executive order keeps the secretary of state from publishing rules as required by Florida law.
Senator Graham on the sad state of Florida The Legislature has a responsibility to Floridians not to turn back decades of progressivism that made the Sunshine State a home, not a commodity.
As the Legislature enters its second half, there has emerged a disturbing pattern of ignoring many of Florida's core values. Over the last half-century these values have given Florida government -whether in Republican or Democratic hands - a stability and predictability that is now threatened.
New permit-tagging study needs anglers' help The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust need anglers to assist with a study about permit in Florida waters. Project Permit participants will help biologists obtain information on this economically important fish.
Anglers can assist biologists by tagging and sampling DNA from any permit they catch and release. Participants will mark each fish with a dart tag and obtain a small fin clip from the dorsal or anal fin of the fish. The information from the tags and DNA samples will improve biologists' understanding of permit movement and distribution. Although the program is relatively new, biologists already have documented a tagged permit that had traveled more than 40 miles along the east coast of Florida before being captured again.
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute scientists will also compare permit DNA samples to determine whether all the tagged fish come from the same genetic stock. Resource managers can use this information for regulating the permit fishery.
The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust proposed the collaborative study after obtaining a grant from Costa Del Mar, which agreed to supply funds for the tagging kits for three to five years.
Anglers who would like to participate in Project Permit can obtain a free, easy-to-use tagging kit by e-mailing ProjectPermit@MyFWC.com or by calling 800-367-4461. Each kit contains enough material to sample five fish.
For more information on Project Permit, visit www.MyFWC.com/Research, click on "Saltwater," scroll down to "Saltwater Fish" and click on "Permit."
Birds
Migrating Songbirds Get Congressional Attention Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) has introduced HR 1456, a bill to reauthorize the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. This bipartisan legislation, which was introduced with lead cosponsor Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-PA), is intended to increase funding for migratory bird conservation, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The bill's Senate companion, S 538, was introduced last month by Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD).
Many migratory bird species have benefited from conservation efforts initiated under the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. As a matching grant program, it serves as a catalyst to leverage funding from a range of sources beyond the government. Since it was enacted in 2000, the U.S. has invested more than $30.4 million in 296 projects, and leveraged an additional $134 million in partner funds to support these projects. For every $1 invested by the government, $5 was spent on conservation. Audubon will be urging Congress to move both bills forward through the legislative process in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for action on these important bills for birds!
Audubon provides Important Bird Area data for energy resource planning. Utility regulators are looking at the country's energy development future and planning the expansion of the power grid across America. As part of this planning process, increasing attention is being focused on the issue of where to place this infrastructure, including electric transmission lines for traditional or renewable power generation facilities. As the regulators look at siting issues, Audubon has led efforts to ensure that critical habitat areas, including Important Bird Areas (IBAs), are considered early. By providing IBA data for energy resource planning, we enable greater avoidance of sensitive areas. Last month, we provided updated IBA data to all utility commissions in the contiguous U.S., and led a collaborative effort in 39 states that also supplied data on other priorities (public lands, priorities of State Wildlife Action Plans, etc.). Audubon will continue to support efforts to give fuller and earlier consideration of critical habitat areas in infrastructure planning of all types as a core strategy for better public policymaking.
Great Backyard Bird Count Produced a "Gold Mine" of Information When tens of thousands of people watch birds and report what they see online, they create a snapshot showing the whereabouts of many hundreds of bird species across the United States and Canada. This annual gold mine of information about birds comes from participants in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), a joint project of the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology with Canadian partner Bird Studies Canada.
This year, an estimated 60,000 bird watchers of all ages took part in the free, four-day event held February 18-21. Participants identified 596 species and filed 11.4 million individual bird observations. Their reports provide useful information to scientists tracking changes in the numbers and movements of birds from year to year, just as winter is about to melt into spring.
Two new species never reported to the count before included a Brown Shrike in McKinleyville, California, and a Common Chaffinch recorded in Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador—both species well out of their normal ranges. In Alaska, a GBBC participant observed a Brambling visiting her feeder—the only one reported for all of North America.
Wading Birds Plentiful In Conservation Areas This Year Extremely dry conditions that have created a water shortage for some have been a boon for wading birds so far this nesting season.
Endangered wood storks, spoonbills, white ibis and great egrets have begun nesting in the Everglades Water Conservation Areas in numbers representing a significant increase from the start of last wading bird season, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) scientists reported this week.
Endangered wood stork nests numbered 1,050 while white ibis nests were counted at 10,000. No nests were observed for either of these species in the conservation areas in March 2010. Spoonbill nesting increased to 200 nests from only 20, and great egret nests increased to 7,180 from 130.
There are typically two adult birds per nest. Tens of thousands of birds have been seen foraging in Water Conservation Area 3 in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Altogether, scientists observed 18,430 nests at the beginning of the wading bird nesting season this March in the conservation areas compared to only 150 nests seen during the same time in 2010.
Scientists attribute this early success to water levels that are currently optimal for wading birds because their food supply of crayfish and other small fish are massing in smaller areas as the land dries out. This concentration makes for easier foraging with less energy expended. Recent SFWMD research has also made a major contribution to determining optimal water depths for wading birds.
"A key goal of Everglades restoration is to restore natural water conditions that will help re-establish an adequate food supply for wildlife across the Everglades," said SFWMD Executive Director Carol Ann Wehle. "This will more permanently support the return of successful wading bird nesting colonies."
Optimal hydrologic conditions also led to a 2009 breeding season that was exceptionally good for wading birds in South Florida, with a most noteworthy improvement for the federally endangered wood stork at the time.
While the new nesting numbers are encouraging, scientists noted that water levels may be falling too fast to maintain large populations. Birds tend to abandon nest sites and nestlings when food becomes scarce. Nestlings that manage to fledge will have a limited food supply.
Extensive dry conditions may also lead to a significant decrease in apple snail populations, which are the primary food source of the endangered Everglades snail kite.
District scientists will continue to monitor wading birds and their nesting colonies in the Water Conservation Areas throughout the season.
Critical Habitat for Snowy Plover May More Than Double Under New Proposal Under a new proposal from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), land designated as Critical Habitat for the Pacific Coast population of the Western Snowy Plover, a threatened species protected under the Endangered Species Act, may dramatically increase. If the current proposal is fully implemented, the total number of acres designated as Critical Habitat would more than double.
Total designated Critical Habitat would increase from 12,145 acres to 28,261 acres, while individual units would increase from 32 to 68. Three West Coast states would be affected – California would have the biggest increase (from 7,477 acres to 16,777 acres) followed by Washington (from 2,526 acres to 6,265 acres) and Oregon (from 2,147 acres to 5,219 acres).
Of the total acreage, 9,040 acres are on federal lands; 12,740 acres are owned by states or local agencies; and 6,145 acres are located on private lands. In addition, 336 acres are tribal lands in Washington.
"American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is hopeful that the new Critical Habitat will help the plovers, but unfortunately feral cats don't recognize such designations, so we are going to need additional measures to prevent cat predation in addition to this habitat protection," said ABC Vice President Mike Parr. For example, feral cats at Elkhorn Slough in Monterey, California are known to take adult Snowy Plovers, chicks, and eggs.
The Snowy Plover is a small shorebird with pale brown to gray upper parts, gray to black legs and bill, and dark patches on the forehead, behind the eyes, and on either side of the upper breast. The Pacific Coast population breeds primarily on coastal beaches from southern Washington to southern Baja California, Mexico.
Invasive species
Everglades Python Population Prospering Despite record breaking winter cold snaps and drought, the Burmese python population appears to be prospering in the Everglades.
After last year's cold snaps, researchers theorized that many of the Burmese pythons in the glades most likely didn't survive. Now they are re-thinking that position.
More than two dozen have been caught so far this year and the South Florida Water Management District said it removed six pythons from the Everglades in the last two weeks. The snakes were recovered in areas where they were not previously found.
FAST FACTS: Burmese Pythons
Zoo Miami's Ron Magill said having survived two very cold periods in 2010, the Burmese python population could be heartier than ever.
"The snakes that survived of course adapted. Now some, (I) would venture to say, even adapted to deal with future cold freezes, so the freeze is not going to be as effective on the existing snakes as it was previously," said Magill.
The epicenter for the non-native snakes has been Everglades National Park but now scientists are finding them further north, even above Alligator Alley.
Burmese pythons are top predators known to prey on more than 20 native Florida species.
"Mammals and birds are definitely a possibility," said Ellen Donlan with the SFWMD. "Deer, endangered species, wood storks have been consumed, bobcats could be, so it's really almost anything that comes across its path."
"A large female can easily produce between 20 and 30 eggs, sometimes even more, and those 30 eggs turn into babies and those babies that survive then become reproducing animals – you do the math," said Magill.
Cold weather takes on some of our area's native species. Nearly 250 manatee deaths were recorded in 2010 which set a one-year record for total deaths, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Service. A plunge in ocean temperatures killed off corals in shallow waters from Biscayne Bay through much of the Florida Keys and left hundreds of sea turtles dead or stunned and sick. More than one hundred rare North American crocodiles, about 10 percent of the coastal population, also died from cold exposure.
Florida Panthers
Environmental groups lose lawsuit attempting to get more habitat for Florida panther A federal judge in Fort Myers has dismissed a lawsuit by environmental groups seeking more habitat protection for the endangered Florida panther.
U.S. District Judge John Steele signed the order Wednesday, overturning a recommendation from a federal Magistrate Judge Sheri Polster Chappell that the lawsuit be allowed to proceed.
Five groups, including the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, sued the Obama administration in 2010 over its refusal to designate 3 million acres in Collier, Lee and Hendry counties as critical panther habitat.
The "clear conflict" between Steele's order and Chappell's recommendation was disappointing, Conservancy President Andrew McElwaine said.
"We think (Chappell) had it nailed," she said.
Within hours of Steele's order, the groups said they anticipated appealing the decision to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeal in Atlanta.
Besides the Conservancy, the Sierra Club, the Center for Biological Diversity, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and the Council of Civic Association filed petitions with the Interior Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeking critical habitat going back to the days after President Barack Obama took office in 2009.
Steele's ruling was not made on the merits of a habitat designation but instead was based on a legal technicality about how much discretion federal reviewers have to make a designation, the groups said.
The latest Florida Panther update is online at http://www.floridapanther.org/images/update_1109.pdf
Endangered Species
Brutal attack on rhino shocks even the hardiest rangers
The rhino was shot several times. The attack was so brutal, most of the images are unpublishable
Game scouts reported a severely wounded black rhino wandering around Save Valley Conservancy. Rangers were dispatched to locate the rhino and were met with a horrifying and gruesome sight. The rhino had been shot several times by poachers and the horns had been hacked out.
They left the rhino for dead but the poor animal regained consciousness and was found wandering around, obviously in agony. Most of the photos are just too disturbing to publish.
Vets were called in and as the animal had managed to survive the savage attack and was still eating properly, they decided to try and save it. They darted it and administered masses of antibiotics in the hope that the horrific wound will heal.
Also of great concern is the fact that this rhino had been dehorned last year and the poachers were not deterred by the fact that it had only a small stump of horn. It has been recorded in the past that poachers will still kill animals with no horns, so they don't track them again. But in this case, the barbarity was carried out for the small remaining stump left over after dehorning.
Despite the obvious determination of the poachers, the authorities are reluctant to provide the conservators with suitable weaponry to protect these endangered animals.
Oil spill imperiled inch-long seahorses The Center for Biological Diversity is asking the federal government to list an inch-long seahorse that lives in the Gulf of Mexico, off Florida and in the Caribbean, as endangered or threatened, saying last year's BP PLC oil spill pushed it closer to extinction.
Dwarf seahorses live in beds of seagrass. The environmental group stated that dramatic losses of those grasses had already severely damaged the dwarf seahorse population before the spill - and both oil and dispersants are toxic to seagrasses and to seahorses.
The federal government has a year to respond to the petition asking Endangered Species Act protection.
Dwarf seahorses - the smallest of four seahorse species found in U.S. waters, and the worlds third-smallest - live only one year. Like other seahorses, they mate for life.
Sea Turtles washing ashore At least 40 sea turtles have washed up dead on the beaches of Mississippi in a 2 week period, and most are endangered Kemp's ridleys. Another 24 were found dead this month in Texas.
The dead turtles found on Gulf beaches likely fell victim to drowning in shrimp nets without Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) or with TEDs not installed properly. The Sea Turtle Restoration Project is working to prevent needless deaths of hundreds of sea turtles in Gulf of Mexico waters this spring during the height of shrimp trawling season.
FWC biologists discover new species in Hillsborough County fisherman's catch Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), along with scientists from California State Polytechnic University, have identified a new marine species found in the Gulf of Mexico. A scientific publication released Thursday officially announced the discovery of Chromodoris fentoni, a type of shell-less snail known as a nudibranch (pronounced "nu-da-brank").
FWC biologists first observed this nudibranch when commercial aquarium-trade fisherman Daniel Fenton of Brandon donated sponges and other specimens to the FWC's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) in St. Petersburg in 2009. Fenton collected the specimens from the Gulf of Mexico, off Tarpon Springs. While sorting through the donation, FWRI biologists Nancy Sheridan and Joan Herrera observed the unusual creature.
"We were not able to identify one of the nudibranchs and realized that it was possible we were seeing something entirely new," said Sheridan. "The discovery was especially rewarding because it resulted from a cooperative effort between industry and science."
Herrera and Sheridan sent samples to Dr. Angel Valdes of California State Polytechnic University, and he verified that this species had never been documented.
"The opportunity to work with Dr. Valdes, a world-class nudibranch expert, has been really exciting for us," said FWRI Curator of Collections, Dr. Joan Herrera. "At FWRI, we receive thousands of specimens each year, yet it is rare to find a species that is new to science."
The article about C. fentoni appeared in the 2011 volume of the "American Malacological Bulletin," published Thursday, March 31. The article also notes that FWRI biologists found another species of nudibranch called Glossodoris punctilucens. This species had not been documented since 1890, except once in a photograph.
A member of the phylum Mollusca, adult nudibranchs have external gills and no shell. They typically feed on sponges, corals, anemones and other sea life. Nudibranchs come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from 1/8-inch to 2 feet in length. C. fentoni is a colorful creature with bright red markings on an off-white background. Its oblong body reaches an approximate length of 1 inch.
For more information on nudibranchs, visit www.MyFWC.com/Research, and search "Nudibranchs of Florida."
Everglades and Water Quality Issues
Coastal Wetlands Project Phase 1 completion anticipated this fall The Deering Estate Flow-way Project, which is Phase 1 of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project, likely, will be completed this fall, perhaps as early as October, according to Ed Hernandez, director of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). Hernandez addressed members of the Economic Development Council (EDC) on Tuesday, Mar. 15.
The Flow-way project, which costs roughly $4.5 to $5 million, is designed to restore water to historic Cutler Creek, result in a more natural overland flow of water and redistribute excess freshwater runoff.
"This will help do a lot of good for that area," Hernandez said. "The district was created as a result of two major hurricane events, one in 1926 and one in 1947. Then the Army Corps of Engineers began to channelize Florida all the way from Orlando down to the Dade/Keys line."
Hernandez explained that the purpose was to provide flood protection for around 2.2 million people, and allow for farming and growth.
"They did it right, in the sense that it worked really well," Hernandez said. "It had some unintended consequences. The wisdom at the time didn't anticipate some of the ecological things that have occurred, so what we're trying to do is restore and fix some of those things.
"We had shut down the Everglades by 40 percent. We shut that natural sheet flow of water, which is our filter for potable water, down by 40 percent," he added.
Corps and partners break ground on second Picayune project More than 130 people gathered on a beautiful morning to celebrate the start of the second major federal construction contract for the Picayune Strand Restoration Project. The groundbreaking took place at the project site in Collier County. On Friday, Feb. 18, work started on the $79 million Faka Union Canal Pump Station, the second of three construction contracts for this Everglades restoration project.
Ken Salazar, secretary of the Department of the Interior, gave the keynote address. "Our partnership with the state of Florida, the Army Corps and many stakeholders to restore the 55,000-acre Picayune Strand is vital to this fragile ecosystem, and the work at Picayune Strand has significant benefits for the economy and quality of life in Florida," Salazar said. "From bridging the Tamiami Trail to the Site-1 Impoundment project, our investments in Everglades restoration are investments in Florida's future in ensuring clean water for its citizens and for the environment. We are putting people back to work and restoring the River of Grass."
Other speakers included Terrence "Rock" Salt, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for civil works; and Eric Buermann, chair of the South Florida Water Management District. The Army Junior ROTC unit from Palmetto Ridge High School in Collier County presented the colors and Jaclyn Raulerson, Miss Florida 2010, sang the National Anthem.
When complete, the Picayune Strand Restoration Project will restore natural water flows over an 85-square-mile area. The project will improve the area's hydrology, allow for the return of more balanced plant communities, increase aquifer recharge, and send fresh water in a more natural manner to the coastal estuaries. The project also restores important Florida panther habitat.
Water quality debate pits businesses vs. environmentalists Dennis P. "Duke" Vasey and Jennifer Hecker politely went head to head over new Environmental Protection Agency regulations that have residents confused and divided at Tuesday night's water quality forum sponsored by the Greater Naples Better Government Committee, the League of Women Voters, the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce and the Naples Daily News.
The debate between environmentalists and the business community over water quality references the EPA's limits on nutrients in Florida's rivers and lakes. The nutrients are made up of dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus. Some of the nutrients occur in nature while others seep into Florida's waters from fertilizer and construction runoff.
Vasey, who is the chairman of the Collier Soil and Water Conservation District said the EPA standards do not take into account the many differences between bodies of water and that the EPA failed to evaluate costs versus benefits. He also argued that a one size fits all solution will not work for Florida waters.
"I am not against good water quality, but I am opposed to the method introduced by the EPA and many of the issues the EPA says qualifies a body of water as impaired occur naturally in nature," he said. "The EPA nutrient standards misclassify that many bodies of water are impaired and in some instances they are throwing money at a non-problem."
Hecker, director of Natural Resources for the Conservancy of South Florida said the EPA standards are science-based, that scientists used more than 80,000 samples in setting the guidelines and that the results were peer reviewed. She also said that there is a variety in the bodies of water sampled.
"These are only guidelines for screening and Florida is not being singled out because thirteen other states have nutrient limits for lakes, and nine others have limits for rivers," she said. "And regarding cost, the EPA estimates the annual increase could be as little as $40 or as much as $70 per household per year."
Army Corps proposes less expensive fix for overdue Lake Okeechobee dike repairs Cost concerns about the $10 million-a-mile approach to repairing Lake Okeechobee's ailing dike has the Army Corps of Engineers exploring less expensive alternatives to try to avoid more delays for the lingering flood-control fix.
Construction problems and funding issues through the years delayed efforts to fix the more-than-70-year-old, 143-mile-long dike. That raised safety concerns for lakeside communities and limited the amount of water that could be stored in the lake that provides South Florida's backup water supply.
Army Corps officials say they are back on track with a repair plan that includes wall construction that started in 2007. Yet the growing cost calls for considering a less expensive solution.
Still, the Army Corps potentially shifting to a new approach, that doesn't have a cost estimate per mile, raises concerns for those "losing faith in the [Army] Corps to get things done," Palm Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson said.
Aaronson has called for more federal funding to try to speed up work on the dike.
"I am very much disappointed in the [Army] Corps," Aaronson said. "Why didn't they have that [alternative] method a couple years ago? … We have got to get this done."
Army Corps officials say they can press on with construction work while exploring an alternative repair plan that could save taxpayers money and also potentially avoid building on as much land in lakeside communities.
Feds issue Cease and Desist Order to shut down beach renourishment project Amid reports of massive silt plumes and coral reef burial the US Corp of Army Engineers, on Friday (April 1, 2011), issued an order to the Town of Hillsboro Beach to immediately cease beach renourishment activities.
Environmental groups have been gathering evidence since the project began in mid-March of daily permit violations that have resulted in silt plumes travelling for miles beyond compliance requirements. Cleanup and mitigation costs for project environmental impacts could exceed many millions of dollars.
A copy of the order can be viewed at: http://www.scribd.com/doc/52174475/C-D-ICA-NON
Global Warming and Climate Change
New 350.org: Climate Change Friends, for too long, the fossil fuel industry has had its way on the climate issue--its money has overwhelmed the scientific facts, delaying action on the largest challenge humanity now faces. Right now, the Clean Air Act is being threatened, the EPA is under attack, and big polluters are mounting an all-out onslaught that threatens to destroy our lands and scorch our planet. In short, we are losing ground. In the face of these challenges, one thing is clear: if we want to win, we will have to come together like we never have before. That's why we at 350.org and 1Sky have important news to share: starting today, our organizations are officially merging. We'll be called 350.org, and together we'll be smarter, bolder, faster, and more creative than we were before.
Find out more about the NEW 350.org: www.350.org/new
Over the last three years, 350.org and 1Sky have frequently teamed up for U.S. campaigning. Many of you have been with us every step of the way. Together, we've coordinated over 5,000 climate demonstrations in all 50 states. We've helped protect the Clean Air Act and won a campaign to get solar panels back on the White House.
We've launched creative projects to get science at the center of the climate debate, trained thousands of new leaders, and built a network of strong local groups. Despite all of this work, we haven't been winning enough.
The truth is that we don't yet have the climate and energy policies our country and the world need. To get them, we'll need to do much, much more to loosen the stranglehold that corporations have over Congress. We'll need to be as strong as possible to take on the fossil fuel companies--and we can be stronger together. That's why we're merging organizations to create a NEW 350.org.The merged organization will be running an ongoing series of cutting-edge campaigns--online and offline--that can help usher in a new era of climate action:
We will directly confront the barriers to climate progress--from Big Coal to the US Chamber of Commerce, from the cabal of corrupt politicians attacking the Clean Air Act to an administration too timid to defend it. We will empower and mobilize a grassroots army--individuals, businesses, organizations, and front-line community leaders pushing for climate solutions in the United States.
We will continue our work globally to build a diverse climate movement all around the world that unites for strategic mobilizations on a scale previously unimagined.
Degraded coastal wetlands contribute to climate change Drainage and degradation of coastal wetlands emit significant amounts of carbon dioxide directly to the atmosphere and lead to decreased carbon sequestration, a new World Bank report has found.
The report, written in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and wetland specialists ESA PWA, calls for coastal wetlands to be protected and incentives for avoiding their degradation and improving their restoration to be included into carbon emission reduction strategies and in climate negotiations.
"For the first time we are getting a sense that greenhouse gas losses from drained and degraded coastal wetlands may be globally significant and that drained organic-rich soils continuously release carbon for decades," says Stephen Crooks, Climate Change Services Director at ESA PWA - the consulting firm which looked at 15 coastal deltas worldwide for the report. "Emissions will increase with ongoing wetland losses."
The report highlights the current rates of degradation and loss of coastal wetlands which are up to four times those of tropical forests. Destruction of about 20% of the world's mangroves, an area of 35,000 square kilometers in the last 25 years or four times the New York City metropolitan area, has led to the release of centuries of accumulated carbon. This has also disturbed natural protection against storm surges and other weather events.
Offshore and Ocean
Despite CCA opposition, advisory panel takes step toward catch shares Following its meeting March 28-29 in Tampa, Florida, the Limited Access Privilege Program (LAPP) Advisory Panel to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is presenting a suite of options at the Gulf Council meeting next week to aid the struggling charter/for-hire industry and seem to lead inevitably to catch shares and sector separation in the recreational sector.
Discussions at the two-day AP meeting included a "days-at-sea" program for the charter for hire fleet and the allocation of an Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program for the 63-boat headboat fleet in the red snapper fishery. Each proposal would presumably reserve part of the recreational allocation for such boats and allow them to fish it throughout the year. The LAPP AP was originally tasked with looking at IFQ/catch share programs for the "other species in the reef fish management unit" across sectors, but was subsequently tasked with looking into pilot programs to give the for-hire fleet flexibility in red snapper fishing days in an effort to help the depressed economic status of the fleet.
"Development of these proposals was a fast, unexpected turn of events," said Bill Bird, a CCA board member and panel participant. "It seemed to me that everyone in that room, including Council staff, knew where they wanted this to go before the meeting even started, despite CCA's objections. Most of the details remain undefined, but it is difficult to understand how either program would work unless those boats get a specific allocation of the recreational quota. You can call it anything you want, but it looks and sounds like the first steps to sector separation and catch shares."
From the start, CCA was concerned at the prospect of the AP turning to catch shares as a tool and it is clear that those concerns were well-founded.
"The assignment of the catch share approach to a pilot headboat program was out of left field and spun out of control at the meeting very quickly, even though no headboat operators are represented on the LAPP AP," said Troy Williamson, CCA board member and panel participant. "It was a runaway train and CCA will certainly make the case at the Council to stop it in its tracks."
CCA is opposed to both recreational catch shares and to splitting the recreational sector between private boat anglers and the charter/for-hire fleet. "Sector separation," as it is known, and catch shares are both unpopular concepts with the vast majority of the recreational angling community.
Harvest of gag grouper banned With the exception of 61 days in the fall, the recreational harvest of gag grouper will be prohibited in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico from June 1 through the end of 2011.
Under the closure rule, approved Wednesday by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, gag will be legal to keep from Sept. 16 to Nov. 15.
Federal waters in the Gulf are currently closed to gag fishing, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration might keep them closed, except for the Sept. 16 through Nov. 15 season, for the rest of the year.
Energy
Renewable resources delivered 11% of U.S. energy production in 2010 In 2010, all forms of renewable energy provided 8.2 quadrillion BTUs of primary energy production in the United States, a little less than 11% of our total production of 74.9 quads.
At the same time, nuclear power provided 8.4 quads, a little more than 11% of the total. This is data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Monthly Energy Review for March 2011. Given that renewable power continues to grow at a healthy clip, while nuclear power has stagnated in recent years, renewables may well deliver more total primary production than nuclear sometime this year.
Here's some more detail on how energy production breaks down within the renewable resource category (via Cleantechnica): biomass/biofuels — 51.98% hydropower — 30.66% wind — 11.29% geothermal — 4.68% solar — 1.38% The EIA reported these changes in energy production from 2009 to 2010: wind energy increased by 28% biomass/biofuels increased by 10% solar and geothermal increased by 4% each hydropower dropped by 6% Since 2007, nuclear power has been flat while renewable resources have delivered 22% more primary energy.
So, again, it's entirely possible if not likely that renewables will deliver more primary production than nuclear sometime this year — and once they do pass nukes, renewables will stay almost certainly stay ahead throughout this century, given that their costs are declining, unlike nuclear.
Hundreds of thousands say no to drilling in America's Arctic Ocean. One of the harsh lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon disaster is that large oil spills can and do happen and we must be prepared before moving forward with risky offshore oil and gas development. To that end, more than 250,000 people from across the country, including many dedicated Audubon advocates, called for no new lease sales in the Arctic's Chukchi and Beaufort seas in the nation's 2012-2017 offshore drilling plan comment period. Drilling in the Arctic Ocean is especially risky due to its ice-choked waters and notoriously stormy weather. Currently there is no demonstrated ability to clean up spills in the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean and the nearest Coast Guard station is 1,000 miles away. With this lack of technology and clean-up support, there should be no new Arctic Ocean leasing in the 2012-2017 plan.
U.S. Slips in Clean Energy Race - FL Implications Germany has pushed the U.S. down a notch, according to rankings listed in a new report that tracks investments in the clean-energy sector. The U.S. is now third, Germany second and China is number one, according to a study released by Pew Charitable Trusts. The research finds a link between investments and robust clean energy policies.
Kathy Baughman McLeod, who is serving her second term on the Florida State Energy Commission, says Florida is a perfect example of the problem.
"It's not surprising to see us fall to third, and Florida is not where we could be. We have the interest, the private-sector motivation and the technology we need. We do not have the political courage to push to the next level."
She says Florida's lack of political courage is underlined by the legislature's recent action to abolish the whole state energy commission, effective July 1.
Long blackouts pose risk to U.S. nuclear reactors Long before the nuclear emergency in Japan, U.S. regulators knew that a power failure lasting for days at an American nuclear plant, whatever the cause, could lead to a radioactive leak. Even so, they have only required the nation's 104 nuclear reactors to develop plans for dealing with much shorter blackouts on the assumption that power would be restored quickly.
In one nightmare simulation presented by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2009, it would take less than a day for radiation to escape from a reactor at a Pennsylvania nuclear power plant after an earthquake, flood or fire knocked out all electrical power and there was no way to keep the reactors cool after backup battery power ran out. That plant, the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station outside Lancaster, has reactors of the same older make and model as those releasing radiation at Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, which is using other means to try to cool the reactors.
And like Fukushima Dai-ichi, the Peach Bottom plant has enough battery power on site to power emergency cooling systems for eight hours. In Japan, that wasn't enough time for power to be restored. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Energy Institute trade association, three of the six reactors at the plant still can't get power to operate the emergency cooling systems. Two were shut down at the time. In the sixth, the fuel was removed completely and put in the spent fuel pool when it was shut down for maintenance at the time of the disaster. A week after the March 11 earthquake, diesel generators started supplying power to two other two reactors, Units 5 and 6, the groups said.
The risk of a blackout leading to core damage, while extremely remote, exists at all U.S. nuclear power plants, and some are more susceptible than others, according to an Associated Press investigation. While regulators say they have confidence that measures adopted in the U.S. will prevent or significantly delay a core from melting and threatening a radioactive release, the events in Japan raise questions about whether U.S. power plants are as prepared as they could and should be.
"We didn't address a tsunami and an earthquake, but clearly we have known for some time that one of the weak links that makes accidents a little more likely is losing power," said Alan Kolaczkowski, a retired nuclear engineer who worked on a federal risk analysis of Peach Bottom released in 1990 and is familiar with the updated risk analysis.
Land Conservation
Action Alert - Phosphate Comments Needed The Army Corp of Engineers is currently accepting comments until April 25, 2011 concerning the scoping process for the Area Wide Environmental Impact Statement for Phosphate Mining in the Central Florida Phosphate District
This Areawide EIS (AEIS) is one of the most significant reviews that the Army Corps of Engineers can perform for the protection of Florida's water supply, air quality and the general well being and health of Florida's citizens. Because of the potential adverse impacts associated with phosphate mining and processing, it is important to have an adequate review of the industry before additional mining is permitted.
ManaSota-88 strongly encourages interested citizens to submit comments to the Army Corps of Engineers on or before April 25th. Comments can be made through the Corps website at:
http://www.phosphateaeis.org/index.html
Court Overturns Injunction against Mosaic Florida Mine The Mosaic Company (NYSE: MOS) announced that the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has vacated a preliminary injunction previously granted by the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida regarding Mosaic's South Fort Meade mine.
The preliminary injunction had prevented reliance on a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' permit for the mining of wetlands in an extension of Mosaic's South Fort Meade, Florida, phosphate rock mine in Hardee County. The Eleventh Circuit also set aside the District Court's remand of the permit to the Corps of Engineers.
In vacating the preliminary injunction, the Court remanded the case to the District Court for a decision on the merits to determine, after a review of the full administrative record, whether the Corps came to a rational permit decision to be analyzed through the deferential lens mandated by the Administrative Procedure Act.
The Court of Appeals also directed the District Court to stay the effectiveness of the permit for 90 days to permit the District Court to make a decision on the merits based on this deferential standard.
"We appreciate this timely ruling and are pleased with the outcome and directions provided by the Eleventh Circuit," said Richard Mack, Mosaic's Executive Vice President and General Counsel.
"We look forward to presenting our case to the District Court as mandated by the Court of Appeals. The Hardee County Extension permit was an exhaustive, multi-year effort that resulted in the most extensively reviewed and environmentally protective phosphate mining permit in Florida's history.
"We expect that our ongoing operations at South Fort Meade, together with other mitigation efforts, will be sufficient to support our finished phosphate production for the 90-day period set forth by the Court of Appeals."
A New Vision for National Wildlife Refuges America's National Wildlife Refuges are the only network of national public lands dedicated to conserving fish and wildlife and their habitat. Refuges also offer incredible opportunities to hunt, fish, watch wildlife, or simply take a walk in the woods. However, the system stands at a crossroads as new challenges – including climate change, invasive species, and the growing disconnect between our children and the natural world – demand new approaches to conserving and managing habitat and engaging the American people.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently launched an effort to develop a new vision to guide refuge management for the next decade and beyond, and the agency encourages citizens to share their views about the future of the refuge system. More information about the draft vision is available on the Conserving the future website set up for this vision process.
Miscellaneous
Who goes: Director or boyfriend? To the average taxpayer, it makes no sense that the man hired to check on how the South Florida Water Management District spends taxpayer money happens to have a "close personal relationship" with the director of the South Florida Water Management District.
At the district, though, it makes perfect sense to most people. As Joel Engelhardt of The Post reported Sunday, Carol Wehle – she's the director – said of Bob Howard – he's the boyfriend – that he doesn't report to her, so there's no problem. Well, yes, Mr. Howard technically does report to the district's inspector general. But his job is to monitor how Ms. Wehle is doing her job. Who's going to rat out Ms. Wehle to her significant other?
Astonishingly, some district board members – who weren't old about the relationship when Mr. Howard was hired last June – defend the move because, supposedly, Mr. Howard is a good guy. Two of Ms. Wehle's top assistants helped get Mr. Howard the job, and they think it's swell. As if they were going to tell Ms. Wehle that it wasn't?
And there's the problem. Any audit Mr. Howard does will have no credibility. Also, the scheming and the failure to disclose are in insult to taxpayers in the 16 counties that make up the district.
Public Speaking Competition for High School Students Broward County is sponsoring a public speaking competition for high school students on Friday June 3, 2011!
The theme for this year's contest is how to balance environmental protection and economic growth! The question that is being posed to the students is "You have been appointed Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. What policies, strategies or programs would you recommend to Florida's Governor to help protect our natural resources while fostering economic growth?" Please keep in mind the State's current economic conditions. Be sure to include as part of your speech issues such as: climate change mitigation and adaptation, air quality, use of renewable energy and fuels, water conservation, Florida native plants (NatureScape), groundwater protection, drinking water quality and quantity, recycling, land preservation, and parks and recreational areas.
Who's eligible?
All Broward County students (public, private, or home schooled). Students must register by emailing airoutreach@broward.org by April 29, 2011. The competition will be held at the KC Wright School Board Building located at 600 SE 3rd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale 33301 in the first floor Conference Room at 10:00 am.
Prizes
First Place– A new 8GB iTouch with the air quality index application, Climate Change Book, and National Geographic's Human Footprint DVD.
Second Place– A new Phillips Vibe 4GB MP3 Video Player provided by Broward County Waste and Recycling Services, Climate Change Book, and National Geographic's Human Footprint DVD
Third Place– A gift card to Bass and Pro Shops Outdoor World, a Climate Change Book, and National Geographic's Human Footprint DVD.
Official Rules
• Speeches must be 4 to 6 minutes long. Speeches over or under limit will be penalized.
• Speeches must be relevant to the theme.
• In order to insure impartiality in judging, personal information such as name, school, etc. shall not be stated during the speech. Infraction will be taken during scoring for violation of this rule.
• No visual aids are allowed. Note cards should only be used as a back up.
Judging Criteria
• Submit a completed registration form (found on the web site below) along with a speech summary and/or one-minute video summarizing the speech, to airoutreach@broward.org by April 29, 2011. The top 20 entries will be selected for the final competition on June 3, 2011.
• The Broward County Pollution Prevention, Remediation and Air Quality Division has created a standard scoring sheet to be used for the competition. Speeches will be judged on content and speaking skills as described on the score sheet. A copy of the score sheet criteria is available upon request.
To Register please email airoutreach@broward.org or call 954-519-1260
For more information please visit www.broward.org/pollutionprevention/airquality and click on Public Speaking Competition
Welcome to Nature in My Pocket! This site is an outgrowth of the weekly newsletters I have been sending for the past two years. My motivation in producing the newsletters is to share my sense of excitement I find in nature. http://www.natureinmypocket.com/index.html
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