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 3-19-10

FEATURED STORIES

Wildlife 2060: In the next 50 years..What's at stake for Florida?

FWC

Foster Folly News

Nevertheless, like the storybook tortoise, development plods on. And as the hare did, Floridians could learn a lesson from the resolute, slow-moving turtle.

‘Hometown Democracy’ foes offer bogus arguments

By Lauren Ritchie

Orlando Sentinel

you don't have to sort through confusing wording of two competing constitutional amendments — one that would give you absolute power to limit or grant huge developments and a second that was just developers in a tree-hugger's Birkenstocks.

Amendment 4 for livability

By Lesley Blackner

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Amendment 4 isn't on the ballot until November, but our opposition is already in overdrive.

4 or against? There’s more to Hometown Democracy than environment vs. sprawl

By Kate Bradshaw

Creative Loafing Tampa

He approaches the podium in a black turtleneck.

Bill would overhaul Florida water laws

By Kevin Spear

Orlando Sentinel

Virtually every important aspect of water in Florida, from tap to toilet and from storm runoff to bubbling spring, has a place in sweeping legislation unveiled Wednesday by state Sen. Lee Constantine.

Less than three months in, 2010 manatee deaths set annual record

By Karen Voyles

Ocala Star-Banner

Three months into 2010, Florida already has set an annual record for manatee deaths, and the number is expected to continue rising.

Deathly cold: Frigid temps kill record number of manatees

By Eric Staats

Naples Daily News

The largest manatee die-off ever recorded in Florida is playing out in the state’s backwaters and bays this winter.

Information Key to FL Panther Survival

By Glen Gardner

Public News Service Florida

There are only some 100 Florida panthers left in the state, and public awareness may be the key to their long-term survival.

Loggerhead turtles have chance at protection

By Kate Spinner

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Science showing steep declines in the number of loggerhead sea turtles may not be enough for the animal to achieve endangered status under federal law.

Charter committee strikes compromise on environmental standards

By Jeff Burlew

Tallahassee Democrat

Leon County's charter-review committee backed away from a proposal to allow county environmental ordinances to prevail over city ordinances in all instances.

Wood stork fledglings nesting in Fred George Basin, Leon County.

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 3-19-10:

Atwater Indicates Drilling Bill Will Be a Tough Sell

By Keith Laing

News Service of Florida

Senate President Jeff Atwater said Monday that the debate on oil drilling in Florida waters should be shaped by a recent report that said that new drilling would "have no discernible impact" on gas prices.

Commission: no strong case for drilling off Florida

By Jeremy Wallace

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Opening Florida's Gulf Coast to oil drilling would have almost no impact on prices at the pump or on the state's ongoing budget problems, a nonpartisan commission told a key committee of the Legislature on Monday.

Drilling report's conclusions disappoint both sides

By Jim Ash

Tallahassee Democrat

With its chief proponent saying he is in no hurry, the push to open Florida waters to oil and gas drilling inched past another milestone Monday when a House panel was briefed on a report by a Florida think tank.

Study: Drilling debate over state’s Gulf waters has wider implications

By Kevin Spear

Orlando Sentinel

Florida's debate over whether to open its narrow strip of waters in the Gulf of Mexico to offshore drilling is really about a much bigger decision, according to a report done for the state Legislature.

Florida oil: not so much, not so bad?

By Howard Troxler

St. Petersburg Times

Related: Collins Center Report

Last year, when some in our Legislature wanted to throw open Florida's waters to oil drilling right away, the president of our state Senate slowed it down.

New map suggests coastal residents aren't buying off-shore drilling concept

WTXL ABC News Tallahassee

A new map recently released, suggests residents near the coast aren't buying the concept of off-shore drilling.

The fight against nearshore oil drilling in Florida isn’t nearly over

By Cathy Harrelson

Creative Loafing Tampa

The last year could be considered a success in local environmental activism.

Renewable Energy is Florida's Best Bet for Economic and Environmental Security, Not Offshore Drilling

Staff Report

Audubon of Florida

Be in Tallahassee March 22nd and 23rd to voice your concerns about this urgent issue.

When it comes to the drilling debate, what we already have in hand is worth protecting

By Brian Haugen

Destin Log

You’ve heard the old phrase “one in the hand, two in the bush”?

The Trouble with Offshore Drilling

By Regan Nelson

Natural Resources Defense Council

Last Friday, NRDC released this statement in response to the recent energy report issued by the National Commission on Energy Policy (NCEP).

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

Pass a Resolution To Protect Florida's Beaches Now, via Audubon of Florida.
Urge President Obama’s Ocean Policy Task Force to recommend against offshore drilling within any previously protected coastal waters, via Defenders of Wildlife.
Tell Obama: Offshore Drilling is NOT the Answer to Energy Crisis, via Oceana.
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
Hands Across The Sand website; their Twitter page is here.
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.
Save Our Shores Florida website; their Twitter page is here.
Floridians Against Big Oil social network.
Save Our Shores Florida Facebook page.
Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition 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.
Eye-opening map of oil and gas leases and infrastructure in Gulf of Mexico, via MMS.
EnergyFLA.com, online hub of drilling proponents; their Twitter page is here.

Cumulative oil slick "footprint" resulting from the 10-week Montara oil platform blowout and spill that occurred in the Timor Sea off Western Australia in 2009; superimposed on the Gulf coast of Florida for scale. More info here.

MORE GREEN NEWS

Judge shows impatience over Glades cleanup

By Curtis Morgan

Miami Herald

Eighteen months ago, the federal judge overseeing Everglades cleanup progress tentatively endorsed a state bid to buy sugar fields for restoration projects, calling the opportunity to ``buy out the polluters'' a logical solution to long-standing problems.

Palm Beach County questions costs of governor’s Everglades restoration land deal

By Andy Reid

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

The numbers for Gov. Charlie Crist's blockbuster Everglades land deal just aren't adding up for Palm Beach County officials worried about seeing local environmental projects sacrificed to help cover the $536 million cost.

Florida water managers weigh cuts, selloffs to finance U.S. Sugar land deal

By Curtis Morgan

Miami Herald

With the odds of borrowing a half-billion bucks growing dicey, water managers are exploring new ways to finance Gov. Charlie Crist's deal with the U.S. Sugar Corp. -- a controversial land buy the governor stood firmly behind Thursday during a South Florida visit.

Burning down: New energy source is running into trouble

By Bruce Ritchie

Florida Tribune

As biomass energy supporters complain of opposition to some biomass projects around the state, a company that is proposing to build two in north Florida has suspended work on one in Gadsden County.

Snake slaying was improper, wildlife officials say

By David Fleshler

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

A man who helped kill a Burmese python in front of journalists at a Hallandale Beach processing plant broke the rules governing the hunting of the non-native snakes in the Everglades, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Constantine’s recycling bill would boost reuse of solid waste to 75% by 2020

By Kevin Spear

Orlando Sentinel

State Sen. Lee Constantine's longtime goal of dramatically boosting the recycling of Florida's 32 million tons a year of trash is gaining momentum.

Cement Over Miami

By Kirk Nielsen

Poder 360

In the aggregate, the federal stewards of Everglades restoration are moving quickly to preserve wetland destruction for generations to come.

Sugar deal has turned sour

By Paula Dockery

Miami Herald

Friends of the Everglades were understandably excited when Florida Gov. Charlie Crist unveiled a $1.75 billion deal to buy out U.S. Sugar two years ago, effectively closing down a major polluter of the Everglades.

What's happening to pythons bagged in state-sanctioned hunt?

By David Fleshler

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

For some Burmese pythons captured in the Everglades, the end of the line is a building in a warehouse district of Hallandale Beach.

House proposes to overhaul PSC's structure

By Mary Ellen Klas

Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times Tallahassee Bureau

Florida's Public Service Commission would undergo a complete face lift under a draft House proposal released Tuesday that moves the commission's regulatory staff into a separate entity that answers to the Legislature and tightens qualifications for commissioners.

A Good Deal for the Everglades

Editorial

New York Times

The effort to restore Florida’s Everglades has been revived thanks to the efforts of President Obama and Florida’s Republican governor, Charlie Crist.

First Coast might need a drink of (river) water soon

By Steve Patterson

Florida Times-Union

State water managers and utilities, some offering determined resistance, are drafting long-term plans for taking drinking water from Northeast Florida’s rivers.

Limbaugh needs tutorial in turtle ways

By Frank Cerabino

Palm Beach Post

Rush Limbaugh's great at using satire to make a point.

Nicer weather raising chances of boaters, whales crossing paths

By Steve Patterson

Florida Times-Union

Jay Smaglis was on his boat with a friend last week, trying to do some reef fishing east of Jacksonville Beach, when a surprise rose up from the ocean.

At Jacksonville Superfund site, Nelson calls for tax shift to pay for cleanups

By Steve Patterson

Florida Times-Union

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson visited a long-vacant Superfund site on Jacksonville's Talleyrand riverfront Monday to say he will try to reinstate taxes on the oil and chemical industries to pay for environmental cleanups at the country's most contaminated places.

Marine waters planning needed to avoid conflicts, panelists say

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

States, industries and scientists should work together to plan for the management and use of natural resources in oceans, panelists at a Florida Oceans Day workshop said Wednesday.

House OKs red tide study

Staff Report

Ft. Myers News-Press

Algae blooms that create red tide, which kill fish and threaten tourism in Florida, would become a focus of government study under legislation the House approved Friday.

Killing solar rebate program throws Florida into reverse

Editorial

Pensacola News Journal

When it comes to finding energy, the Legislature seems stuck in the past. It would rather talk about drilling for fossil fuels than lighting up Florida's future with renewable energy.

Politics and the environment

Editorial

Pensacola News Journal

Decades of environmental recklessness have left us depending on the political system to fix problems. And that often creates a bigger mess.

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 2-12-10

FEATURED STORIES

Federal agency rejects habitat protection for Florida panthers

By Craig Pittman

St. Petersburg Times

For the second time, federal wildlife officials have rejected a request that they designate thousands of square miles of South Florida as critical habitat for the Florida panther, the agency announced Thursday.

E-mail your representative: Save our last 100 panthers

Environment Florida

Experts say our government can save our last 100 Florida panthers by putting 3,548 square miles of South Florida wetlands out of the reach of big developers, miners and road-builders.

Land-buying in crosshairs of Florida House panel

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

Members of a house budget-writing panel today took another shot at the Florida Forever land-buying program.

Suit threatened over pesticide risks to Florida's animals

By Steve Patterson

Florida Times-Union

From panthers to shy salamanders in Baker County’s woods, Florida’s federally protected species have become players in a bid by environmentalists to tighten controls on pesticide use.

Florida cities need to get ready for rising seas, researcher says

By Steve Patterson

Florida Times-Union

Florida cities can protect themselves now from hurricane damage by getting ready for sea levels to rise someday, a coastal expert told beach engineers meeting Friday.

Hurricanes, sea level rise and creating sustainable communities

By Matthew Cimitile

WMNF Community Radio Tampa

As a peninsula surrounded by water and prone to extreme storms, Florida is one of the states with the most to lose if sea levels rise to the degree experts predict.

Farming water: new plan for Everglades restoration would pay ranchers to use land for storing water

By Paul Quinlan

Palm Beach Post

Jimmy Wohl's father got his unlikely start in the cattle business in 1962, snapping up 320 acres of military surplus land in western Broward County for $25 an acre and setting 10 cows loose on the property.

Florida Cabinet approves 2,800-acre land buy

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

The governor and Cabinet today approved the state purchase of 2,849 acres in Jefferson County.

State is looking at streamlining permit process for developers

By Catherine Whittenburg

Tampa Tribune

With more than 1 million residents out of work, state lawmakers are trying to concoct the right blend of business incentives to bring jobs to Florida.

Florida Black Bear

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 2-12-10:

Hands Across The Sand coverage

Offshore drilling opponents to join hands in protest Saturday

By Bill Cotterell

Tallahassee Democrat

Related: Google map of Sat. Feb 13^th Hands Across the Sand events in your area

Black-clad opponents of offshore oil drilling hope to mount the biggest protest in Florida history by joining hands along the coastline Saturday.

A Line in the Florida Sand

By Glen Gardner

Public News Service Florida

On Saturday, thousands of Floridians will literally draw a line in the sand to fight near-shore oil and gas drilling.

Oil-drilling opponents to join hands in protest

By Kevin Spear and Ludmilla Lelis

Orlando Sentinel

The Florida Keys Community College environmental club plans to show up Saturday dressed in black to symbolize an oil spill.

"Hands Across the Sand" - People gather in protest of Florida off-shore oil drilling

By Kathryn Bursch

10 Connects Tampa Bay

Even on a cool day, the Dahl family from North Dakota enjoys looking for shells and walking along St. Pete Beach.

One man draws a line in the sand against oil drilling: Dave Rauschkolb is hoping opponents will join hands on Feb. 13

By Deborah Wheeler

Ft. Walton Sun

When Bud & Alley’s owner Dave Rauschkolb hosted House of Representatives hopeful David Pleat at his 30A restaurant in October, he heard him issue a call to action against drilling for oil off his beautiful beaches.

Florida beach towns plan protest against oil drilling

By Curtis Morgan

Miami Herald

Beachside communities and environmentalists have planned a statewide protest against offshore oil-drilling on Saturday.

Offshore oil drilling foes to protest on beaches

By Craig Pittman

St. Petersburg Times

Opponents of offshore drilling are hoping thousands of people dressed in black will join them Saturday holding hands on beaches around the state for 10 minutes.

Oil-drilling protest planned Saturday on Pinellas beaches

By Dennis Joyce

Tampa Tribune

There may be more hand-holding in Pinellas than anywhere in Florida on Saturday when people at a dozen local beaches join a statewide oil-drilling protest.

Offshore drilling opponents plan beach lineup

By Dinah Voyles Pulver

Daytona Beach News-Journal

Volunteers are expected to line up along the coast Saturday in Florida to protest proposals for oil drilling in the state's offshore waters.

Oppose offshore drilling with strong show of hands

By Cathy Harrelson

Tampa Tribune

It isn't always easy to organize people in a far-flung state like Florida. But we're trying to do it to stand up for our beaches.

Other drilling news

Drilling off Florida: A closer look at the risks

Offshore Drilling Factsheet

Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition

A closer look at the facts proves hands-down that drilling is shortsighted, reckless, and simply not worth the economic or environmental risk.

Offshore oil drilling supporters prize access to federal waters

By Paul Flemming

Ft. Myers News-Press

Sometimes the money quote takes some time.

House panel hears about oil spills, beach sand

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

Members of a House panel Wednesday were provided with oil spill figures and they were told that seismic research is needed to find offshore deposits of beach sand before oil drilling is allowed.

Ag commish candidate: 'No, baby, no' to drilling

By Matt Dixon

Panama City News Herald

Democratic candidate for Agriculture Commissioner Scott Maddox held a press conference Wednesday with Mayor Scott Clemons regarding their opposition to offshore oil drilling.

Offshore oil drilling forum draws more than 125 on both sides of the issue

By Eric Staats

Naples News

Florida legislators in Tallahassee are teeing up a debate over drilling for oil in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

A Dark Cloud Lingers Over Our Beaches (scroll down to page 7)

By Sarah E. Gerard

Pinellas Scene

On Saturday, February 13, thousands of Florida residents will stand up on their local beaches in protest of a legislative bill threatening offshore drilling within 3 to 10 miles of the shoreline.

Don’t drill the heart out of economy

By Citizen Contributor

Collier Citizen

As a concern citizen of Southwest Florida (Naples) I’d like to draw the attention onto the Florida Drilling issue.

To drill or not to drill: South Walton High School holds forum

By Angel McCurdy

Northwest Florida Daily News

Just weeks before the Legislature takes up the issue, supporters and opponents had their say Thursday on a proposal to drill for oil off Florida’s coast.

Sun takes the pulse of the region on gulf drilling

By Deborah Wheeler

Ft. Walton Sun

Big Oil may face big opposition in South Walton, a recent informal poll from The Sun reveals.

Transcript of Skytruth’s John Amos to Senate on Offshore Oil Drilling

By Congressional Aid

ThatsMyCongress.com

The following is our transcription of the November 19, 2009 testimony of John Amos of Skytruth, a non-profit environmental imaging organization, to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Environmental monitoring 'tardy and superficial'

By David Weber

ABC News

Related: Too early to assess oil spill damage

The environmental monitoring program in the wake of last year's oil spill in the Timor Sea has been described as 'superficial'.

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

Urge President Obama’s Ocean Policy Task Force to recommend against offshore drilling within any previously protected coastal waters, via Defenders of Wildlife.
Tell Obama: Offshore Drilling is NOT the Answer to Energy Crisis, via Oceana.
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
Hands Across The Sand website; their Twitter page is here.
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.
Save Our Shores Florida website; their Twitter page is here.
Save Our Shores Florida Facebook page.
Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition 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.
Eye-opening map of oil and gas leases and infrastructure in Gulf of Mexico, via MMS.
EnergyFLA.com, online hub of drilling proponents; their Twitter page is here.

”We really do want to do for Florida, what oil and gas has done for Texas.” – M. Lance Phillips, the Texas oilman leading the charge to overturn Florida’s ban on oil drilling.

MORE GREEN NEWS

Cold took heavy toll on Florida wildlife

By Curtis Morgan

Miami Herald

Despite four decades of slogging through Everglades marshes and mangroves, wildlife ecologist Frank Mazzotti had never experienced anything like the aftermath of frigid January.

Long wait for help is over

By Michael Collins

Miami Herald

Florida Bay patiently has been waiting her turn for environmental restoration efforts

No Jim King, no push for clean energy in Florida

By Brandon Larrabee

Florida Times-Union

The death of Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville, could cause supporters of a drive to increase the amount of power Florida draws from renewable or nuclear sources to scale back their goals.

PSC delays vote on Gainesville's wood-burning power plant

By Christopher Curry

Gainesville Sun

The Florida Public Service Commission appeared poised to narrowly vote down Gainesville's application for a 100 megawatt wood-burning biomass power plant on Tuesday, but commissioners instead granted the city's last minute request to delay the vote in order to provide the city more time to answer state regulators' concerns.

'Dedicated' Biologist Has a Passion for Wildlife Protection

By Tom Palmer

Lakeland Ledger

It would be hard to walk into Nancy Douglass' office and not know that wildlife is her career.

NOAA to evaluate stony coral for endangered list

The Associated Press

Miami Herald

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will evaluate the status of 82 species of stony coral that could possibly be listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

How do Orange County mayoral candidates feel about Amendment 4?

By David Damron

Orlando Sentinel

Orange County's major mayoral candidates — even those now in office — cast themselves as outsiders and reformers.

PSC chairwoman says enemies want her off panel

By Bruce Ritchie

FloridaEnvironments.com

Florida Public Service Commission Chairwoman Nancy Argenziano says Senate talk of beefing up educational requirements for the PSC is aimed at getting her off the panel.

Cleaning up fouled Florida waters can't wait

Editorial

St. Petersburg Times

The clean water standards the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed for Florida are good for public health and the state's economy.

Turf war continues

Editorial

Panama City News Herald

Related: Large marina planned for old airport site

At this point, most people probably don’t care who is responsible for growing grass at the new airport in West Bay.

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"