Links to visit
Click here to read the WWF newsletter
Click here to read the NWF newsletter
Click here to read Audubon's Restore
Click here to read the Eco-Voice Digest
Click here
to read about wildlife around the world
Click here to read about ABC's Bird of the week
Click here to see the world's 8 largest mammals
Click here to sign a petition to save our migratory birds
Click here to read the USFWS news blog
Click here to see Birdwatching Magazines close-up bird photos
Click here to read the National Bird Feeding Society's newsletter
"It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn against the Earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know of wonder and humility." Rachel Carson
Announcements
Thirteenth Annual Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival September 21 - 25, 2011
The Thirteenth Annual Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival, located in the subtropical Florida Keys, is scheduled for September 21 through 25, 2011 and will be anchored at Curry Hammock State Park, MM 56.2, Marathon, FL. Additional information is available by calling Jim Bell at the National Key Deer Refuge Visitor Center at 305-872-0774.
Registration: A downloadable form can be found here. Checks, money orders or cash are acceptable for payment.
Checking In: To facilitate your participation with the 13th Annual Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival, we have two optional check in sites - the Curry Hammock State Park (305-289-2690) at mile marker 56 on US 1, open from 8 am - 5 pm. Also, the National Key Deer Refuge Visitor Center (305-872-0774) on Big Pine Key, open Monday - Friday 9 am - 4:30 pm.. Directions to the Center are: at the traffic light on US 1, mile marker 30.3, turn onto Key Deer Blvd (Gulf side), travel 1/4 mile and turn right into the Big Pine Key Plaza. The Center is located in the first corner of the shopping plaza. Festival registrants may obtain informationat these two sites.
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Audubon Hails Supreme Court Decision to Overturn Governor Scott's State Rulemaking Freeze The Florida Supreme Court has agreed with Audubon's position and overturned Governor Scott's executive order that suspended all state rulemaking. One of Scott's first acts as Governor was to halt all new rulemaking in the name of reducing government regulation. This affected much needed rules ranging from disability benefits to water quality protections.
As a result of the Court's ruling, work can now resume on vital protections for the water resources of Biscayne Bay, the Caloosahatchee Estuary and the Kissimmee River.
Audubon of Florida Executive Director Eric Draper said,
"The Court's ruling puts the public back in the rule making process. Audubon joined the suit to defend a rule needed for Everglades restoration. The Governor cannot substitute his personal views for the rule of law, especially when the public's interest in clean water is at stake. No one person should determine the fate of our resources, not even the Governor."
For more information, please read the St. Petersburg Times article about this issue.
To read Audubon's amicus brief, please visit: http://bit.ly/ke4wAZ
To read the Court's opinion in full, please visit: http://bit.ly/ntlCvL
Renewable Energy Siting Update Message from Mike Daulton, VP of Government Relations
I would like to provide an update on Audubon's work to improve the siting of renewable energy for the benefit of birds and their habitats, and to continue to offer the support of the national policy office to Chapters who are dealing with siting issues at the local level.
First: Some good news. Audubon has been instrumental in providing a step forward for bird-friendly power grid development. You can learn more from our recent Good News Edition of the Audubon Advisory:
You also can find new resources to plug-in to our work improving the siting of transmission infrastructure across the U.S.: http://bit.ly/qsGx1P
And, here is an overview of our involvement across the organization:
Audubon's national policy office, with support from Chapter leaders, continues to play a lead role in moving the federal wind guidelines process toward a successful conclusion. We are working to influence the national debate over the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and its applicability to wind development, to support efforts to strengthen and expand protections for the Greater Sage-grouse in the West, and to support Chapter-led efforts to improve siting on the local level, such as our support for Texas Chapters and their efforts to address the proposed Baryonyx development along the Texas Gulf Coast. We also are closely tracking the multi-state, multi-species Habitat Conservation Plan for the 200-mile-wide migratory corridor of the endangered Whooping Crane.
If you have questions, comments, or input regarding any of Audubon's involvement in renewable energy siting issues, or would like to coordinate with us or get further involved, please feel free to contact me at mdaulton@audubon.org or Connie Mahan, Director of Grassroots, at cmahan@audubon.org.
Mike Daulton
Vice President of Government Relations
Audubon
DEP SECRETARY APPOINTS GREGORY M. MUNSON AS DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR WATER POLICY AND ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. today announced the appointments of Gregory M. Munson as Deputy Secretary for Water Policy and Ecosystem Restoration and Dr. Ann B. Shortelle as Water Policy Director. Deputy Secretary Munson and Dr. Shortelle will coordinate state water policy development and implementation, specifically as it relates to the Water Management Districts. Deputy Secretary Munson will start at DEP on August 22 and Dr. Shortelle will start at DEP on August 30.
"One of my top priorities is getting Florida's water right, and DEP is committed to helping Florida's Water Management Districts focus on their core mission responsibilities," said Secretary Vinyard. "This means that DEP will take a more active role in Water Management District water supply program development, protection of water resources and regulatory policies."
On April 12, 2011, Governor Rick Scott directed DEP to exercise statutory obligation to supervise activities of the state's five Water Management Districts, including their water supply and regulatory activities, to ensure statewide consistency is achieved. Further, DEP is directed to ensure that the core responsibilities of the Districts are consistent with Chapter 373, FS for managing the state's water resources.
"It is my intention to collaborate with the Water Management Districts on these types of discussions and decisions as they are being made," said Deputy Secretary Munson. "I fully anticipate sitting down with each district and discussing priorities and budget options, so that there is a common understanding of what the focus is going forward."
The Deputy Secretary for Water Policy and Ecosystem Restoration is a new title within DEP. Previously; DEP had a Deputy Secretary for Policy and Planning. Those duties have been divided up between the Deputy Secretary for Water Policy and Ecosystem Restoration and the Chief of Staff. The modification of this position confirms Governor Scott's desire to focus on water and ecosystem priorities. In addition to working with the Water Management Districts, the Deputy Secretary for Water Policy and Ecosystem Restoration will also oversee the DEP's Office of Ecosystem Projects, which coordinates and assists with the policy development and implementation of a variety of restoration projects, including Everglades restoration.
"I look forward to working with the Water Management Districts to develop clear and consistent policies to effectively manage our water resources across district lines," said Dr. Shortelle. "By opening a regular, two-way dialogue with the Water Management Districts, I know we can work together to address flood protection, water supply and quality, and resource protection in a fiscally responsible manner."
The Water Policy Director is a new position that will work directly with Secretary Vinyard and Deputy Secretary Munson on overseeing Water Management District activities, including water supply, water quality, management and resource regulation, guiding rulemaking activities and evaluating land acquisition programs. The Water Policy Director will also promote statewide water management consistency taking into account the differing, regional characteristics of Florida's water resources.
Read about Gregory Munson and Dr. Ann Shortelle
Of interest to all
Florida black bear…a conservation success story This is my first column as Chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). I am honored and, frankly, humbled by the support of my fellow commissioners, our stakeholders and the Floridians this Commission works with every day. I thought it appropriate to start my conversation with you by sharing our success story of the FWC's threatened species rule for Florida black bears.
In the early 1970s, Florida black bears dropped to their lowest numbers on record; estimates were as few as 300 bears statewide. Our predecessor agency, the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, stepped in and selected the Florida black bear as one of the first listed threatened species in 1974, adding more protection to bears and their habitat.
But adding bears to a list alone does not recover a species. The FWC and its partners identify important wildlife habitats and work with private landowners to keep those lands in conservation, whether through easements and agreements through our Landowner Assistance Program, or purchases through programs like Florida Forever. Statewide educational efforts teach thousands of people each year about bears and how to avoid conflicts. Formal education programs like The Florida Black Bear Curriculum Guide bring bear issues directly into the schools and informal efforts occur through FWC staff time spent engaging the public at festivals and community events. The FWC passed a rule that made feeding bears illegal, allowing us to focus on the core cause of human-bear conflicts. All of those efforts have allowed us to bring the bear back to about 3,000 animals today.
In fall 2010, the FWC led a team of experts to review all the data available on Florida black bears to see if bears met the criteria to be considered at high risk of extinction. The team found that the bear no longer met those criteria, and five additional external species experts reviewed the report and agreed with the team's recommendation to remove it from the threatened species list.
This June, I was proud to preside for the first time as Chairman of the Commission when FWC staff presented their recommendations on the bear and 60 other threatened species. As my colleague and former Chairman Rodney Barreto said, it was "a time to celebrate our success." We have more bears in Florida now than we have had in the past seven decades, and the bear is well on its way to being removed from the threatened species list.
Our work to manage Florida's black bear is a continuing process. A team of FWC staff has been working diligently with stakeholder groups to create a management plan for bears. We will be seeking public feedback on the plan this fall, and a revised plan is expected to be brought to the February 2012 Commission meeting. I look forward to reviewing the plan.
The bear's success is an example of what our threatened species rule is designed to do: identify species that need our attention, act to conserve the species, and bring them back so that they will never be at risk of extinction again.
The FWC is known for seeking input from all points of view, and I hope my series of monthly columns provides the spark to begin or continue conversations concerning events and issues facing Florida conservationists.
Kathy Barco, Chairman
Hillsborough River State Park More than 3,300 acres of beautiful uplands, multiple biking and hiking trails; a full-facility, primitive and youth campgrounds; ample canoeing and kayaking opportunities and a newly renovated half-acre swimming pool. That, and much, much, more is what await visitors who wish to spend some quality time outdoors in central Florida.
Hillsborough River State Park offers guests a bit of old-time Florida, from the natural wooded communities to the old buildings and pavilions built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the mid-1930s. The Hillsborough River Bridge, also built by the CCC, is a prominent feature of the park, spanning across the river. Freshwater anglers can test their skills in the river, which is plentiful with bass, bream and catfish.
A replica of Fort Foster – an 1837 fort from the Second Seminole War – is located within the park and ranger-led tours are offered every Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m.
Cypress swamps, pine flatwoods and hardwood hammocks comprise the forested woodlands that provide habitat for a variety of wildlife common to the area, including bobcats, deer, gopher tortoises, woodpeckers and owls.
Hikers have four trail options which include a small portion of the 1,400-mile Florida National Scenic Trail. The national trail begins in the Florida panhandle, extends east, then turns south winding through central Florida and ending at Big Cypress National Preserve.
Last year, the park was recognized by ReserveAmerica as number one of America's "Top 25 Canoeing Spots," number one of America's Top 25 "Water Recreation Parks" and number 15 of America's "Top 100 Family Campgrounds." So if you like to canoe, kayak, camp, swim, fish, hike or bike, Hillsborough River State Park has it all.
Learn more about Hillsborough River State Park, Florida's other 159 state parks and the Florida Trail system, and enjoy the many outdoor activities that Florida has to offer.
Florida-friendly plant database Identify the Florida-friendly plants, including Florida native plants that will work in your yard or landscape design. The database contains nearly 380 trees, palms, shrubs, flowers, groundcovers, grasses and vines that are recommended by University of Florida/IFAS horticulture experts. The plants included in the database are available at nurseries throughout Florida.
http://www.floridayards.org/fyplants/index.php
You can let President Obama Know that you are for clean rivers Read more
Corkscrew mine; Lee hearing examiner denies Corkscrew Road mine, cites road congestion
Some 50 opponents testified against a rezoning for a rock mine in southeastern Lee County, but it's come down to one person's opinion.
Lee County Hearing Examiner Richard Gescheidt, who heard the mining case over nine days in late 2010 and early 2011, issued his recommendation earlier this month: Denial.
County commissioners have the final say, and they tentatively are set to take up the recommendation in September.
Troyer Bros. Florida has petitioned to rezone more than 1,800 acres of agricultural land along Corkscrew Road to allow mining, blasting and rock-crushing operations.
The mine is one of a half-dozen proposed in the Corkscrew watershed along the Lee-Collier county line and attracting controversy.
The Troyer Bros. mine is proposed for part of Lee County where a pending growth plan change would forbid mining. Those rules are on hold, though, while a legal challenge by landowners and a mining company plays out.
Opponents say the mine will cause traffic problems, and will harm wetlands and wildlife in an environmentally sensitive part of Lee County.
Supporters — four of them testified at the hearing — say the mine is needed to shore up local supplies of aggregate rock needed for construction and road building.
The hearing examiner's recommendation, if upheld, would raise the cost of construction when existing mines run out of rock, a building industry leader said.
"The decision is really an unfortunate one," said Michael Reitmann, executive vice president of the Lee Building Industry Association.
Gescheidt's recommendation of denial is based solely on traffic effects on State Road 82, disappointing mining opponents.
"It's more like an approval than anything else," said Kevin Hill, who lives on 10 acres next to the proposed mine.
The recommendation says S.R. 82, a two-lane road, is "significantly more dangerous" because of the mine.
If commissioners want to approve the mine, the hearing examiner recommends that Troyer Bros. be required to pay to widen S.R. 82 to a four-lane divided highway from Daniels Parkway to the Collier County line and be prohibited from mining in the southern part of the property along Corkscrew Road to lessen effects on neighbors.
A spokeswoman for Troyer Bros. said the company disagrees with Gescheidt's traffic analysis and will be able to overcome the recommendation of denial.
"We're looking forward to the opportunity to clarify that moving forward," spokeswoman Tina Matte said.
The hearing examiner's recommendation unjustly ignores sound environmental arguments against the mine, from water quality effects to ruining habitat for endangered Florida panthers, an environmental advocate said.
A Florida panther denned on the Troyer Bros. farm this year and still is roaming the area with her kittens, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
"It would be nice if there were a whole laundry list of reasons why the denial was warranted," Conservancy of Southwest Florida government relations manager Nicole Johnson said. "We still believe the other issues are valid."
Birds
New research: Archaeopteryx was not a bird "Hardly any recent discovery shows more forcibly than this how little we as yet know of the former inhabitants of the world."
Charles Darwin wrote these words a few years after the discovery of Archaeopteryx, the so-called "first bird." He might say the same thing today because, in a groundbreaking discovery, paleontologists from China report that the world's most famous feathered fossil species was most likely not a bird.
That's right. Despite what science textbooks and scores of natural-history-museum exhibits say, Archaeopteryx was not a bird.
In a paper published today in Nature, four authors led by Xing Xu, a renowned expert on the origins of birds whom USA Today called "the world's most prolific dinosaur hunter," describe a new species of feathered bird-like dinosaur from northeastern China that dates to about 155 million years ago — approximately five million years older than Archaeopteryx.
Named Xiaotingia zhengi, the dinosaur was about the size of a chicken and weighed approximately 1.8 pounds (820 grams), slightly less than a Swainson's Hawk.
After obtaining the fossil from a dealer, Xu analyzed Xiaotingia to establish its place in the dinosaur family tree. The effort led him to the conclusion that Xiaotingia, four-winged Anchiornis, and Archaeopteryx belong in the Deinonychosauria, a diverse group of bird-like dinosaurs. A separate group known as the Avialae — the one in which Archaeopteryx had been placed until now — makes up the predecessors of modern birds.
It contains species such as Epidexipteryx, Jeholornis, and Sapeornis, all of which were named in the past decade.
"In other words," says anatomist and paleontologist Lawrence Witmer in an accompanying news article, "Archaeopteryx was no longer a bird."
One of the differences Xu describes is the shape of the skull. The eye socket of deinonychosaurs is noticeably larger than that of avialans. And the deinonychosaurs' snout is shallow while in avialans, it's deep and short. Consequently, deinonychosaurs are believed to have been carnivores while avialans were most likely plant-eaters.
The finding, Witmer says, is bound to generate controversy among scientists.
"It may mean that much of what we thought we knew about the origin and early evolution of birds will need to be re-evaluated," he writes.
Witmer calls the ancestors of birds and the animals that simply looked like ancestors of birds as "this fuzzy tangled knot" and suggests:
"Perhaps the time has come to finally accept that Archaeopteryx was just another small, feathered, bird-like theropod fluttering around in the Jurassic." —Matt Mendenhall, Associate Editor, Birdwatching Magazine
Invasive species
Great Lakes, Mississippi split sought Attorneys general in the Great Lakes region want a multi-state campaign to cut an artificial link between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds that provides a pathway for invasive species.
In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, the attorneys general invite their counterparts in 27 other states to pressure the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for quicker action.
The Corps is studying whether to separate the drainage basins in the Chicago area, where they were joined more than a century ago by construction of a canal. Zebra and quagga mussels have used the waterway to invade states farther south, and the Asian carp is threatening to migrate into the Great Lakes.
The Corps report is due in 2015. The letter demands a faster timetable.
Bug-vomit spread bacteria killing Sabal, date palm trees in An insect with a disgusting habit is killing palm trees in the Tampa Bay area and experts are worried the disease transmitted by the bugs will affect trees around the state.
The first Florida sighting of Texas Phoenix Palm Decline was in 2005 in Manatee County. Since then, it's been detected in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Polk counties, although experts say Manatee County is still the hardest-hit area.
According to University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the disease is spread by a planthopper insect but the exact kind of bug isn't yet known. The insects pierce the palm leaves, then vomit — and the vomit spreads the bacterium that causes the disease.
The small bacteria, called phytoplasma, affect the bottom palm leaves first. Those leaves turn yellow and eventually die, then the bacteria affects the young spear leaf and eventually the entire tree is killed.
"It's pretty scary," said Brian Dick, assistant superintendent for parks in the city of Lakeland. "We've invested quite heavily in our palm trees over the past 25 years. To have a disease come out of nowhere and kill our palm trees, it's pretty disappointing."
Dick estimates that 20 to 30 percent of the city's 700 Phoenix palms — a type of tree that includes the expensive and showy Sylvester palm — are infected with the disease. An unknown number of Sabal palms within the city are also infected, he said.
Monica L. Elliott, a professor of plant pathology at the University of Florida's Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, said it's troubling that the state tree — the native Sabal palm — is also affected by the disease.
While landscapers and cities can manage the condition with antibiotic injections, that's only likely to happen with expensive trees. It's less feasible to do so in wild sabal palms, she said.
If the condition spreads throughout the state, Elliot said it could change the entire Florida landscape.
"We would be losing a large population of a native palm that is found throughout the entire state. We wouldn't see it in the natural areas," she said.
Elliott and other UF researchers are trying to determine which planthopper insect is responsible for the Texas Phoenix Palm Decline. The insect and disease was first detected 30 years ago in Texas.
Texas Phoenix Palm Decline is similar to lethal yellowing, a disease which largely affects coconut palms in South Florida.
Palm decline has been spotted as far east as Lakeland and as far south as Sarasota. A few trees planted by landscapers in north Florida have also been found to be infected. But the disease is less likely to sweep into northern Florida; the insect and the bacteria can't survive in cold weather.
Jane Morse, a commercial horticulture extension agent for Pinellas County, said the disease spreads rapidly and must be treated quickly with antibiotics.
"You don't want to leave any infected trees around. They act as a source of infection," she said.
Morse and other tree experts added that tree owners shouldn't over-prune their palms because then the disease becomes harder to detect.
Florida Panthers
Guest commentary ... Care, feeding and sheltering needs of an apex predator The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi), once distributed throughout the southeastern US, remains one of the world's most endangered mammals. With fewer than 200 individuals remaining in the wild, this federally endangered subspecies is currently restricted to one population located in Southwest Florida, where it is primarily associated with upland and wet forests but also uses a mosaic of other habitat types, such as prairie grassland and marsh-shrub land.
The panther population has increased nearly threefold during the past 15 years primarily as a result of genetic restoration, along with intensive management efforts to conserve and improve habitat quality and quantity, reduce vehicle-related mortalities and maintain or augment the abundance of prey species.
The panther population faces immediate threats from range restrictions and prey population declines. There are frequent reports of panthers near urban/developed areas as well as a marked increase in road-kills during the past two years in areas beyond the traditionally recognized region of core panther habitat.
This suggests that the panther population may be nearing carrying capacity in the higher-quality habitats of its current range.
Population increases along the panther colonization front or in marginal habitat areas may be increasingly offset by a concomitant increase in mortality associated with more frequent human-panther encounters and an increase in intraspecific killing resulting from higher panther densities.
In the past decade there has been a rapid decline in the panther's two most important prey — white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and wild hog (Sus scrofa) — in some portions of its range, notably within the Big Cypress National Preserve.
The rapid loss of primary prey portends a future population decline of panthers in areas where extended periods of standing water are detrimental to deer and hog numbers.
Urbanization has been a leading cause of habitat loss and fragmentation in Florida and will continue to complicate panther management efforts. Although only 1.3 percent of the panther primary zone will potentially be urbanized by 2060, based on projected urban growth, most development in South Florida is likely to occur along an east-west axis between Fort Myers and West Palm Beach, thus reducing or halting further panther colonization northward and severing important escape routes to higher elevations, such as the Lake Wales Ridge in the middle of the peninsula.
The disappearance of predators is having a disastrous impact on ecosystems. Until now, conservation efforts have largely focused on saving entire habitats, but in terms of their ecological impact, all species aren't created equal.
You may hate panthers, but without them, the land changes.
We should focus on the apex predators — a species that kills and eats other animals, but has virtually no predators of its own at the top of the food web — which are currently disappearing even faster than other animals because they need lots of food, more space to roam and more time to reproduce.
If Collier County intends to provide habitat for apex predators, we need to figure out what they like to lunch on and preserve that. Any other plan is a total waste of time and resources! With all the permitted and planned construction in the major habitat corridors, the county food web will continue to shrink as we march toward build-out, leaving apex predators like our Florida panther, alligators, pythons, etc., with very limited options.
Vasey is retired from the military and is active in the community on environmental matters, serving on the board of the Collier Soil and Water District.
Endangered Species
New species of monkey in Amazon Scientists have discovered a new species of monkey on an expedition into one of the least known areas of the Brazilian Amazon, highlighting the need for increased protection of rainforests.
The monkey is a new species of titi monkey and features different colored markings on its head and tail. These distinct features have not been observed before in other monkeys of the same group.
The discovery, by biologist Júlio Dalponte, took place on a 590 mile expedition in an area between the Guariba River and the Roosevelt River. These are two of the most important rivers in the north western part of the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. Before the expedition, little was known about the area as scientists had yet to fully explore it.
Scientists spotted five animals on the endangered species list during their journey including the:
- giant anteater
- giant armadillo
- giant otter
- jaguar
- ocelot
- 48 different mammals live in the region, including armadillos, anteaters, deer and monkeys
- 208 species of fish, two of them potentially new species
- 313 bird species, two migratory
WWF is working with governments and local communities to update and implement a management plan that will help preserve the forests under threat.
"Franklin" the Turtle Returned to the Sea DeAnne Berry is a park ranger at Long Key State Park and enjoys outings with her family on her days off. On one of their excursions in June, they rescued a 250-pound male loggerhead turtle, which they dubbed "Franklin," with a large fracture in the back of its shell. He was treated by the Turtle Hospital in Marathon and last week hospital staff, DeAnne and her family released a healthy Franklin from the shore of Long Key State Park back into the salty Atlantic waters.
Manatee Release On August 12, Sea to Shore Alliance, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and SeaWorld safely released "Holly the Manatee" at John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. Over the weekend Holly was observed in the company of several other adult manatees still swimming within the park's waters.
Read more
As Floridians, we have a special obligation to protect manatees. The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, in Kings Bay, was established specifically to protect endangered manatees. The animals are attracted to its warm waters during winter's cold weather. But the Kings Bay waterway remains a dangerous place for manatees traveling to the refuge.
Just last year, 83 manatees died in Florida from watercraft-related incidents. Scientists project that unless this cause of death is curtailed, the manatee population will not recover.
In response to this and other threats to manatee survival, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed expanding protections for manatees in Kings Bay, Florida.
Federal officials need to hear from you. Let the Fish and Wildlife Service and your representative and senators know that you support safety areas for manatees.
King's Bay is increasingly important to these endangered marine mammals -- the number of manatees using the network of warm-water springs in the Kings Bay system has increased from about 100 in the early 1980s to more than 550 animals today.
With your help, the manatees of Kings Bay will be safer from boat strikes, protected from harassment and better able to survive in a changing climate while maintaining boating access for property owners. But we have to act now.
To counter the flurry of extreme anti-environment comments that the Fish and Wildlife Service has received, we need to send at least 20,000 messages in support of our manatees. And we only have until August 22nd (next Monday) to make our voices heard.
Speak out for manatees Please take action.
Everglades and Water Quality Issues
Florida industry's fierce fight against EPA pollution rule A new federal rule meant to limit the phosphorus and nitrogen pollution in Florida waters is arguably the most fiercely contested environmental regulation yet imposed on the state.
Farmers, fertilizer producers, sewage-plant operators and cities with stormwater systems are fighting to get rid of the rule via lawsuits, congressional lobbying and pressure on federal regulators.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established the rule late last year, setting numeric limits for phosphorus and nitrogen compounds, which can trigger destructive growths of algae in streams, lakes and coastal waters.
The rule is to take effect in March, at which point Florida must enforce it, though what will happen then is anybody's guess.
Read more
Rainfall is recharging aquifers, but some areas are slow to recover from drought Wet season rainfall across the 16-county South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has raised groundwater levels in many areas while others have been slow to recover from months of record drought.
"We are seeing some wells recovering from months of water shortage conditions, but others have not. We need significantly more rainfall to recharge our aquifers," said Pete Kwiatkowski, Incident Commander for the SFWMD Water Shortage Team. "How much rainfall is difficult to quantify because of the complex interaction between rainfall, stormwater runoff and groundwater levels in aquifers."
Rainfall in July was average for the month, with 7.08 inches District-wide. Lake Kissimmee, the Caloosahatchee region and the Big Cypress Basin saw some of the largest rainfall totals during the month. Overall, the east coast did not receive as much rainfall in July and lagged behind the central and western areas of the District for the month.
Following months of drought conditions, the District works to retain as much water as possible in the regional system. However, storage is limited in a system designed primarily for flood control. The District continues to coordinate with cities and counties to help them pull as much water into their local systems as possible during heavy rain events. Releasing water to tide remains a necessary and a normal part of critical flood control efforts.
Surface Water Levels
Recent rainfall has raised water levels in some of South Florida's key locations close to where they should be this time of year. The Water Conservation Areas are nearing or at their regulation schedules. The schedules, which prescribe water levels based on conditions and the time of year, are tools used by water managers to balance water supply, flood protection and environmental needs.
Concern remains regarding the low level of Lake Okeechobee. The 730-square-mile lake is still more than 3 feet below its historic average for this time of year. There is a good chance the lake, which supplies water to the City of West Palm Beach and surrounding areas, will remain in its water shortage management zone going into the next dry season unless above-average rainfall conditions occur.
Groundwater Levels
The lake is also a useful example of the relationship between rainfall, stormwater runoff and groundwater levels in aquifers. While an inch of rain directly over the lake will raise the lake an inch, the same is not the case when it comes to groundwater.
The location, intensity and duration of rainfall, along with a host of related factors, determine how groundwater levels respond to a storm. Heavy rain onto paved, developed areas is sent to the coast to prevent localized flooding — even in a water shortage. In contrast, rain falling over natural areas such as the Water Conservation Areas seeps directly into the ground, recharging aquifers tapped by wells for urban and agricultural supplies.
All of these factors play a role in the response of aquifers to rainfall. In Florida, most of the fresh water used by people comes from underground aquifers. Aquifers are composed of multiple layers of porous rock, such as limestone or sandstone, that hold water. Cities and towns, businesses and agriculture draw much of their water supplies from these aquifers. Supplying approximately 90 percent of the state's drinking water, Florida's aquifers supply the state with more than 8 billion gallons of water each day, making them among the most productive in the world.
The Biscayne Aquifer is the primary source of fresh water for South Florida's Lower East Coast region. Deeper down is the Floridan Aquifer, separated by a confining layer of dense rock. The Floridan Aquifer spans the state and is usually too salty to drink without further treatment in South Florida.
To learn more about Florida's aquifers, click here.
FLORIDA FLOATS DRAFT NUTRIENT RULE IN BID TO BREAK IMPASSE OVER EPA CRITERIA The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is proposing to adopt EPA's landmark numeric nutrient criteria into its water quality standards, an effort that a top FDEP official says is intended to break the impasse between the state, concerned industries, EPA and environmentalists over the agency's imposition of its criteria.
While EPA says it will approve of Florida's rule changes if they are as protective as the agency's controversial criteria, the state's rulemaking could also test EPA's ongoing effort to allow states to translate their "narrative" criteria into numeric regulatory limits.
Drew Bartlett, deputy director of FDEP's Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration, told Inside EPA in an Aug. 3 interview that since FDEP is not a party in ongoing litigation over EPA's Dec. 6 final rule establishing numeric nutrient criteria for nitrogen and phosphorus in Florida's lakes and streams, the department is in a unique position to attempt to strike a balance between the state and industry position and EPA's final rule.
The proposed rule changes are an attempt to strike that balance, Bartlett said. "What this is is an attempt to bring resolution to the entire situation," he said.
"EPA did promulgate its rule, and there was a lot of litigation that ensued, and the [FDEP] -- who is not part of the state suit -- reviewed the landscape and decided our position would be to craft a solution that doesn't result in that kind of conflict, so that we can get the support of our state legislature, the support of EPA [and other stakeholders]."
Florida's effort comes as EPA officials say they will further delay -- and even repeal their rule -- if Florida develops a proposal that will win agency approval. An EPA spokeswoman, echoing recent comments from acting water chief Nancy Stoner, told Inside EPA in a Aug. 8 statement that the agency is reviewing the state's proposal but intends to delay the implementation of its nutrient criteria for inland waters and delay development of a criteria for coastal and estuarine waters, since the state is now moving forward with its own numeric limits.
"EPA recognizes that states have the primary role in establishing and implementing water quality standards for their waters," the spokeswoman said. "Therefore, EPA is prepared to withdraw the federal inland standards and delay the estuarine standards if FDEP adopts, and EPA approves, their own protective and scientifically sound numeric standards. We are in the process of reviewing an initial proposal provided by FDEP. In the meantime, EPA intends to further delay implementation of the inland waters standards if FDEP continues to develop its own standards."
FDEP held the second of two public hearings on the proposed changes in Tallahassee, FL, on Aug. 3, with the first public hearing having been held in Tallahassee on July 27. The department is accepting public comment on the proposal, though no formal written comments have been filed with the agency yet, Bartlett said.
The final rule changes are expected to be promulgated in early 2012 and taken up by the state Legislature in the 2012 session, according to a FDEP slide presentation delivered during the Aug. 3 public comment session.
Once the legislature approves the changes, EPA would then have to approve the changes in order for the water quality standards to be in effect. Bartlett says the state's proposal would maintain the state's narrative water quality standard, linking water impairment to "imbalance in natural populations" of plants and animals, but interprets those standards as numeric limits of nitrogen and phosphorus based on EPA's final rule.
The changes would also include several implementation measures meant to streamline the process for adopting site specific alternative criteria or variations from the numeric limits, such as in the case of a preexisting total maximum daily load (TMDL), Bartlett said.
Relevant documents are available on InsideEPA.com. (Doc ID: 2372401)
Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Restoration Receives Key Commitment Upcoming projects part of SFWMD infrastructure refurbishment The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board recently affirmed support for the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands restoration project, thereby allowing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to seek congressional authorization and funding for construction. The project, which is part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), will help restore Biscayne Bay, enhance Biscayne National Park and improve the surrounding coastal wetlands.
"We are seeing significant progress so far, and the District is fully committed to seeing this important restoration project move forward," said SFWMD Governing Board Chairman Joe Collins. "Getting the water right for Biscayne Bay provides major benefits for the entire Everglades ecosystem."
Restoration goals will be accomplished by diverting water from a network of Miami canals — designed in the early 1900s to empty stormwater into the bay — and spreading it across a large area of wetlands.
Since 2010, the District has been constructing the Deering Estate flow-way, a major component of the project, to rehydrate coastal wetlands and improve freshwater flows into the bay. The District has invested $4.8 million to design and construct the Deering Estate component, which is scheduled for completion this year.
Improved distribution of freshwater flows will result in healthier coastal wetlands and a more natural overland flow of water that will mimic historical conditions. This will restore critical low-salinity habitat that is essential for a variety of estuarine plants and animals such as seagrasses, eastern oysters, blue crab and spotted sea trout. In addition, the wetlands will become more productive for wading birds, amphibians and mammals such as the river otter.
Progress to date includes:
More than 80 percent of the land needed for the project has been acquired.
Construction is near completion for the Deering Estate flow-way to re-distribute water from the C-100 Basin, south of Kendall, into coastal areas for rehydration and to reduce discharges into the bay.
A series of culverts along the L-31E Canal in Homestead was constructed in June 2010. These culverts are moving excess water from the canal to rehydrate wetlands along Biscayne Bay. The wetlands filter water before it reaches the bay and provide wildlife habitat.
Design of the Cutler flow-way is complete. Like the Deering Estate project, this flow-way will also help spread water across coastal wetlands.
Additionally, the District coordinated with the Miami-Dade County Parks and Recreation Department to develop an educational site on the Deering Estate property.
The Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Restoration Project is a component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, a framework for restoring, protecting and preserving the water resources of central and southern Florida. CERP is a 50-50 partnership between the State of Florida and the federal government. The State of Florida and the South Florida Water Management District have invested approximately $2.4 billion toward this effort, including approximately $300 million in construction. Through June 30, 2011, approximately 60 percent — or 243,149 acres — of the estimated lands needed to implement CERP have been acquired.
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EnergyBachmann Says She'd Consider Everglades Drilling Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann said Sunday that she would consider oil and natural gas drilling in the Everglades if it can be done without harming the environment.
Bachman said the United States needs to tap into all of its energy resources no matter where they exist if it can be done responsibly.
"The United States needs to be less dependent on foreign sources of energy and more dependent upon American resourcefulness. Whether that is in the Everglades, or whether that is in the eastern Gulf region, or whether that's in North Dakota, we need to go where the energy is," she said. "Of course it needs to be done responsibly. If we can't responsibly access energy in the Everglades then we shouldn't do it."
In 2002, the federal government at the urging of President George W. Bush bought back oil and gas drilling rights in the Everglades for $120 million. Bachmann, who wants to get rid of the federal Environmental Protection Agency, said she would rely on experts to determine whether drilling can be done without harming the environment.
"No one wants to hurt or contaminate the earth. … We don't want to harm our water, our ecosystems or the air. That is a minimum bar," she said.
"From there, though, that doesn't mean that the two have to be mutually exclusive. We can protect the environment and do so responsibly, but we can also protect the environment and not kill jobs in America and not deny ourselves access to the energy resources that America's been so blessed with."
The Minnesota congresswoman, who is seeking the GOP nomination to challenge President Barack Obama in 2012, is on a four-day swing through Florida, ending Monday in Miami.
At each stop she has said she wants to eliminate the "job-killing" EPA. She elaborated on the idea in an interview after rallying hundreds of enthusiastic supporters in Sarasota.
"We do have EPA's in each of the 50 states and I think that it's up to the states," she said. "The states have the right to develop their own environmental protections and regulations, as they all have."
She said she recognizes there is a federal role when environmental issues cross borders, but she added that a big problem with the EPA now is that it does not consider job creation or job losses as part of its role in enforcing regulations. She said the regulations it does have prevent businesses from being able to reasonably create a profit.
"If we create a new department that is focused on conservation and get rid of the EPA, that would send a strong signal about what our priorities are. We believe in conservation, but I also believe at the same time that the EPA has overstepped its bounds," Bachmann said.
Among other topics, Bachmann said the stock market drop after this summer's debt ceiling compromise demonstrated disappointment that Washington had not taken more significant steps to reduce spending.
"We need to get our house in order fairly quickly," she said. "What you saw with the markets was the markets reacting to the fact that Washington, D.C., did nothing to get its house in order."
She also said she would consider Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who took office earlier this year, as a running mate.
"Marco Rubio has the hallmarks of, I think, everything that a person would look for in a potential candidate. He's got so much going for him," Bachmann said, also naming South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint as another possibility.
Pilot finds oil bubbling up at Deepwater Horizon well again; BP reports no leaks BP PLC officials reported finding no apparent leaks in the seal on the Deepwater Horizon well or the relief well after a Thursday night inspection in the Gulf of Mexico with a submersible robot.
Federal officials said that an investigation into the source of oil found floating Tuesday above the well would continue.
The undersea inspections were prompted by news that oil samples collected Tuesday by the Press-Register near BP's well shared the chemical fingerprint of the hundreds of millions of gallons of oil that gushed into the Gulf last summer.
In a Friday news release, BP said that it and the U.S. Coast Guard had "conducted multiple surveys of the area in recent days and found no evidence of oil sheens in the Macondo vicinity." BP officials also said the company stationed two boats near the well to watch for oil.
Bonny Schumaker, president and lead pilot of On Wings of Care, an environmental conservation and animal rescue organization, made the original sighting of oil on Aug. 19. Her photographs from the air led to the newspaper's visit to the well site by boat.
Schumaker returned to the well area on Thursday and Friday and made aerial photographs of hundreds of blobs of oil on the surface both days. She reported seeing one Coast Guard cutter in the area Thursday though not near where she spotted the oil.
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Natural gas pipeline project in gulf forced to adapt to economic reality The idea seems simple. Ships carrying liquefied natural gas will anchor in the Gulf of Mexico 28 miles southwest of Tampa Bay, in water 100 feet deep, at one of a pair of buoys permanently moored far enough from land that no one on the beach can see it. The ships will hook into a pipeline buried under the ocean bottom and unload the gas.
The pipeline will carry the gas past Egmont Key at the mouth of Tampa Bay to come ashore at Port Manatee and hook into an existing pipeline to route it to power plants around the state.
At full operation, the project known as the Port Dolphin Energy terminal is supposed to deliver 228 billion cubic feet of clean-burning natural gas a year to Florida power plants, many of them converting from burning more polluting fuels such as coal and oil.
Simple or not, the Norwegian company that wants to build Port Dolphin has been working on the $850 million offshore terminal since 2007. In the four years since it was first proposed, Port Dolphin's owners have faced challenges from a competing pipeline company, an environmental group, several small beach towns and U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa.
Company officials agreed to alter the route of the pipeline so it would avoid crossing the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve. They agreed to put $100 million into an escrow account that would help the beach towns with their sand problem. They won a favorable ruling from a federal agency to quiet the competitor's objections. Last month, the project got its final state permit.
"They were open-minded and willing to share information," said Glenn Compton of ManaSota-88, the environmental group that initially objected to the plans. "Obviously, we see advantages to having more natural gas for Florida. It was never our intention to stop this project."
Yet the Port Dolphin terminal remains unbuilt. Originally, it was supposed to start operating this summer, but it still has not gotten all of the federal permits required.
Now it won't even begin construction until 2013, according to German Castro, Port Dolphin's vice president for development. The completion date is at least three years away.
The situation could be worse. An effort to build a similar offshore LNG terminal off Florida's East Coast was officially abandoned by its owner, Suez Energy International, last week. Suez gave no explanation for dropping a project that had been in the works since 2004.
But according to industry analyst Teri Viswanath of BNP Paribas in Houston, the reason Suez canceled its project — and why Port Dolphin might never be built — is easy to grasp. The natural gas market in the United States has completely changed from when both were first proposed.
"These poor guys are so behind the eight-ball," she said.
In the mid-2000s, "gas was thought to be this rare and precious commodity," she explained. Natural gas cost more than $7 per million British Thermal Units (MMBtu) in 2007, and there was a push to create terminals to deal with all the ships that would be bringing in gas from Nigeria and other countries.
At the time, a project like Port Dolphin seemed like a safe bet.
But in 2005, the first shale gas well was discovered in Pennsylvania, and now there are more than a hundred wells there. As a result, the price of gas has plunged to less than $4 per mmBTUs, and there's no longer a need to import it.
Some existing offshore LNG terminals built with high expectations in the past decade now face the very real possibility of being mothballed, she said.
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Victory over Dirty Energy: Massive Coal Plant Halted After hard work by a coalition of environmental groups including the Center for Biological Diversity plans to build one of the largest and most heavily polluting coal plants in the West have been called off. The White Pine Energy Station, which was to be sited just 30 miles from Nevada's Great Basin National Park, would have spewed nearly 13 million tons of climate-warming carbon dioxide into the air each year (not to mention air-polluting mercury, sulfur dioxide and fine soot). It also would have required the sale (and degradation) of 1,281 acres of pristine public lands.
When the Bureau of Land Management refused to properly address the project's impacts, the Center and our many allies appealed its approval. Now the plant's proponents have abandoned the project altogether.
Land Conservation
NPS seeks comments on a hunting management plan for the Big Cypress Addition Lands!The National Park Service (NPS) is currently soliciting comments on a proposed Hunting Management Plan for the Addition Lands of the Big Cypress National Preserve.
Two public meetings are scheduled
- Collier County - Tuesday, August 30th - Edison State College 7007 Lely Cultural Parkway. Naples, Florida 34113
- Broward County - Wednesday, August 31st - Hyatt Regency Bonaventure 250 Racquet Club Road, Weston, Florida 33326
Anyone wishing to submit comments may do so by going to NPSs site and filling out the form. Click here
[My comments to the NPS:] "The Addition has been closed to hunting since acquisition, which is inconsistent with the enabling legislation for Big Cypress National Preserve."
This statement is erroneous in that the enabling legislation for Big Cypress National Preserve states in part that: "The Secretary shall permit hunting, fishing, and trapping on lands and water under his jurisdiction within the Preserve and the Addition in accordance with the applicable laws of the United States and the State of Florida, except that he may designate zones where and periods when no hunting, fishing, trapping, or entry may be permitted for reasons of public safety, administration, floral and faunal protection and management, or public use and enjoyment."
The Addition Lands constitute the heart of the Florida Panther and the Florida Black Bear territory, and any entry in the area could be injurious to these already stressed populations.
Area farmers complain of panthers taking livestock, but where sufficient prey species exist, the taking of domestic livestock is minimal. As the panther's prey species within the Addition lands are also stressed, any taking of game animals means less food for the panthers and a higher likelihood of the taking of domestic livestock.
Hunters consider themselves to be sportsmen, and as such, they should realize that, by reducing the natural food supply, their actions are in direct conflict with the very existence of the animals they purport to be protecting.
South Florida Audubon Society believes that the fullest available protection of the panthers and black bears that inhabit the addition lands is required for their continued existence and endorses Draft Alternative #2, No Hunting in the Addition.
Grant Campbell Director of Wildlife Policy/Conservation Chair, South Florida Audubon Society
Secretary Vinyard Cuts the Ribbon — ANERR Nature Center is Officially Open DEP Secretary Vinyard had the honors of cutting the ribbon to officially open the new Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve (ANERR) Nature Center. Education and outreach are two of the Center's main goals and the 18,000 square-foot learning space, overlooking Apalachicola Bay, is the ideal venue.
Following the ribbon-cutting, Secretary Vinyard toured the Nature Center's many exhibits including three 1,000-gallon tanks housing a variety of native plants and marine creatures, including turtles, crabs and numerous fish species. He also "watered" the turtles. Since two of the tanks are brackish or salt water, staff gives them fresh water the same way that rain would if they were in the wild. The Center's interactive displays help educate visitors about the connectivity among the river, bay and gulf habitats.
The facility also includes wet and dry research laboratories and offers educational activities for grades K-12, with classes divided between classroom and on-site programs.
The new building was built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards to achieve the silver level of certification. One of the innovative environmental designs is the rain chains that gather stormwater from the roof and funnel it into large cisterns beneath the building to be used for toilets and irrigation. All of the parking areas were constructed of pervious materials which allow rainwater to drain so quickly that no stormwater retention was required on the property. The special design prevents potential runoff from interfering with the water quality of the nearby bay.
The turtles are "watered" daily with fresh water to replicate the rain they would drink in their natural habitat.
The Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve is located about 75 miles southeast of Tallahassee and 60 miles east of Panama City. The Center's design and exhibits will impress visitors of all ages. Make plans to visit soon, it's well worth the trip.
Miscellaneous
America's most endangered rivers The Peace River, which made the top 10 list in 2004, and Caloosahatchee which was listed in 2006, are not on it; conditions have not improved, probably got worse ...just others have moved up the list
#1 Susquehanna River
#2 Bristol Bay Rivers
#3 Roanoke River
#4 Chicago River
#5 Yuba River
#6 Green River
#7 Hoback River
#8 Black Warrior River
#9 St. Croix River
#10 Ozark Scenic Riverways
Special Mention: Mississippi River
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A Victory Leap for Wild Salmon Earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge James Redden again ruled against the federal government's management plan for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia and Snake rivers, saying it failed to provide salmon and steelhead with a real shot at survival, much less recovery.
Salmon-recovery plans from three different presidential administrations over the past ten years have failed to protect the species. Redden's ruling marks a huge win for wild salmon and the communities and ecosystems that depend on them.
One Big Cat's Incredible Journey Experts have confirmed that a male mountain lion struck by an SUV in Connecticut had begun its journey 1,500 miles away, in the black hills of South Dakota.
Despite the cat's sad end, its record-breaking trek is part of an encouraging trend. Thanks to reforestation and to conservation measures like the Endangered Species Act, animals like moose, fishers, and black bears are showing up in places where they haven't been seen for a century.
But for endangered species to expand or change their ranges, they need both contiguous habitat and a way to safely get past highways and other dangerous obstacles.
Florida State Parks Employee of the Year Award The Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Florida Park Service recently presented the 2010 Florida State Parks Employee of the Year Award to Bill Allman, Operations and Management Consultant for the Florida State Parks District Three Administration. Allman was selected out of the more than 1,000 full time staff who manage and operate Florida's 160 state parks.
"Bill's commitment and willingness to help others is clearly shown by his ability to wear many hats throughout his busy day," said DEP's Florida Park Service Director Donald Forgione. "Having worked directly with Bill in the past, I know he is often the first person to tackle a tough obstacle or get his hands dirty when needed."
Bill began his career with the Florida Park Service in 2004 as an accountant in District Three. In August 2006, he was promoted to Operations and Management Consultant. Nominated by a coworker, Bill is a highly respected and well-liked individual who uses his creativity and years of knowledge to answer any question or need that may arise in his district office, which oversees 29 state parks from St. Johns to Indian River counties along the east coast. Versatile, problem-solver, reliable and organized are terms often used to describe Bill's consistent and helpful work ethic. Beyond the qualities of a seasoned professional, he is widely commended on the level of respect he pays to each individual he encounters every day.
"Being honored as the Florida Park Service Employee of the Year is a humbling experience as there are so many deserving staff in the state park system," said Allman. "I just do my job the best I can, what I expect of myself every day."
Each year, the Florida Park Service formally recognizes full and part-time employees and volunteers for outstanding contributions and for noteworthy personal achievement or actions. The Florida Park Service Employee of the Year Award honors the employee who continually exhibits an attitude of dedication to the state park system, enthusiasm for the job, self motivation and cooperation in dealing with others. The recipient must have satisfactory service with the park service and routinely contribute to the accomplishment of the mission, objectives, goals and responsibilities of the Florida Park Service.
Other awards presented by the Florida Park Service to staff statewide include:
Joe Kenner Award for Interpreter of the Year
Michelle Waterman, Park Ranger, Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park
Hank Smith Award for Excellence in Research
Elizabeth Gandy, Environmental Scientist, District Four Administration
Division Team Award
District Four Administration CPR/First Aid Training Team
Public Service Award
Tricia Fowler, Park Ranger, Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Betty Baust, Park Ranger, Stump Pass Beach State Park
Distinguished Service Award
Dale Kendrick, Operations and Management Consultant II, District Two Administration
Dylan Gavagni, Assistant Park Manager, Tomoka State Park
Brian Polk, Manager, De Leon Springs State Park
Patrick Potts, Park Services Specialist, Hillsborough River State Park
Thelma Proctor, Education and Training Specialist, District Four Administration
Gail Baxley, Park Planner, Office of Park Planning
Lifesaver Award
David Hramika, Waterpark Manager, Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Jeffrey Fox, Park Ranger, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
Joseph Hayes, Maintenance Mechanic, Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park
Danny Turbet, Park Ranger, Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Jay Mann, Park Ranger, Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Sarnia, Ontario to get plant A multimillion-dollar bio-industrial company is setting up shop in Sarnia.
BioAmber Inc. of Montreal is building an $80-million first-of-its-kind biosuccinic acid plant on part of the existing Lanxess site by 2013.
The plant will produce bio-based succinic acid, derived from corn and used to match or better existing petrochemical products. It is used for plastics, fragrance and cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, polymers and non-corrosive de-icers.
Initial capacity at the Sarnia plant is pegged at 17,000 metric tons per year, with plans to double by 2014, industry and government officials said Monday at the University Of Western Ontario Research Park in Sarnia.
Through its subsidiary Bluewater Chemicals, BioAmber will create, at minimum, 40 full-time jobs at the Sarnia plant, along with 150 construction jobs.
The company also plans to produce 1.4-Butanediol (BDO) on site.
Sarnia was among more than 100 North American sites considered for the plant, said Mike Hartmann, BioAmber's corporate affairs vice-president. The company, he said, also had a 3,000 metric ton-capacity plant in France.
Sarnia was the top choice, Hartmann said, because of abundance of corn; nearby facilities that make glucose; easy access to shipping channels; strong government support; nearby colleges and universities; a skilled work force; and existing infrastructure.
A groundbreaking is planned in October with a completion target set for late 2012.
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