Florida environmental and wildlife news for the week ending 1-30-09

FEATURED STORIES

Crist budget vetoes restore land-buying program
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Environmental News
Saying that the state's land-buying program is "near and dear" to himself, Gov. Charlie Crist this afternoon announced he is vetoing a deep cut to the Florida Forever Program by the Legislature earlier this month.


Three Sisters Springs, pictured above, was among the conservation projects whose grant funding was spared by Gov. Crist’s veto of Florida Forever legislative budget cuts. In 2007, Wildwood Preservation Society assisted Leon County in securing a $2.3 million dollar matching Florida Forever grant to fund acquisition of the Fred George Basin Greenway. Learn more about Florida Forever by clicking here.

Manatees' record numbers not likely to renew 'endangered' debate
By Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
Florida's manatee count hit an all-time high this year, in large part because cold snaps corralled the endangered sea cows into toasty waters around nuclear power plants and natural springs.

Hope grows for Florida panther's protection with Obama administration
By David Fleshler
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Hoping the Obama administration proves friendlier to wildlife than its predecessor, a conservation group has filed a legal petition to protect more than 3 million acres for the Florida panther.

Chocolate lab being used to save Eastern indigo snake
By Mike Morrison
Florida Times-Union
C.J. the wonder dog couldn’t cut it in the harsh world of drug detection, but doesn’t mind using his trained schnozz to sniff out a snake or two for a good cause.

Threatened sea turtles to get protection
By Cain Burdeau
Associated Press
In a blow to Florida fishermen, regulators voted Thursday to take steps to shut down a common type of fishing that uses long lines affixed with hooks and squid bait because it may be killing hundreds of threatened sea turtles every year.

Grand jury to probe biomass deal
By Bill Cotterell
Tallahassee Democrat
Related: BG&E pulls plug on biomass power plant for south-side Tallahassee
Related: Biomass plant removed from FSU plan
The newly seated grand jury will investigate how the aborted Biomass Gasification & Electric Co. energy project wound up being planned for Tallahassee's south side, State Attorney Willie Meggs said Monday.


Threatened Eastern Indigo Snake

MORE GREEN NEWS

Analysis of U.S. Sugar land buy criticized
By Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
A new economic analysis argues that a controversial lease-back included in the $1.34 billion U.S. Sugar land buy for Everglades restoration isn't the sweet deal that rival growers say it is.

FPL could face $1 billion in fines
By Julie Patel
TC Palm
Florida Power & Light reports it may have to pay millions in fines for a massive blackout last year that left as many as 3 million people in the dark.

Cranes complete migration from Wis. to Fla.
Associated Press
Miami Herald
All 14 young whooping cranes led by ultralights on a southward migration from Wisconsin have arrived at wintering sites in Florida.

DEP chief: Florida ready for tougher emissions standards
By Jim Ash
Tallahassee Democrat
Florida's top environmental regulator said Monday the state is ready to go with new auto-emission standards now that President Barack Obama has signaled that he will approve an identical plan for California.

Get set for nuclear politics
Editorial
Palm Beach Post
Florida's Public Service Commission did the state a disservice by ducking the question of whether nuclear power can be considered green energy.

Wood storks captured in Corkscrew Swamp
By Kevin Lollar
Ft. Myers News-Press
Slowly and cautiously, the wood stork flared its black and white wings and settled into a shallow pond Thursday at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Collier County.

Tougher rules to go into effect by 2010 to end overfishing of 40 marine species in US waters
By Cain Burdeau
Associated Press
Ocean conservationists are hailing former President Bush for passing tough rules to end the overfishing of 40 struggling marine species before he left the White House.

$1.34 billion Everglades deal land use in discussions
By Andy Reid
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The $1.34 billion deal for the largest public land buy in Florida history started backward.

Agency passes nuclear debate to state
By Christine Stapleton
Palm Beach Post
Florida's utility regulators have crafted their vision of Florida's green energy future without answering the billion-dollar question: What is green energy?

Fla., Ala. Want Water Withdrawal Stopped
Lakeland Ledger
Florida and Alabama are asking a federal court to stop the Army Corps of Engineers from supplying water to Georgia from Lake Lanier, Atlanta's main water source.

Birdwatchers Boost Economy for Florida
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Dusk descends quickly over the Celery Fields, and just as quickly the birders line up like paparazzi along Palmer Boulevard, their cameras trained on the shallow ponds immediately north.

Turtles may be protected at expense of grouper eaters
By Stephen Nohlgren
St. Pete Times
Publix supermarkets have sold fresh grouper for decades. It might cost $12 a pound or even $15, but it comes right from the Gulf of Mexico, caught by West Florida fishermen.

Eagles build nest in Corkscrew sanctuary
By Kevin Lollar
Ft. Myers News-Press
For 10 minutes Friday morning at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, the very top of the bald eagle's head gleamed over the edge of the big nest like half a golf ball.

After 10-year delay, curbing pollutants
By Kate Spinner
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Florida is being forced to set new pollution limits for its lakes, rivers and estuaries after environmental groups sued federal regulators for ignoring water quality laws.

Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"

Florida environmental and wildlife news for the week ending 1-23-09

FEATURED STORIES

Shortsightedness could end Florida Forever
By Eugene M. Kelly
St. Pete Times
The Florida Native Plant Society recognizes the difficult decisions now facing our state as a result of severe budget shortfalls.

Click the Florida Forever logo to take urgent action now:


Panthers running out of range (includes video)
WBBH NBC News
Ft. Myers
Just hours into President Obama's time in office some local environmentalists are already reaching out for change.

Cranes touch down in St. Marks
By Nic Corbett
Tallahassee Democrat
Seven endangered whooping cranes guided by ultralight planes arrived Saturday morning at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, where they will spend the rest of the winter.

Tallahassee NAACP asks Gov. Crist to open probe into biomass deal
By Stephen D. Price
Tallahassee Democrat
The Tallahassee branch of the NAACP asked Gov. Charlie Crist to open an investigation of the proposed biomass plant, and of several players involved, including Florida State University President T.K. Wetherell.

Feds Intervene to Set Florida Water Quality Standards
Press Release
Common Dreams
In one of the final acts of the Bush administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it would set "water quality standards for nutrients" for all Florida surface waters.



MORE GREEN NEWS

Everglades restoration could benefit from federal economic stimulus
By Eric Staats
Naples News
Everglades restoration planners are eyeing money from the federal economic stimulus to revive a sputtering rescue of the River of the Grass.

Firm: FPL hampers renewable-energy goals
By Eve Samples
Palm Beach Post
A subsidiary of one of the nation's largest garbage haulers claims Florida Power & Light Co. is thwarting lawmakers' efforts to encourage the use of renewable energy in Florida.

Dueling constitutional amendments: Developers versus voters for say in Florida's growth
Lauren Ritchie
Orlando Sentinel
Let's say Lake County commissioners lose their collective minds and approve a pig farm next door to your subdivision.

Crist in Favor of Bill Aimed at Protecting Springs
By Bruce Ritchie
The News Service of Florida
Gov. Charlie Crist is backing legislation intended to protect Florida's springs, saying they're an important part of the state's tourism economy.

EPA planning new cap on Florida river pollution
By Steve Patterson
Florida Times-Union
Saying Florida’s rivers and lakes are threatened by its growth, the federal government plans to set new limits on nitrogen and phosphorous allowed in waterways.

Manatee deaths in South Florida baffling
By David Fleshler
Palm Beach Post
Six manatees were killed by watercraft in Palm Beach County in 2008, a figure that ties the county record and mystifies conservation officials who had put more police on the water to protect the endangered mammals.

FPL presents solar farm proposal to commission
By Carl Mario Nudi
Bradenton Herald
Manatee County commissioners were very receptive Tuesday of Florida Power & Light’s proposed plans for a solar thermal farm next to its Parrish power plant.

Florida considering options for renewable energy targets
By Julie Patel
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The Florida Public Service Commission recommended last week that one-fifth of Florida's energy supply come from solar and wind power and other renewable power sources by 2020.

Click the logo above to visit the International Crane Foundation.

Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"

Florida environmental and wildlife news for the week ending 1-16-09

FEATURED STORIES

Florida Forever's future cut short
Editorial
Miami Herald
Gov. Charlie Crist has some tough choices to make on the $1.2 billion in spending cuts approved by the Legislature Wednesday.

Is Florida Just One New Development Away From Environmental Ruin?
By Stan Cox
AlterNet
A thousand people a day move to Florida, but with development gone wild, the state's natural systems have passed the brink of sustainability.

New Navy sonar poses threat to right whales
By Jim Waymer
Florida Today
Navy subs could one day play war games about 60 miles off Jacksonville, with sonic pings that environmental groups fear might ring a death knell for the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale.

Biomass Plant Opposition Mounts (includes video)
Reported by Julie Montanaro
WCTV News Tallahassee
Opposition to a proposed Biomass Plant in Tallahassee is mounting as neighborhoods, ministers and the NAACP add their names to the list.

Landowner says he'll sell rather than wait on state
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Environmental News
A Leon County landowner says he likely won't sell to the state now that the Legislature has cut its conservation land-buying program.




MORE GREEN NEWS

Gov. Crist addresses first climate change meeting
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Environmental News
Gov. Charlie Crist today told the inaugural meeting of the state Energy and Climate Commission that Florida has embarked on a "great path and challenge" in developing renewable energy and diversifying its fuel resources.

Florida's first commercial ethanol plant announced
Associated Press
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
A Massachusetts biofuel company is teaming up with a Florida business to build the state's first commercial-scale ethanol plant, and says it should be up and running by 2011.

Report calls for ban on coal-waste storage in mines
By Renee Schoof
Miami Herald
A day after the nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency promised to look into the problem of coal ash storage in ponds such as the one that burst in Tennessee last month, a new report says another disposal strategy is just as dangerous: using the coal waste to fill in active or abandoned mines.

County reverses course on mining proposal
By Duane Marsteller
Bradenton Herald
County commissioners reversed course on a controversial mining proposal Thursday, giving Mosaic Co. the first set of county approvals it needs to unearth phosphate ore from the Altman Tract.

Preserve 'Florida Forever'
Editorial
Florida Today
You won’t find a more ecologically unique area in the nation than the Space Coast.

Legislative panel skeptical about global warming
By Brandon Larrabee
Florida Times-Union
Proposals aimed at curbing Florida's greenhouse gas emissions led to skepticism about global warming from a key legislative committee Tuesday, highlighting potential trouble for the most significant environmental legislation expected in this year's regular session.

Senate panel questions nuke plant rate hike
By Jim Saunders
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Trying to spur more nuclear power, Florida lawmakers in 2006 agreed to allow utility companies to pass along upfront costs of new nuclear plants to their customers.

Supreme Court ruling is a big win for Florida's water rights
Associated Press
Orlando Sentinel
The U.S. Supreme Court said Monday it will let stand a lower-court ruling that threatens to unravel Georgia's long-term water plans for the Atlanta region, giving Florida and Alabama a pivotal victory in the states' long-running water wars.

State may have to raise taxes or walk away from $1.34 billion U.S. Sugar deal
By Andy Reid
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
A declining economy could leave state officials facing a politically dicey decision in the $1.34 billion deal with U.S. Sugar Corp. - either raise taxes or walk away from the largest public land buy in Florida history.

State environmental regulators give go-ahead for nuclear plant
By Fred Hiers
Ocala Star-Banner
Progress Energy cleared one of its last hurdles Monday when the Florida Department of Environmental Protection gave the utility permission to continue with its plans for a 2,200 megawatt nuclear power plant in Levy County.

The end of forever
Editorial
Gainesville Sun
Lawmakers evidently think that when it comes to budget cutting, all bets are off - even if it means ignoring a previous commitment to continue funding the state's highly successful, nationally recognized land-preservation program.

17 protesters arrested at Barley Barber swamp, demand FPL open area to the public
By Daphne Duret
Palm Beach Post
Deputies arrested 17 protesters on trespassing and resisting arrest charges Saturday near the Barley Barber swamp, where members of an activist group have camped out for nearly a week, demanding Florida Power & Light officials open the swamp to the public.

PSC sets targets for Florida renewable energy goals
By Julie Patel
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
About one-fifth of Florida's energy supply would come from renewable resources in about 11 years under a plan recommended Friday by the Florida Public Service Commission.

Progress Energy Rate Hikes Prompt Complaints
WESH News Orlando
Complaints are mounting Friday against one of the state's largest power companies as customers start seeing a new rate hike in their bills.

Congresswoman promises to jump-start Washington's commitment to Everglades restoration
By Paul Quinlan
Palm Beach Post
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz pledged to make jump-starting Washington's floundering commitment to restore the Everglades her "personal responsibility" as she takes hold of Congressional purse strings for the second year in a row.

Florida's natural bounty being looted
By Carl Hiaasen
Miami Herald
Every day, hundreds of wild freshwater turtles are snatched from Florida's lakes and rivers, and shipped to Asia where they are butchered for food and folk remedies.

Exposing the Myth of Clean Coal Power
By Bryan Walsh
Time Magazine
If you paid any attention to last year's Presidential campaign, you'll remember ads touting the benefits of "clean coal" power, sponsored by the industry group American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity.

Obama seen as hope for Glades restoration
By Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
Everglades projects are running years behind, cost estimates have ballooned by billions and political support has deeply eroded.

Fresh Hope for the Everglades
Editorial
New York Times
People who care about the Everglades have had little to cheer about over the last eight years.

Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"

Florida environmental and wildlife news for the week ending 1-2-09

FEATURED STORIES

2009 a big year for the Everglades
By Kevin Lollar
Ft. Myers News-Press
By September, the South Florida Water Management District will know whether it is financially strong enough to borrow $1.34 billion so it can buy 180,000 acres from U.S. Sugar Corp.

Walton County restoration featured in "Wildlands Philanthropy" book
By Bruce Ritchie
Florida Environmental News
M.C. Davis said he'd forgotten the visit about six years ago by a photographer and author who interviewed him and took photographs of his property, about 48,000 acres in Walton County.

State report backs nuclear power as clean energy
By Christine Stapleton
Palm Beach Post
Florida's energy future should be "clean" - not just "renewable" - and include nuclear power as a source of green energy, according to recommendations from the staff of utility regulators released Wednesday.

Climate change increases problems for Florida reefs
By Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
The last, largest stands of ancient elkhorn coral survive in shallow waters off North Key Largo, where rough seas sometimes expose thick golden branches reaching toward the sunlit surface.

Asia appetite for turtles seen as a threat to Florida species
By Kim Christensen
Los Angeles Times
The turtle tank at Nam Hoa Fish Market is empty, but not to worry: The manager of this bustling Chinatown store says he has plenty in back.

Live softshell turtles from Florida are on sale at a fish market in Chinatown, Los Angeles.


MORE GREEN NEWS

Sugar deal renews hope for the Everglades
By Sara Fain
Tallahassee Democrat
In recent weeks, we've seen plenty of criticism about the details of the proposed purchase by the South Florida Water Management District of 181,000 acres of U.S. Sugar Corp. land for the benefit of Everglades restoration.

Groups seek 'critical' habitat for manatees
By Jim Waymer
Florida Today
About a dozen popular manatee hangouts in Brevard County -- many in residential canals -- could be added to a federal habitat protection list if environmentalists get their way.

Climate change increases problems for Florida reefs
By Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
The last, largest stands of ancient elkhorn coral survive in shallow waters off North Key Largo, where rough seas sometimes expose thick golden branches reaching toward the sunlit surface.

Florida's Sawfish Population In Sharp Decline
By Neil Johnson
Tampa Tribune
With its imposing size, prehistoric appearance and unique barbed snout, the sawfish once was a common sight in Florida waters, often hauled to docks as a trophy catch or dispatched by fishermen when nets ensnared the toothy bill.

Hometown Democracy vs. Smart Growth (includes video)
WJHG NBC News 7
Panama City
War is raging between two groups pushing controversial amendments for the 2010 ballot. Hometown Democracy and Smart Growth want to limit the power city and county governments have over new developments.

Right whale rescued
By Dinah Voyles Pulver
Daytona Beach News-Journal
State and federal officials rescued an endangered right whale off the northeast Florida coast during the weekend, successfully disentangling hundreds of feet of rope and fishing gear from the whale.

Shy, rich farmers thrust in spotlight as players in U.S. Sugar deal
By Susan Salisbury
Palm Beach Post
The buzz in the close-knit Florida grower crowd started in 2000: A wealthy Missouri farmer was buying groves. Lots of groves.

As some seek to cool their bills, energy savings debate between FPL, environmentalists boils
By John Dorschner
TC Palm
In all the complex discussions about how to combat global warming, Vicki Eckels does her small part in her Fort Lauderdale home: She sets her air conditioning thermostat at 85 degrees, has stuffed extra insulation into her roof and runs the water heater only 90 minutes a day.

Mine obstacle in U.S. Sugar deal
By Paul Quinlan
Palm Beach Post
Gov. Charlie Crist's $1.34 billion bid to repair the Everglades by buying nearly all of U.S. Sugar Corp.'s farmland comes with a small demand that could lead to big headaches: Forget plans for a 7,000-acre rock mine on the property.





Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"

Florida environmental and wildlife news for the week ending 12-19-08

FEATURED STORIES

Questions remain about proposed biomass plan
By John Crawford
Tallahassee Democrat
Related: Biomass Q&A
A proposed biomass gasification plant in Tallahassee could create jobs and cleaner energy using some of the most advanced technology in the country, according to the company that wants to build it.

Florida panthers need new territory, federal officials say
By Craig Pittman
St. Pete Times
Florida's panther population has boomed so much over the past 15 years that it has run out of room in fast-growing southwest Florida, according to a new federal plan for saving the endangered species.

Why Is Miami Developer So Determined To Build? (includes audio)
By Greg Allen
NPR
A Miami home builder is seeking approval for a 7,000-house development in the midst of the biggest housing downturn since the Depression. And the new community would be built in an area that now is off-limits to big development, just three miles from the Everglades.

U.S. Sugar land deal is approved -- with an escape clause
By Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
South Florida water managers approved the controversial purchase of U.S. Sugar land considered essential to Everglades restoration.

Without a Net: Top Ten Wildlife, Fish and Plants in Need of Endangered Species Act Protection
Endangered Species Coalition
This report includes the top ten species plus three honorable mentions that are in danger of extinction, but are not protected under the Endangered Species Act. Under the Bush administration, listings have greatly decreased—accounting for the lowest per year listing average of any president in the history of the Endangered Species Act. With the new leadership of President Obama, we have the opportunity to get the implementation of the listing program and the Endangered Species Act back on track.




MORE GREEN NEWS

The Audacity of Parkland
By Alan Farago
Counterpunch
Parkland is a zoning application to move Miami-Dade's abused Urban Development Boundary closer to the Everglades.

Progress Energy to close coal plants after nukes come online
By Mitch E. Perry
WMNF Community Radio Tampa
Today Progress Energy CEO Jeff Lyash announced that his company has agreed to retire its oldest two coal-fire units at its Crystal River Energy Complex in Citrus County.

Hurdles remain for Florida-U.S. Sugar land deal
By Curtis Morgan and Mary Ellen Klas
Miami Herald
Skeptical lawmakers and a House committee review loom among upcoming hurdles for the state's controversial Big Sugar land buy.

Study: FPL plant slightly boosts health risks
By Jim Waymer
Florida Today
A $1 million study of air pollution in Port St. John found that the particles pumping out of Florida Power and Light's old oil and gas plant just slightly increase the risk of asthma attacks, asthma-related emergency room visits, premature death and other health problems.

Green groups divided over choice of Salazar to head Interior
By Kate Sheppard
Grist Magazine
Ken Salazar, Obama's choice to head the Department of the Interior, is provoking controversy in the environmental community.

FPL may have to refund $6 million to customers
By Julie Patel
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The state is expected to decide today whether to require Florida Power & Light Co. to refund customers more than $6 million in costs related to a 2006 power outage blamed on an FPL contractor.

Call for halt to Progress Energy rate hike grows louder
By Asjylyn Loder
St. Pete Times
State Sen. Charlie Justice joined the chorus calling on Gov. Charlie Crist to freeze Progress Energy's nuclear rate increase, which is due to hit bills in January.

Stop the Turtle Brokers
Editorial
Lakeland Ledger
Floridians have been trying to save sea turtles since the late University of Florida naturalist Archie Carr began to track their migratory patterns nearly half a century ago.

Parents Learn, Weigh-In On Biomass Plant (includes video)
Reported by Liza Park
WCTV News Tallahassee
Only a couple more days of school before Leon County kids get out for the holiday break... but many parents and other residents aren't taking a break from the controversy on a proposed biomass plant in Tallahassee.

Conservancy sues to block Naples golf development
By Eric Staats
Naples News
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida sued the federal government and a Naples-based developer Friday to try to stop plans for a golf course community in northern Collier County.





Wildwood Preservation Society is a non-profit 501(c)(4) project of the Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good. Click here to learn more.

"it's all connected"