Thank you Florida Forever!

Fred George Basin in Leon County would not have been saved without critical funding provided by the state’s Florida Forever land acquisition grant program. Thank you Florida Forever!

Endangered wood storks nesting in Fred George Basin. Photo courtesy Rich Leighton, Florida Nature Photography.

Ecotourism in Florida: Take Birding, Biking to the Bank
Editorial
Lakeland Ledger
Published Sunday, January 2, 2011

New census figures last month pegged Florida's population at 18.8 million residents. "With a gain of more than 2.8 million people [this past decade], it is clear that, even in these tough economic times, Florida is a thriving state rich with opportunity," said Gov.-elect Rick Scott.

Scott's 7-7-7 plan envisions seven steps to create 700,000 new jobs in Florida over the next seven years. Not surprisingly, former business CEO Scott thinks most of those steps should involve cutting taxes, shrinking government and eliminating regulations on the private-sector.

"Find me 700,000 jobs and I'll do pretty much anything," Scott said at one meeting with state lawmakers.

But as a businessman, Scott must realize that sometimes you have to invest money to make money. And that's as true in government as it is in business.

With the state's multibillion-dollar tourist industry hurting, Scott is proposing doubling Florida's tourism promotion budget to $62.5 million.

That's a good start, but it's only a beginning.

Consider the potential of nature-based tourism -- ecotourism -- in Florida. In the first half of this decade, for instance, birders and wildlife watchers spent $3.1 billion in Florida. Add the potential economic impact of hiking, camping, cycling, kayaking, fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities, and the potential payback to businesses and to entrepreneurs who cater to ecotourists is enormous.

But in a state that will likely top 20 million people in the next decade, protecting the natural assets that make Florida a nature-lover's paradise is paramount. Here are three things Scott and the Legislature should invest in to help preserve and grow nature-based tourism in the Sunshine State:

FUND FLORIDA FOREVER

Floridians have been investing in the acquisition and preservation of unspoiled beaches, wetlands, forests, uplands and prairies since the administration of Reubin Askew. In a state known for its urban sprawl and unbridled growth, the 2.4 million acres of public lands preserved form the backbone of "natural" Florida. The economic payback on that investment now and in the years to come is incalculable.

"Florida enjoys a $65 billion annual tourism industry that is inextricably linked to the utilization and enjoyment of our state's natural resources. Florida Forever and its predecessor Preservation 2000 are largely responsible for these protected natural resources that Floridians and visitors enjoy," says a 2009 study by the Nature Conservancy on the economic benefits of land conservation. "Tourism is Florida's largest single economic engine, and it can be sustainable provided that we conserve enough of what makes our state special."

SUPPORT STATE PARKS

Our state park system has been recognized as one of the best in America. State parks attract 21 million visitors a year and impact local economies to the tune of more than $1 billion annually.

The Nature Conservancy report determined that "for every 1,000 people attending a state park, the total direct impact on the local community is more than $43,400."

Consider Colk Creek State Park. Opened in 2007, it was the first new state park in Polk County in 30 years. The park is located on the 5,067-acre site of a former ranch in the Green Swamp off County Road 471, just north of U.S. 98. Its habitat ranges from cypress swamps to pine forests.

The natural site and its varied wildlife draw a steady stream of bird-watchers and other nature enthusiasts.

COMMIT TO TRAILS

Florida has more than 5,000 miles of recreational trails, and more than 4 million visitors a year use them to hike, bike and canoe. Florida's recreational trail system has been recognized as the best in the nation. The state's master plan for greenways and trails calls for connecting many of the state's most popular trails into a statewide system to link cities, towns and rural areas throughout the peninsula.

As Gov.-elect Scott searches for new jobs, he ought to realize that Florida's green assets are eminently marketable. But it will also require continued public investment to preserve, protect and expand those assets.

Turning Florida green into gold isn't alchemy but rather basic business sense.

HOW TO HELP
Support Florida Forever Coalition, of which Wildwood Preservation Society is a member. For writing your legislator and other action items click here.

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"

Good news for Wood Storks in South Florida!

Endangered wood storks nesting in Fred George Basin, Leon County.

Environmental groups achieve wetland protections in settlement of two lawsuits near Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
By Aislinn Maestas
National Wildlife Federation

A coalition of five environmental groups, including National Wildlife Federation and Florida Wildlife Federation, has settled two lawsuits in exchange for significantly increased wetland and habitat protections. The coalition has been opposing several proposed residential and golf projects in the ecologically important Cocohatchee Slough near Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Florida.

After over four years of litigation and several iterations of project permits, the environmental coalition and developer G.L. Homes of Sunrise, Florida, have agreed to over 200 additional acres of wetland impact reductions, restoration of endangered wood stork habitat, and relocation of Logan Boulevard onto old farm fields instead of through wetlands. This is in addition to $3 million of additional offsite mitigation secured in previous litigation on Saturnia Falls. Joining NWF and FWF in this victory are Audubon of Florida, Collier County Audubon Society, and Conservancy of Southwest Florida.

The settlement of these two federal lawsuits was preceded by other coalition legal actions at the state level challenging impacts to downstream water quality, flood protection and aquifer recharge, in addition to wetland and wildlife harm. All these water resource factors will benefit greatly from the significantly increased levels of wetland protection and restoration in this settlement.

In addition to these very positive results for wood storks and other imperiled species plus water resources, the same environmental coalition had earlier in October 2009 won a federal lawsuit against another residential golf course project called Mirasol which would destroy over 600 acres of unique wetlands in the same Cocohatchee Slough which emanates from Corkscrew Swamp. That is well over twice the acreage of wetlands destroyed on Parklands Collier and Saturnia Falls combined. In that decision a Southern District Court judge revoked Mirasol’s permit based on complaints over illegal wetland and wildlife impacts.

Jan Goldman-Carter, Water Resources Counsel for National Wildlife Federation, observed, “The revocation of the Mirasol permit offers another opportunity for the Army Corps and the South Florida Water Management District to require the avoidance of additional wetland, water and habitat impacts, additional protection, and true habitat restoration on the Mirasol site.”

Mirasol’s destruction of wetlands, combined with other wetland losses in the region, would have devastating effects on the wood stork nesting colonies at Corkscrew Swamp, the largest in the nation and vital to the species’ recovery. This cumulative destruction would also harm downstream water quality, flood protection, and water supply for the region.

Looking for opportunities to prevent further destruction of wetlands and habitat, the environmental groups are also working with state and federal agencies to improve the way they permit and compensate for wetland losses incurred when development is sited in Florida wetlands. Recommendations currently under consideration could significantly reduce or eliminate such impacts before the projects end up in court, wasting time and money, or worse, getting built and irrevocably destroying habitat for declining wildlife throughout Florida and harming the public’s interest in protection of vital water resources.



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 12-11-09

FEATURED STORIES

Black bear hunting may resume in Panhandle
The Associated Press
Florida Today
Mickey Larkins would rather watch bears than hunt them.

Crane once part of Operation Migration shot
By Amanda Nalley
Tallahassee Democrat
Even though whooping cranes have been protected from hunting by the Endangered Species Act since 1973, someone in Indiana apparently did not get the message.

Foes target growth laws months before session
By Jane Healy
Orlando Sentinel
As legislators prepare for next year's session, those in favor of weakening growth laws have started lurking the halls.

Florida’s Turf War Over Fertilizer Pollution Heats Up
By Gina Presson
Public News Service Florida
The turf war over fertilizer use is heating up in Hillsborough County this week. On Wednesday, the county commission, in its dual role as the Environmental Protection Commission, considers limiting fertilizer pollution in area waterways.

Fla. delegation weighs in on EPA water standards
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
Twenty-five members of Florida's congressional delegation have signed a letter urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to work closely with state officials and industry in setting limits for nutrients in Florida waterways.

Everglades restoration advocates hail beginning of Tamiami Trail bridge
By Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
Related editorial: One big leap for Everglades restoration
How big was Friday's Tamiami Trail bridge ground-breaking for Everglades restoration advocates and managers?

New Coalition Could Mean 10.5 Billion Dollar Restoration to Florida Everglades
By Gina Presson
Public News Service Florida
In a move that could bring billions of dollars to Florida, four of the state's environmental groups joined forces with nearly 30 other organizations this week to form the "America's Great Waters Coalition."

Wading birds' breeding rebounded over past decade -- good news for Everglades
By Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
Wading birds, the most beautiful residents of the Everglades and key measuring sticks of its biological health, have been breeding in numbers last recorded more than a half-century ago.

An early OK for a plan to help protect manatees
By Kate Spinner
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
A state wildlife commission gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a plan for reducing manatee deaths here by expanding slow boat speed zones.

FL Could Benefit From Climate Summit Treaty
By Gina Presson
Public News Service Florida
Florida's hopes for a clean energy economy are running high as leaders from nearly 200 nations meet in Copenhagen, Denmark, today through Dec. 18 in an attempt to reach an international treaty to combat global warming.

Protect Florida's fish: Only a fishing ban can save red snapper, 8 others until rebound
Editorial
Miami Herald
Florida's signature fish, red snapper, has been overharvested for years in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.

Nutrient overload: Cleaning polluted surface waters no 'burden' to Florida
Editorial
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Too few Floridians are aware of the deadly nutrient overloads in Florida's surface waters.

Seize the moment on climate change
Editorial
Miami Herald
Today 56 newspapers in 45 countries take the unprecedented step of speaking with one voice through a common editorial. We do so because humanity faces a profound emergency.


The endangered wood stork is rebounding from recent nesting failures.

THE BIG OIL ROUNDUP

The Big Oil roundup: news and information about Big Oil’s push to rig Florida’s coastline for the week ending 12-11-09:



A False Solution Called Offshore Oil Drilling
By Toni Reale
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Our nation is at an historical crossroads with how we choose to produce the energy that fuels our way of life.

Environment Florida warns new climate bill could mean Florida drilling; asks LeMieux to join Nelson in opposition
By Lesley Clark
Miami Herald
Environment Florida is panning the approach senators have taken in a new Senate climate control bill, saying it could lead to drilling off the Florida coast.

Scott Maddox: “No Baby, No”
Don’t Drill Florida
Agriculture Commissioner Candidate Scott Maddox on nearshore oil drilling: “I can think of no better way to destroy our economy and hurt average Floridians than to mortgage our future on the risky proposition of putting oil rigs a few miles off our coast.

Keep our coastline pristine and deep six Big Oil's plans
By Jeffrey C. Ellis
Ft. Walton Sun
As a native Northwest Floridian who has lived along many of its numerous coastlines, I feel drilling for oil offshore in the Gulf of Mexico is an extremely bad idea and would be detrimental to the health of the state’s shore.

Town council tells lawmakers not to drill off our beaches
By Christina Hernandez
WINK-CBS News Southwest Florida
Some say drilling for oil off Fort Myers Beach will ruin the town, but others think it'll help the economy.

County might not go with the flow on oil drilling
By Carl Orth
The Suncoast News
Pasco County commissioners want to get to the bottom of the oil drilling issue, so they are planning a local workshop in January.

Drilling's economic impact
Editorial
Northwest Florida Daily News
On the first day of our Nov. 22-24 series, “Oil & Water,” state Rep. Dave Murzin of Pensacola described the impetus behind the renewed debate over Gulf Coast drilling.

Near-Shore Oil Drilling: Slick Technology Sham
Editorial
Lakeland Ledger
Floridians and their legislators have had many reasons to be skeptical since proposals surfaced rapidly to open near-shore waters to exploration and drilling for oil.

TAKE ACTION NOW

Write Your State Senator: Big Oil's Promises Are "Empty"
Big Oil and their hired hands in Tallahassee have sworn that drilling Florida’s coast would be “invisible” – that there would be no unsightly rigs just a few miles off our coast. We know different – and a recent eye opening story in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune has proven Big Oil’s promises completely “empty.” Click the picture above – keeping the pressure on by letting our State Senators know people like you are paying attention is how we’ll beat Big Oil.

MORE ONLINE ACTIONS
Help Drill for Solutions Not for Oil, via Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
Let us decide! Petition to Governor Charlie Crist, Senate President Jeff Atwater, and House Speaker Larry Cretul, via Civic Concern.
Contact Your Officials About New Drilling Off Florida's Coasts, via Civic Concern.
Ask your state legislators to keep the rigs out, via Save the Manatee Club.
Write a letter to the editor, via Audubon of Florida.
Write your state legislators, via Audubon of Florida.
Urge Senate President Jeff Atwater to oppose offshore oil drilling, via Progress Florida.
Tell Sen. Atwater Not To Allow Oil Drilling In Special Session, via Audubon of Florida.
Sign the petition against oil drilling, via Protect Florida’s Beaches.
Tell Salazar: No drilling off Florida's Coast, via Environment Florida.
Tell new Senator LeMieux to Repower America, via Environment Florida.
Related action: Don't go drill crazy in the Everglades, via Center for Biological Diversity.
Related action: Keep oil drilling out of climate change legislation, via Oceana.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES OF NOTE
Protect Florida’s Beaches, recently launched coalition website.
Protect Florida’s Beaches on Facebook.
Think, Baby, Think blog via Protect Florida’s Beaches.
Don’t Drill Florida website.
Don’t Drill Florida Facebook page.
Hands Across The Sand website.
Environment Florida offshore drilling page.
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy offshore drilling page.
Skytruth blog, an excellent source of info.
Not the Answer blog, courtesy Surfrider Foundation.
EnergyFLA.com, online hub of drilling proponents; their Twitter page is here.

MORE GREEN NEWS

Governors to meet over tri-state water dispute
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
The governors of Alabama, Florida and Georgia likely won't have a proposed water-sharing agreement in hand next week when they meet to discuss the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system, a Florida official said today.

Study on St. Johns water withdrawals extended
By Dinah Voyles Pulver
Daytona Beach News-Journal
The deadline for completion of a study on possible environmental impacts of pumping water from the St. Johns River will be extended.

State senators to visit Ocala to discuss water issues
By Fred Hiers
Ocala Star-Banner
Florida lawmakers on the powerful Senate Select Committee on Inland Waters will make Ocala their first stop next week as part of a statewide tour and public meetings to discuss water issues.
Recreational Fishing Alliance challenges red snapper closure
By Jim Sutton
Florida Times-Union
The Recreational Fishing Alliance wasted no time in mounting a legal challenge to an interim red snapper closure, announced Thursday by the federal government and entered into the Federal Registry on Friday.

Interior Secretary pledges to protect lagoon
By Megan Downs
Florida Today
Ken Salazar, secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, visited the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge Saturday morning, pledging to protect the national parks and fight global warming at the worldwide conference.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium announces Winter the dolphin inspires movie
By Dominick Tao
St. Petersburg Times
Winter the dolphin first entered the spotlight when she was pulled from a tangle of buoy line off Florida's east coast four years ago. The calf's injuries were so severe, she lost her tail.

Man's answer to conservation is blowin' in the wind
By Jim Waymer
Florida Today
The blades that spin in George T. Stringfellow's backyard help slash his electric bill by about 75 percent.

Do Florida flatwoods fight global warming?
By Kevin Spear
Orlando Sentinel
An electronic connoisseur of carbon rose above a large patch of piney wilderness near Orlando on Wednesday, sniffing for data that could play a part in any global response to the climate change being hotly debated by diplomats this week in Copehagen.

A Fake Scandal
The Progress Report
Think Progress
As delegates from countries across the globe gather at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, the world is waiting to see if international leaders will commit to the bold reductions in carbon emissions needed to curb the effects of global warming.

Cabinet rejects county landowners' efforts to intensify developments
By Jennifer Sorentrue and Michael C. Bender
Palm Beach Post
Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Cabinet today unanimously ordered Palm Beach County to rescind a pair of growth plan amendments that would have expanded development density for two property owners.

FWC approves draft rule changes for imperiled species listing
From the FWC
TC Palm
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) heard draft rules for endangered and threatened species in Florida at the meeting in Clewiston on Wednesday.

FWC approves rule to allow peregrine falcons for falconry in Florida
Press Release
FWC
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a rule allowing falconers to take peregrine falcons for the sport of falconry at its meeting in Clewiston on Wednesday.

Paper or plastic? I'll take BYOB
By Sue Carlton
St. Petersburg Times
On a recent morning when I was lucky enough to walk the beach, I saw the tide had gone out, way out, leaving behind what looked like a scattering of children's toys across the sand.

Ten years after
Editorial
Gainesville Sun
It's been 10 years since the EPA was petitioned to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.



Editorial cartoon by Chan Lowe, South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Read the artist’s commentary here.

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"

Major update on effort to save Fred George Basin

Major update on effort to save Fred George Basin

The Leon County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday night to purchase two critically important land parcels as part of the Fred George Basin conservation project. This marks the third and fourth out of five tracts that will comprise the 175-acre Fred George Basin Greenway.

Wildwood Preservation Society was formed in April 2006 to challenge a rezoning notice that, if approved, would have allowed reckless high-density development in the Fred George Basin floodplain, an area active with endangered wildlife and that had already suffered from nearby sprawl. Thanks to the hard work and support of many, many individuals and a coalition of concerned organizations, the heart of Fred George Basin has largely been saved. The Fred George Basin Greenway is slated to eventually open as a public park with low-impact recreation such as hiking trails.


Endangered wood storks in Fred George Basin, May 2009. Photo courtesy Rich Leighton, Florida Nature Photography.

Detailed background (adapted from Leon County Commission Agenda Item 38 from the Oct. 13, 2009 meeting): The Fred George Basin, located in northwestern Leon County, is made up of several parcels that contain developable uplands as well as flood prone areas, wetlands, and the Fred George Sink. The three parcels that form the core of the Fred George Basin were owned by R.P. Properties, LLC. (R.P.), the Maples family, and Christina Maples. The owners applied for a rezoning of their property from RA to R-3 in April 2006. Prior to the Planning Commission hearing on the requested rezoning, petitions were filed with the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) by Wildwood Preservation Society founder Misty Penton, a nearby resident, claiming that the substantial increase in residential density would change the nature of the rural community, increase runoff in the Fred George Basin, cause flooding within some neighborhoods, and have a negative impact on threatened and endangered species in the area. Standing to challenge was found in two of the three rezoning requests (R.P. and James Maples). Due to an interest by the County to obtain the parcels, the rezoning requests were voluntarily postponed by the owners, and the DOAH hearing placed in abeyance, pending a decision on final disposition of the property.

At the October 10, 2006 Board meeting, the acquisition of the parcels was discussed under Commissioners’ time and staff was directed to develop an agenda request concerning this issue. The agenda item went before the Board at the December 12, 2006 regular meeting. After discussion, the Board voted to acquire the tract owned by R.P. Properties LLC, the most environmentally sensitive parcel, upon dismissal of the rezoning request, with the option to acquire the James Maples and Christina Maples property at a future time. In addition, the Board directed staff to seek Blueprint 2000 (BP 2000) funding for the acquisition of all three properties.

At the February 13, 2007 regular meeting, an agenda item concerning the proposed Fred George Basin Greenway went before the Board. After discussion, staff was directed to seek funding for the acquisition of the three original parcels and two additional parcels, the four-acre Schwartz property, located to the north of the original three parcels, and the 13-acre Cavanagh property, located to the east of the original three parcels. Staff was directed to seek the additional funding required for the acquisition by submitting a Florida Communities Trust (FCT) Grant application to the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

In January 2007, the County submitted a request to BP 2000 to reclassify the Fred George Basin project from a Tier 2 to a Tier 1 to obtain BP 2000 funding. In addition, the County requested that BP2000 utilize the funding originally allocated for Lake Jackson projects to the Fred George Basin project since many of the Lake Jackson projects had been completed by the County using other sources of funding. BP 2000 staff submitted this proposal to their Technical Review Committee (TRC) on February 8, 2007.

The TRC considered the issue and formally recommended the transfer of $2.691 million from the Lake Jackson project to the Fred George Basin project. This recommendation was presented to the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC concurred with the TRC, and formally recommended the transfer $2.691 million to the Fred George Basin project and to begin the reclassification process necessary to move the project from Tier 2 to Tier 1. This recommendation went to the BP 2000 Intergovernmental Agency (IA) meeting on February 26, 2007. The IA directed BP 2000 staff to schedule the public hearing necessary to move the Fred George Basin project to Tier 1 and, upon the reclassification, transfer no more than $2.77 million to the project. At a public hearing on June 4, 2007, the IA approved the reclassification of the project to Tier 1 and the allocation of no more than $2.77 million to the project.

Concurrent with the process of seeking funds through BP 2000, the Tallahassee-Leon County Planning Department (Planning) and the Grants Program Coordinator, working with Wildwood Preservation Society, developed and submitted a FCT application for the Fred George Basin Greenway project. The application called for reimbursement to the County after the parcels were acquired through a voluntary negotiated transaction. The application was successful, ranking the Fred George Basin Greenway project 5th out of 110 applicants, and the County executed an agreement with FCT on January 15, 2008.

In order to expedite the acquisition of the properties, County staff ordered appraisals for all five parcels. Since FCT would utilize the appraised value in determining the amount of reimbursement to the County, the FCT process of appraisal was utilized. Two state-certified appraisers were retained, and appraisals were done for each parcel. A third state-certified appraiser reviewed the appraisals to insure accuracy, and developed a Maximum Approved Purchase Price (MAPP).

At its regular meeting of December 9, 2008, the Board approved the purchase of the RP property for $900,000, and allocated an additional $200,000 for environmental cleanup of the site. At its July 14, 2009 regular meeting, the Board approved the purchase of the Dan Schwartz property for $100,000. Both parcels have since been purchased.

With the purchase of the two newest properties, four of the five parcels originally planned for acquisition are now County owned. More than 160 acres have been saved to date. Currently Leon County staff is negotiating with the owners of the fifth parcel, a 13-acre piece that is predominantly flood plain and bottomland forest.


Egret chicks in Fred George Basin, May 2009. Photo courtesy Rich Leighton, Florida Nature Photography

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"

Wildwood Preservation Society Summer 2009 Update

Great Blue Heron in Fred George Basin July 3, 2006. Photo taken within property once threatened by development, now slated for conservation.

Snowy egret chicks nesting in Fred George Basin, Spring 2009. Photo courtesy Richard Leighton, Florida Nature Photography.

Summer 2009 Update

Note: click here to view our previous update.

We recently received the most exciting news to date regarding our three year campaign to Save Fred George Basin. Leon County has finalized the purchase and preservation of a sensitive 78-acre parcel that had been previously slated for development. The property contains karst wetlands used as core Wood Stork foraging habitat, and the pristine Fred George Pond. WPS supports the county’s continuing efforts to negotiate with landholders in order to place several adjacent properties into conservation, including a small lot containing the important Fred George Sink, which feeds into the Floridan Aquifer and the City of Tallahassee drinking water supply.

It has been an active nesting season for endangered wood storks in Fred George Basin’s Wildwood rookery. With overdevelopment in South Florida pushing more wood storks north from their original habitat, it is more critical now than ever that they be protected. Click here to see recent photos of wood storks and other wildlife in Fred George Basin.

Meanwhile, Fat Cat builders have begun a public relations and lobbying campaign to undermine current wood stork protections by downgrading their endangered status. It seems wealthy developers will stop at nothing to pave over our beautiful state. Despite a banner nesting season in 2009, biologists are not convinced that wood storks are on the path to a sustained recovery, primarily due to overbuilding in South Florida. You can learn more about this issue by visiting our blog post here. Watch for future updates from us via MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, and our main blog.

Endangered wood storks nesting in Fred George Basin, Spring 2009. Many thanks to Richard Leighton, Florida Nature Photography.

Endangered wood storks nesting in Fred George Basin, Spring 2009. Big thanks to videographer Rob Pepple.

On March 29th WPS founder Misty Penton led a community clean-up of Fred George Basin. The event was covered by WCTV CBS News. About fifteen volunteers helped remove trash and debris in order to prevent contamination of our drinking water, minimize flooding, and help protect endangered wildlife that lives nearby.

WPS founder Misty Penton with WCTV reporter Kelsey Johnson

Wildwood Preservation Society worked unsuccessfully during the recently concluded Florida legislative session to prevent lawmakers from gutting the critical Florida Forever program. Florida Forever is widely regarded as the most successful state land conservation program in the country, with more than 2 million acres of our state’s most sensitive areas having been preserved since its inception. Fred George Basin is among Florida Forever’s beneficiaries, as WPS assisted Leon County in securing Florida Forever grant funding to match costs associated with acquiring the last undeveloped portions of the basin. WPS will continue to work with the Florida Forever Coalition to restore this valuable program when next year’s budget is deliberated by our legislature.

Unfortunately, the loss of Florida Forever wasn't the only legislative activity this past session that angered conservationists. The legislature passed, and Gov. Crist signed into law, a controversial bill (SB 360) aimed at promoting more developmental sprawl. The law, which was widely criticized by municipal governments and newspaper editorial boards, was written and supported by builders and vigorously opposed by environmental groups. The Governor also signed a bill (SB 2080) that shuts out the public on important water-use decisions and allows a handful of bureaucrats to dictate permitting for large-scale wetlands destruction. Our friends at Florida Wildlife Federation have a good summary of what the 2009 legislative session means for Florida’s environment here.

We do have good news from South Florida, where a judge’s ruling will help prevent Lowe’s from building a large retail store outside of the Miami-Dade Urban Development Boundary, right up to the edge of the Everglades. This important decision should bolster efforts to stop sprawl from further encroaching on the crown jewel of Florida’s ecological landscape. Thank you to everyone who responded to last year’s action alerts that we distributed on behalf of Hold the Line and Progress Florida to stop Lowe’s reckless plan.

And finally, WPS has joined the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition, a group of more than 5,900 organizations seeking new and greater funding for wildlife conservation and related education and recreation. The coalition is working to promote wildlife action plans designed to give us the ability to conserve wildlife and the lands and waters where they live for future generations.

Wildwood Preservation Society is an all-volunteer nonprofit effort. Special thanks to our many supporters, volunteers and coalition members. Questions? Email us at wildwoodpreservation@gmail.com.

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"

Spring and Summer 2009 Fred George Basin wildlife photos

Spring and Summer 2009 Fred George Basin wildlife photos

Endangered wood storks nesting in Fred George Basin, Spring 2009. Photo courtesy Richard Leighton, Florida Nature Photography.


Snowy egret chicks nesting in Fred George Basin, Spring 2009. Photo courtesy Richard Leighton, Florida Nature Photography.


Snowy egret chicks nesting in Fred George Basin, Spring 2009. Many thanks to Richard Leighton, Florida Nature Photography.


Barred owl amidst the wood in Fred George Basin, June 2009.


Endangered wood storks nesting in Fred George Basin, June 2009. Caption contest, anyone?


Endangered wood stork in flight above Fred George Basin, June 2009.


Snowy egrets nesting in Fred George Basin, June 2009.


In Fred George Basin, June 2009.


Fred George Basin, June 2009.


Juvenile wood storks nesting in Fred George Basin, June 2009. Another caption contest candidate.


Female anhinga in Fred George Basin, June 2009.


Male anhinga in Fred George Basin, June 2009.


Snowy egret chicks nesting in Fred George Basin, June 2009.


Nesting juvenile wood storks in Fred George Basin, June 2009.


Fred George Basin, June 2009.


Fred George Basin, June 2009.


Fred George Basin, June 2009.


Fred George Basin, June 2009.


No hunting in Fred George Basin! Foxes and other wild predators excepted…


…Fox returning to den after successful rabbit hunt in Fred George Basin, June 2009.


Endangered wood storks fill the sky above Fred George Basin, June 2009.

Note: All photos by Jon Bleyer of Wildwood Preservation Society except where noted.

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 7-3-09

FEATURED STORIES

Boom in wood stork numbers sparks debate over endangered status
By Curtis Morgan
Miami Herald
Related editorial: Don't delist bird
Related Palm Beach Post story: Endangered wading birds making a comeback
The wood stork, an ungainly duckling among the Everglades' elegant wading birds, has been breeding in numbers unseen in decades.


Endangered wood storks nesting in Fred George Basin, Leon County, June 2009

Crist signs water-management bill
By Jim Ash
Tallahassee Democrat
St. Petersburg Times editorial: Crist bows down to developers again
Orlando Sentinel editorial: Our gray governor
Angering conservationists and siding with developers, Gov. Charlie Crist on Tuesday signed a controversial bill that would give water management district staff working behind closed doors more power to grant lucrative water rights.


Editorial cartoon by Dana Summers, Orlando Sentinel.

Hometown Democracy Amendment on 2010 Ballot (audio story)
By Trimmel Gomes
WFSU Public Radio
Related Eye on Miami story: On Florida Hometown Democracy, For Four!
Support Florida Hometown Democracy here.
The Florida Supreme Court last week ruled Hometown Democracy amendment will appear on the November of 2010 ballot.

Most of Fla. delegation remains opposed to drilling
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
Related Tampa Tribune story: Nelson gathers drill ban support
Florida's two U.S. senators and 22 of its 25 representatives have signed a letter to House and Senate leaders reaffirming their opposition to oil drilling that could encroach upon military missions in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Why the latest oil drilling bill has a good shot of passing
By Jeremy Wallace
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Sign the Progress Florida action alert here.
"The drilling fight is more about a regional battle than it is about partisanship," said Mark Ferrulo, of Progress Florida, a group based in St. Petersburg fighting the drilling proposal.

Politicians Reconsider Drilling Off Florida Coast (includes audio)
By Greg Allen
NPR
For years, oil production has been largely banned in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida.

Navy vs. Environmentalists Off Florida Coast
By Clifford Krauss
New York Times
Related Florida Times-Union story: Florida still probing Navy range’s environmental effects
Perhaps the last thing the Navy is looking for at the moment is a tangle with environmentalists.


Critically endangered Atlantic Right Whales

MORE GREEN NEWS

Turtle Lives Hinge on Eco-Passage
By Joe Follick
Lakeland Ledger
With the marshy lily pads of Lake Jackson to his right and a steady stream of zooming tractor-trailers to his left, Matt Aresco was again patrolling the one-mile stretch of U.S. 27 just minutes north of the Capitol last week where he has spent thousand of hours in the past decade.

Florida Keys "ground zero" for sea-level rise
By Cammy Clark
Miami Herald
Treasure salvors searching for an 18th-century wreck in the Florida Straits a few years ago made a fascinating but little noticed discovery. Not buried treasure. Buried land.

'Resilient' natural areas combat climate change, experts say
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
More than 50 representatives of environmental groups and state and federal agencies gathered in Leon County Thursday to discuss revising strategies for protecting Florida's wildlife in response to climate change.

Building a Bridge for Everglades Survival
By Gina Presson
Public News Service
The Everglades has been called the River of Grass, but conservation groups say it may be in danger of drying up without immediate bridging along the Tamiami Trail between Miami and Naples.

State still lets Central Florida's sludge foul Everglades, critics say
By Kevin Spear
Orlando Sentinel
The foul waters of Lake Okeechobee, the failing health of the Everglades and even sick dolphins along the South Florida coast might seem like troubles so distant they could hardly be the Orlando area's responsibility.

U.S. money going for reefs
By Cammy Clark
Miami Herald
An underwater nursery project to restore the struggling coral reefs along Florida's southern coast and the U.S. Virgin Islands will receive $3.3 million in national stimulus funding, according to an announcement Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Hints of a comeback as scallop season opens
By Bruce Ritchie
FloridaEnvironments.com
The expansive sea grasses in the clear waters off Taylor County wave gently in the currents and shimmering light while occasionally revealing an orange starfish, a blue crab or a clump of gray oysters.

The goal: make solar more accessible
By Tom Bayles
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Despite myriad rules that some say dissuade Floridians from using solar power and force them to remain addicted to fossil fuels, Bill Johnson of upstart Brilliant Harvest says solar power is a key element of the state's economic future.

Toddler's death renews calls to ban importing pythons to Florida
By Keith Morelli
Tampa Tribune
The suffocation of a toddler by a pet python is bolstering calls to ban the importation of the reptiles.

State park admission fees on the rise
By Nick Walter
Bradenton Herald
Florida state park enthusiasts will pay a few more dollars to enter the parks beginning Wednesday.


Editorial cartoon by Jim Morin, Miami Herald.

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

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