Read Judge to hear arguments in Florida/Georgia ‘Water War’ - “Going along with a request from Florida’s attorneys, a federal judge will hear arguments in December in a long-running water war between Florida and Georgia. Senior U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Paul J. Kelly, who was appointed by the U.S. Supreme Court to serve as a special master in the case, has scheduled oral arguments Dec. 16, according to an order issued last week. Kelly, who serves on the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and is based in Santa Fe, N.M., will hear arguments in an Albuquerque courtroom — nearly 1,500 miles from Northwest Florida’s Apalachicola Bay, a key area in the case. The lawsuit, filed by Florida in 2013, is a battle about water in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system, which starts in Georgia and flows south into the Florida Panhandle. Both sides filed briefs early this year, and Florida asked for oral arguments in March. “The special master previously identified the potential that oral argument would be scheduled, and given the extensive volume of the evidentiary record and number of issues addressed by the briefing, the state of Florida anticipates that argument could be helpful, especially if the special master has additional questions on the issues” that he directed the states to address in briefs, the state’s request for arguments said...The states have argued, in part, about whether imposing a cap on Georgia’s water use would help the Apalachicola River region, which has grappled in recent years with problems such as a declining oyster industry in Franklin County’s Apalachicola Bay…” Jim Saunders reports for the News Service of Florida.
Read Toxic blue-green algae: Florida may increase testing to find polluters - “Water managers are doubling down efforts to identify pollution hot spots in the northern Everglades with a plan that would increase water testing by more than 40 percent. The proposal, which is scheduled for discussion Thursday by South Florida Water Management District governing board members, escalates monitoring in watersheds that flow into areas ripe for toxic blue-green algae outbreaks. The increased oversight is in response to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ January mandate ordering the state’s five water management districts to focus on projects that “will help address harmful algae blooms and maximize nutrient reductions.” The watersheds that feed Lake Okeechobee, as well as the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries, will see monitoring sites increase from 144 to 211. Testing sites in Lake Okeechobee will increase from 17 to 32. “To swoop in and cover all three watersheds and increase testing in the lake is significant. I haven’t seen an increase like this in a while,” said Susan Gray, the water management district’s bureau chief of applied sciences. “The monitoring in the lake will also go from monthly to bi-weekly…Florida has focused for 30 years on cleaning Everglades-harming phosphorus from the water flowing south, but nitrogen has been less of a concern. The recent blooms of blue-green algae, which are actually a cyanobacteria, need nitrogen already dissolved in the water to grow, as well as phosphorus...” Kimberly Miller reports for the Palm Beach Post.
Read U.S. has lost 24 million acres of natural land in 16 years: independent report - “The United States has lost the equivalent of nine Grand Canyon national parks, or 24 million acres (9712455.41 hectares) of natural area, between 2001 and 2017 due to agriculture, energy development, housing sprawl and other human factors, making the country more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, according to a report released Tuesday. The study by progressive think tank Center for American Progress titled “How Much Nature Should America Keep” said the U.S. needs to set a goal to protect 30% of land and oceans by 2030 to stem the rapid decline of natural areas, which will protect the country from the worst impacts of climate change and wildlife extinction. The report attempted to calculate the rate of loss of natural lands by assessing the impact of oil and gas extraction, road construction, housing sprawl, agriculture and other human activities. Currently, 12% of U.S. land area has been conserved as national parks, wilderness areas, and other types of protected areas while 26% of U.S. ocean territory is safeguarded from extractive activities like oil and gas drilling, the report said. “The United States is entering an era in which it will rely more than ever on the integrity and stability of the natural world to provide economic prosperity, safeguard the health of communities, and weather the effects of a changing climate,” the report said. The steepest losses of natural areas - untouched by human development - occurred in the southern and midwestern U.S. as the footprints of cities, farms, roads, power plants, and other development increased from cover 47% and 59% of their land area. To achieve a goal of protecting 30% of land by 2030, the U.S. would need to beef up existing land conservation policies at both the federal and local level, the report said.” Valerie Volcovici reports for Reuters.
Read We need biosolids-dumping rule that actually protects our waters - “The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has responded to the environmental problems caused by the dumping of Class B biosolids on Florida pastures with the establishment of a Biosolids Technical Advisory Committee, followed with a draft of proposed new rules covering the land application of biosolids. The immediate first impression of the proposed rules is that it is more heavily weighted to preserve the waste-producers’ ability to dump biosolids on Florida lands than it is to protect our environment, particularly the waters of the state of Florida. Two things are clear: First, based on scientific studies analyzing the land application of biosolids in areas with physical characteristics similar to Blue Cypress Lake, the new rule will not protect the lake. Second, the dumping of tons of biosolids on fields, particularly with the known ratio of total nitrogen to total phosphorus, serves no valid agronomic purpose…[T]he meat of the proposed rule is the section covering the nutrient management plan. The section is a complicated mess and is heavily slanted to allow the inappropriate application of biosolids, rather than protect Florida waters. The rule is so loose and vague in certain areas that no two people will have the same understanding of what it means…Third, the rule should make clear that from this point forward, the cost of remediation for any damage done to the waters of the state of Florida is paid by the entities responsible for the pollution. This provision also will require appropriate monitoring so that those responsible for the damage can be properly identified… The present rule appears to be focused on ensuring that biosolids management costs for municipalities are reduced, and not that the waters of the state of Florida are protected... As the Department of Environmental Protection moves forward with the rule-making process, it should change its focus and change the rule. It should change its focus from reducing the costs for South Florida waste producers to protecting the environment of Florida, and change the rule so that it protects Blue Cypress Lake and similar waters in our great state…” Bob Solari writes Opinion for the Treasure Coast Newspapers.
Read Documentary about algae and public health debuts to sold-out crowd - “It wasn’t billed as a horror movie, but “Troubled Waters” drew its share of gasps from a sold-out audience at its Monday night premiere. Calusa Waterkeeper’s new documentary explores last year’s disastrous water crises and the potential health consequences to those who lived through the choking red tide and blue-green algae blooms. Participating scientist Paul Cox likened it to “a neurotoxic vice, where you have toxins from the red tide offshore (and) the cyanobacteria toxins coming down the Caloosahatchee from Okeechobee," with residents squeezed on both sides. The nonprofit turned the evening into a star-studded (scientifically speaking) event at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, complete with a post-screening panel discussion. Audience members queued up to quiz the assembled experts, a group that executive director K.C. Schulberg characterized as “a lot of firepower,” and the question period could easily have stretched into the wee hours, Waterkeeper John Cassani said. Filmmaker Cat Chase brought her audience into labs to watch dolphin brains being examined, flew them over Lake Okeechobee to scan a growing algae bloom and let them peer into a Dumpster filled with dead fish and a bloated sea turtle. She let them hear from people trying to understand the scope of the problem: epidemiologists, charter captains, ethnobotanists, neurologists and a bereft daughter who blames cyanobacteria for her father’s death. “I was really impressed with the way the region responded,” Cassani said. “People are still very animated and engaged.” Taglined “Public health impacts of harmful algal blooms,” the film featured renowned researchers, academics, medical professionals and citizens exploring harmful algal bloom’s possible connection to liver cancer, Parkinson’s disease and ALS, as well as less dire but bothersome maladies like gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses. Of particular concern to panelists and audience members is the risk of airborne algae toxins…” Amy Bennett Williams reports for the Fort Myers News-Press.
Read Alachua County Commission decides to repeal plastic ban after lawsuit threat - “Deliberation on the motion to appeal Alachua County’s ban on Styrofoam carry-out containers and single-use plastic bags took less than 20 minutes. “We didn’t want to jeopardize our finances with something we could hold off on and attack later,” Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler said. Less than a month prior, Board of County Commissioners on July 9 unanimously voted to establish a ban on polystyrene, Styrofoam, containers and single-use plastic bags. The ban taking effect in January would have affected only unincorporated areas. The commissioners six days later received a letter from the Federal Retail Federation and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. It said the county’s recently-adopted ordinance was unlawful according to Ch. 403.7033 of the Florida Statutes and that the letter served as an official recommendation to repeal it or face litigation. On Tuesday, the commissioners decided unanimously to give notice of an intent to repeal Ordinance No. 2019-14. The ordinance was in direct conflict with that statute, which reads, “No local government, local governmental agency, or state government agency may enact any rule, regulation, or ordinance regarding use, disposition, sale, prohibition, restriction, or tax of such auxiliary containers, wrappings, or disposable plastic bags.” Commissioners were frustrated by the law’s preemption of what’s known as home rule, which gives local governments the power to create their own regulations…” Zahra Khan reports for WUFT.
Read Time is now to save Outpost from destruction - “Now is the time to rally together, speak your mind and save The Outpost — a 30-year protected conservation land of 100 acres. Now is the time to let your voice be heard in emails to county officials. Now is the time to attend the two public hearings Aug. 15 and Sept. 17. Your attendance is key to the outcome of the hearings...Ponte Vedra Corporation, a subsidiary of Gate Petroleum, wants to change the conservation land to residential and build 66homes on one acre properties over a 10-year period. This land is a wildlife treasure bordering Guana Lake for one mile and is almost entirely surrounded by the Guana Tolomato Matanzas Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR), the only national estuarine research reserve on the east coast of Florida. Development would cause 74 upland acres of the Outpost to be decimated, including the closed canopy hammock that is rare on Florida’s coastline. The fertilizer and pesticide run-off will have a negative impact on the water quality of Guana Lake. The 10- year construction project will most certainly have devastating consequences for migratory and native birds, as well as other wildlife. More than a dozen protected animal species are known to exist in the vicinity of the Outpost. Wild Florida is diminishing day by day. Now is the time for nature-lovers, birders, hikers, kayakers and anglers to join forces and save The Outpost. Now is the time to gather family and friends and get the word out: It’s now or never…” Allison B. Marshak writes Opinion for the St. Augustine Record.
Read Snakes on a plain: invasive species and how we handle them - “Invasive species are the house guest from hell: inviting over whoever they want, eating everything in sight and leaving you to clean up the mess. These non-native invaders put over 40 percent of threatened or endangered species at risk, according to the National Wildlife Foundation. In Florida, the demise of smaller native animals can be traced to one main species: the Burmese python. It’s estimated that between 10,000 and hundreds of thousands Burmese pythons roam the Everglades — a nebulous estimate for a species that’s characteristically hard to detect. They likely entered the region when exotic pet dealers transitioned to importing other species and set them free. The raccoons and marsh rabbits and opossums and other small, warmblooded animals are gone, or almost gone, because Burmese pythons seem to have eaten them. The marsh’s weird outdoor quiet is the deep, endlessly patient, laser-focused quiet of these invasive predators. About two feet long when hatched, Burmese pythons can grow to 20 feet and 200 pounds; they are among the largest snakes in the world. The pythons are mostly ambush hunters, and constrictors. They kill smaller animals by biting them on or near the head and suffocating them as they are swallowed. Larger animals are seized wherever is convenient, and crushed and strangled in the coils before and during swallowing. Large constrictor snakes have not existed in North America for millions of years. Native wildlife species had never seen them before, and may not recognize them as predators…” Haili Blassingame reports for WAMU 88.5 and Smithsonian Magazine.
Read US states face water crisis as global heating increases strain on supplies - “A handful of US states – including New Mexico and California – are facing significant strains on their water supplies that will only intensify with global heating, according to new rankings...We’re stretching our water supply pretty much as far as it can go … and even further,” said Leah Schleifer, a spokeswoman for the World Resources Institute’s (WRI) water program. Experts with WRI said the data shows a global water crisis. “The picture is alarming in many places around the globe, but it’s very important to note that water stress is not destiny,” said Betsy Otto, WRI’s global water director. “What we can’t afford to do any longer is pretend that the situation will resolve itself.” The global research organization compared the water available in aqueducts to the amount withdrawn for homes, industries, irrigation and livestock…”Emily Holden reports for the Guardian.
From Our Readers
The information in this section is forwarded to you at the request of some of our readers. Inclusion in this section does not necessarily constitute endorsement by the FCC.
Job Openings:
Director of Conservation - Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary- Audubon Florida
Associate Director - Blair Audubon Visitor Center
Land Stewardship Associate - Indian River Land Trust
Executive Director - Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program
Land Management Specialist - Alachua Conservation Trust
Organizing Representative, Red Tide & Wildlands Campaign - Gainesville - Sierra Club
Organizing Representative, Red Tide & Wildlands Campaign - Ft. Myers/Naples - Sierra Club
Staff Attorney - Everglades Law Center
Upcoming Environmental Events:
August 7th - 5:45pm-7:45pm - Understanding Nutrients & How to Manage Them - (Venice) - Join Hands Across the Water (HATW) for this educational event and get a chance to ask your most pressing questions about red tide, nutrient pollution, and water quality. Local Stormwater expert Steve Suau will be leading the presentation. This is also a chance to mingle with other HATW members, learn about local action items, and build support. Where: Frances T Bourne Jacaranda Public Library, 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd, Venice FL 34293. For more information, check out the Facebook event page here.
August 8th - 10am-2pm - Climate Crisis: An Intergenerational Discussion - (Gainesville) - Together with the Alachua County NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Committee, we invite you to join us for “Climate Crisis: An Intergenerational Discussion.” The event is on Thursday, Aug. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Thelma A. Boltin Community Center in Gainesville. Lunch will be provided. For more information, contact NAACPECJCGNV@gmail.com, or visit the event on Facebook.
August 10th - 8:00am-11:00am - Brevard County Clean Up for Manatees - (Cocoa Beach)- In collaboration with Keep Brevard Beautiful, Save the Manatee is organizing a Beach CleanUp this summer! Trash in our environment is a big problem for manatees and other wildlife. Manatees can ingest trash or get entangled in it, which can lead to injuries or even death. Any piece of trash on land can easily blow into the water and become a hazard for manatees. During the summer months, manatees can be found in shallow coastal areas and can sometimes even be observed from the beach, so we want to help them and clean up!
We'll meet on Saturday, August 10th, 2019 at 8 a.m. at Lori Wilson Park (1500 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931). Parking is available and supplies (buckets, gloves, trash pickers) will be provided. This is a family-friendly event and everyone is welcome! Visit the Facebook page for more information, and register here.
August 12th - 6:00pm-7:30pm - Escambia-Santa Rosa Solar & Storage Co-op - (Pensacola) - Join us for our August Earth Ethics Environmental Education Series as we welcome Julia Herbst with Florida Solar United Neighbors who will discuss and answer any questions with regards to the Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties Solar & Storage Co-op. Learn more about the co-op by visiting https://www.solarunitedneighbors.org/co-ops/florida/escambia-santa-rosa-county-solar-co-op-2019/. Follow the Facebook event here.
August 19th - 2:00pm-6:00pm - Orange County Legislative Delegation meeting - (Orlando) - Attend the Orange County Delegation meeting at the Orange County Administration Center, Commission Chambers, 201 South Rosalind Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801. You are encouraged to speak on behalf of Florida’s land, wildlife and water resources! To participate in the delegation meeting, email LD@ocfl.net for an appearance form. Appearance form can also be accessed here. Anyone wishing to speak before the Delegation must fill out a participation form and return it to the office no later than 5:00pm on August 9, 2019. Speakers will also be able to sign up at the Delegation meeting.
August 19th - 7:30pm-8:30pm - Agriculture & Conservation Easements workshop - (Callahan) - Conservation easements can be a profitable way of preserving farms and forestlands, while keeping them in production and in the family. However, there are dozens of easement programs out there, with difficult enrollment procedures and confusing rules for property owners. The UF/IFAS Nassau County Extension office has partnered with the North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) to offer a workshop on understanding how conservation easements work. NFLT's Land Protection Director, Marc Hudson will present their pros and cons, how they preserve agriculture and natural resources and how your property might qualify for one. We'll also give an overview of the various financial incentive programs available. For further questions, please call the Nassau County Extension office at 904-530-6353 or email jdacey@ufl.edu. Refreshments and snacks will be provided. To register (free) click here. UF/IFAS Nassau County Extension, 543350 US Highway 1, Callahan, FL 32011.
August 20th - 5:30pm-7:30pm - Santa Rosa County Legislative Delegation meeting - (Milton) - Attend the Santa Rosa County Delegation meeting at the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commission Chambers, 6495 Caroline St, Milton, FL. To be placed on the agenda for the Santa Rosa County Legislative Delegation meeting please contact Delegation Chairman Jayer Williamson’s Legislative Aide, Sydney Fowler at Sydney.Fowler@myfloridahouse.gov or (850) 995-3698 no later than 5:00 p.m. on August 16.
August 27th - 9:00am-5:00pm - M-CORES Task Force public meeting - (Tampa) - Attend the Multi-Use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance (M-CORES) first public meeting at the Tampa Convention Center Public, 333 S Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602. Public participation is vital to the M-CORES process, and there are many ways to share your comments or ideas. All three task forces will hold public meetings in their respective corridors. FDOT will also hold community open houses to share progress and gather input. Staff will be available at each open house to answer questions and receive comments. Check the Calendar of Events for upcoming meetings in your area. Sign up today to receive news, notices of upcoming M-CORES meetings and more.
August 27th-28th -Florida Panhandle Forests & Drinking Water Workshop - (Apalachicola) - Join the Florida Forest Service & Workshop Planning Team for a tour and workshop of the Apalachicola Estuary and Tate’s Hell State Forest to learn about the connection between healthy forests and clean water. The tours begin at 1pm on the 27th, starting at Tate’s Hell State Forest, and ending with a boat tour of the Apalachicola Estuary. The workshop begins Wednesday August 28th at 8:00am at the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve Nature Center in Eastpoint. The workshop agenda includes both presentations and group discussion sessions. The primary goal is for participants to leave the meeting with tangible “next steps” to accelerate community-based watershed stewardship and protection throughout the Florida Panhandle. Lunch will be included at the August 28th Workshop. For additional information and registration, visit the Eventbrite site here.
August 29 - 5:30pm-7:30pm - Okaloosa County Legislative Delegation meeting - (Shalimar) - Attend the Okaloosa County Delegation meeting at the Okaloosa County Commission Chambers, Suite 100 1250 N Eglin Parkway Shalimar, FL 32579. You are encouraged to speak on behalf of Florida’s land, wildlife and water resources! Stay tuned for contact information and speaker request forms.
September 5th - 9:00am - Sumter County Legislative Delegation meeting - (Wildwood) - Attend the Sumter County Delegation meeting at The Villages Sumter County Service Center, Room 102, 7375 Powell Road, Wildwood, FL 34785. You are encouraged to speak on behalf of Florida’s land, wildlife and water resources! To be placed on the agenda, or to submit information on local bill requirements, please call State Representative Brett T. Hage's office at (352)-315-4445. Please do so by Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019 by 4:00pm. This is an open public meeting.
September 9th - 9:00am - Sarasota County Legislative Delegation meeting - (Sarasota) - Attend the Sarasota County Delegation meeting at the Sarasota County Administration Building, First Floor/Commission Chambers, 1660 Ringling Blvd, Sarasota FL 34236. You are encouraged to speak on behalf of Florida’s land, wildlife and water resources! Interested parties wishing to be placed on the agenda should contact GeeDee Kerr in Senator Gruters’ office at kerr.geedee@flsenate.gov as soon as possible but no later than 5:00pm on September 3, 2019 2019. Written presentations will be limited to 3 pages (can be 2-sided) per organization. All materials must be submitted electronically and in Word format.
September 12th - 10:00am- Martin County Legislative Delegation meeting - (Stuart) - Attend the Martin County Delegation meeting at the Indian River State College Chastain Campus, Wolf Technology Center, 2400 SE Salerno Road, Stuart, FL 34997. You are encouraged to speak on behalf of Florida’s land, wildlife and water resources! To participate in the delegation meeting, email Joey Planz at Joey.Planz@MyFloridaHouse.gov for an appearance form. Participation form can also be accessed here. Anyone wishing to speak before the Delegation must fill out a participation form and return it to the office no later than noon on September 2, 2019.
September 23 - 2:00pm-3:30pm - Union County Legislative Delegation meeting - (Lake Butler) - Attend the Union County Delegation meeting at the Lake Butler City Commission Chamber, 200 SW 1st St., Lake Butler, FL 32054. You are encouraged to speak on behalf of Florida’s land, wildlife and water resources! To participate in the delegation meeting, email Rep. Payne’s office at Tammy.Still@myfloridahouse.gov before 3:00pm September 19.
September 23 - 4:30pm-6:30pm - Bradford County Legislative Delegation meeting - (Starke) - Attend the Bradford County Delegation meeting at the Bradford County Commission Chamber, County Courthouse, 945 N Temple Ave, Starke, FL 32091. You are encouraged to speak on behalf of Florida’s land, wildlife and water resources! To participate in the delegation meeting, email contact Rep. Payne’s office at Tammy.Still@myfloridahouse.gov before 3:00pm September 19th.
September 23 - 2:00pm-4:00pm - Citrus County Legislative Delegation meeting - (Inverness) - Attend the Citrus County Delegation meeting at the Citrus Board of County Commissioners’ Chamber Room, Citrus County Court House, 110 N. Apopka Avenue, Inverness, FL. You are encouraged to speak on behalf of Florida’s land, wildlife and water resources! To participate in the delegation meeting, email Adele Hembree at Adele.Hembree@myfloridahouse.gov before September 2nd to request an appearance form.
September 23 - 1:30pm - Desoto County Legislative Delegation meeting - (Arcadia) - Attend the Desoto County Delegation meeting at the DeSoto County Commission Board Room, 201 East Oak Street, Arcadia, FL 34266. You are encouraged to speak on behalf of Florida’s land, wildlife and water resources! Email Anne Bell for additional information Anne.Bell@myfloridahouse.gov.
September 25 - 2:00pm-6:00pm - Brevard County Legislative Delegation meeting - (Cape Canaveral) - Attend the Brevard County Delegation meeting at the Canaveral Port Authority Commission Room, 445 Challenger Road, Cape Canaveral FL 32920. You are encouraged to speak on behalf of Florida’s land, wildlife and water resources! To participate in the delegation meeting, email complete the Appearance Request Form here before 5:00pm September 10th. For more information, email Lindsey Swindle at Swindle.Lindsey@flsenate.gov.
September 25 - 2:00pm-4:00pm - Putnam County Legislative Delegation meeting - (Palatka) - Attend the Putnam County Delegation meeting at the Board of County Commissioners Board Room, 2509 Crill Ave, Suite 200, Palatka FL 32177. You are encouraged to speak on behalf of Florida’s land, wildlife and water resources! Stay tuned for contact information and speaker request forms.
September 30th - October 2nd- Public Land Acquisition & Management (PLAM) Partnership 2019 Conference - (St. Augustine) - The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is proud to announce the Public Land Acquisition and Management (PLAM) Partnership Conference. This statewide conference focuses on public land acquisition and management issues in Florida. PLAM has typically been hosted on a rotating basis by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the five water management districts. The conference will be held at the World Golf Village Renaissance Resort (500 S Legacy Trail, St. Augustine, FL 32092). WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Local, regional, state, federal, non-profit and private land managers; Land acquisition specialists and agents; Water managers; Engineers, planners, attorneys, surveyors, appraisers, architects; Public officials; Non-profit groups; Consultants; Others interested in conservation land planning. Registration coming soon. For more information, click here.
October 3rd - 9:00am-12:00pm - Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation meeting - (West Palm Beach) - Attend the Palm Beach County Delegation meeting at the Norton Museum of Art, 1450 Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach FL 33401. You are encouraged to speak on behalf of Florida’s land, wildlife and water resources! To be placed on the official agenda of a Delegation hearing, presenters must have completed a Participation Request Form and have submitted all printed materials to the delegation office by Noon, seven (7) business days prior to the scheduled hearing. Fifteen (15) copies of printed material should be submitted to be included in the Members’ hearing folders. Anyone interested in addressing the Legislative Delegation at a Public Hearing should call the Delegation Office at 561-355-3452 or email vnowlan@pbcgov.org. The deadline for submission of local bills to the Delegation Office is September 20, noon. Click here for the Hearing Information Sheet for the 2020 session for instructions on how to be placed on the official agenda and/or the presenter request form.
October 9th - 1:30pm - Lake County Legislative Delegation meeting - (Leesburg) -Attend the Lake County Delegation meeting at the Paul P. Williams Fine Arts Auditorium, Lake-Sumter State College, 9501 U.S. Highway 441, Leesburg, FL 34788. You are encouraged to speak on behalf of Florida’s land, wildlife and water resources! To participate in the delegation meeting, complete the public speaker request form here before September 18th. Email Rachel Barnes for additional information: BARNES.RACHEL@flsenate.gov.
October 9th - 4:00pm- Nassau County Legislative Delegation meeting - (Yulee) - Attend the Nassau County Delegation meeting at the Nassau County Commission Chambers, 96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, Florida 32097. You are encouraged to speak on behalf of Florida’s land, wildlife and water resources! Stay tuned for contact information and speaker request forms.
October 10th - 6:30pm-8:30pm - Follow the Ichetucknee - (Lake City) - Mark your calendars now for an informal celebration of the Ichetucknee at Halpatter Brewing Company, 264 NE Hernando Avenue, Lake City, Florida 32055. Admission is free! You'll enjoy: Viewing new and newly scored videos about the Ichetucknee by collaborators Eric Flagg and Michael Amish; Meeting directors and members of the Ichetucknee Alliance; Socializing with people who love the Ichetucknee; Tasting craft beer and munching on pizza; Exploring our interconnections with the aquifer, the Ichetucknee, and each other; Finding out what you can do to help restore, protect and preserve the Ichetucknee. We are thrilled that the generous proprietors of Halpatter have offered their venue for this event. Please share this information with anyone you know who might be interested. There's also information about this event on our Facebook page here.
October 10th - 2:30pm - Clay County Legislative Delegation meeting - (Green Cove Springs) -Attend the Clay County Delegation meeting at the Clay County Commission Chambers, 477 Houston St. Green Cove Springs, FL 32043. You are encouraged to speak on behalf of Florida’s land, wildlife and water resources! To participate in the delegation meeting, complete the public speaker request form here before 3:00pm October 8th. Email Tammy Still for additional information: Tammy.Still@myfloridahouse.gov.
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Petitions
Stop South Florida's Sewage Sludge from Polluting the St. Johns River!
Stop Giving Away Florida’s Water
Save Lake County-Say NO to the Round Lake Road Extension
Save the Heritage Trees at Martin Luther King Jr. Park - Winter Park
Thinking of going electric? Nextcar Pledge
Save the Serenova Tract in Pasco – Say NO to the Ridge Road Extension
Protect Florida’s Gulf Coast from Offshore Drilling
Stop New Phosphate Strip Mining in Florida
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About the FCC: The Florida Conservation Coalition (FCC) is composed of over 80 conservation-minded organizations and over two thousand individuals devoted to protecting and conserving Florida’s land, fish and wildlife, and water resources.
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