Here - Central Florida Sierra Club

Sierra Club, Central Florida Group
March & April 2012
www.CentralFloridaSierra.org
Inside The WATER ISSUE:
Jane Goodall Thurs., April 19th, 7:30 PM Rollins
2012 CFL SC Conservation Goals
Inspirational Nook: “Save the Whales — Save the Earth”
The Worth of Water: A Core Ethic
of the Center for Earth Jurisprudence
VICTORY Against Big Fertilizer!
Get the Facts about Mulch
Hog Farming and the Watershed
Latest Update with FWC & Black Bear Management Plan
The Dead Zone — What and Where is it?
Clothes to Dye For
Upcoming Programs, Outings, AND MORE!
photo taken from www.kefservices.com
Explore, Enjoy, and Protect The Planet
“BAG IT” Movie Screening at our April 18th Meeting!
Mark your calendars! We’re going to have a special screening of the “Bag It” movie at our Wed, April 18th 7pm Meeting at Leu Gardens!
Americans use 60,000 plastic bags every 5 minutes — single-use disposable bags that we mindlessly throw
away. But where is “away”? Where do the bags and other plastics end up, and at what cost to our envionrment, marine life and human health? “Bag It” follows “everyman” Jeb Berrier as he navigates our plastic
world. Jeb is not a radical environmentalist, but an average American who decide to take a closer look at our cultural love affair with
plastics. Jeb’s journey in this documentary film starts with simple questions: Are plastic bags really neccessary? What are plastic bags
made from? What happens to plastic bags after they are discarded?
Jeb looks beyond plastic bags and discovers that virtually everything in modern society — from baby bottles, to sports equipent, to
dental sealants, to personal care products — is made with plastic or contains potentially harmful chemical additives used in the plastic-making process. When Jeb’s journey takes a personal twist, we see how our crazy-for-plastic world has finally caught up with us
and what we can do about it. Today. Right now. Learn more at: www.bagitmovie.com
Executive Committee
CHAIR:
Maria Bolton-Joubert........................407-325-4495
VICE-CHAIR:
Alexandria Goodwin.........................407-448-7022
SECRETARY:
Mary-Slater Linn...............................407-481-4398
TREASURER:
Julie Levine.......................................435-602-9580
POLITICAL:
Cecilia Height....................................407-657-9582
CONSERVATION:
Marge Holt.........................................407-679-6759
INNER CITY OUTINGS:
Dawn Landon....................................407-562-8732
MEMBERS AT LARGE:
Anthony Miller....................................407-832-4799
John Puhek........................................407-996-5295
Committee Chairs
OPENINGS FOR FUNDRAISING, MEMBERSHIP &
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR!
OUTINGS:
Mary-Slater Linn...............................407-481-4398
POLITICAL, POPULATION, LAKE JESUP:
Cecilia Height....................................407-657-9582
PROGRAMS:
Mary-Slater Linn...............................407-481-4398
PUBLICATIONS:
Maria Bolton-Joubert.........................407-325-4495
RIVER ISSUES, CONSERVATION, SPRAWL:
Marge Holt.........................................407-679-6759
TRANSPORTATION:
John Puhek.......................................407-996-5295
MEDIA RELATIONS:
Alexandria Goodwin.........................407-448-7022
WEB MASTER:
Chuck Amburn....webmaster@centralfloridasierra.org
Published bi-monthly by the Sierra Club Central Florida Group,
P.O. BOX 941692, Maitland, FL 32794-1692
This newsletter is intended to educate and inform local
members, and interested non-members about activities
and pending environmental issues critical to Lake, Orange,
Osceola, & Seminole Counties. Subscriptions are included
with a Sierra Club membership. Non-members or members
from other groups; subscriptions are $6 per year.
Change of address: Mail your name, old address, new
address, and a Sierra address label to:
Sierra Club Membership Services
85 Second Street, 2nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
or send email to:
page 2
[email protected]
CHAIR ARTICLE:
Hello, Fellow Sierrans!
Welcome to “The Water Issue”. We hope you find some useful info in here
in regards to how you can conserve more water on a daily basis. It’s such a
vital resource, and is so often abused and over-looked. I know I take water for
granted, and am trying to be better in many ways. Our current home does not
have a dish washer, so we try to be mindful of water usage when washing dishes.
My husband is sometimes better with this, I must admit! He keeps me on my toes.
Though we do have an HOA in the neighborhood, we’ve been able to skate by
with having a fairly brown yard — since we do not believe in using good drinking
water on St. Augustine! We’re trying to get better about xeroscaping our yard
though, so that we don’t get a letter from the HOA demanding that we start watering our grass, or else! Who started this horrible trend with Floridians needing
an absurdly hyper green lawn, anyhow!? Do you all remember when we had a
combined meeting at Leu Gardens with the Organic Growers a few months back
and Karina Veaudry with NFC Landscape Architects was our speaker? She’s a
professional at conserving water usage in Florida, and by profession she has
been a sustainable, native plant landscape designer for 25 years!
You can hire her and she will interview you for your personal likes, analyze your
yard, determine what native plants work best with the layout and soil conditions
of your yard and design a custom, beautiful landscape that will reduce your
maintenance and water consumption, as well as, beautify your home or business.
Karina is apprised of Florida law which enables homeowners to plant Florida
Friendly material without problems from HOA boards. Consider contacting Karina
today at (321) 388-4781 or info@nativefloridaconsulting.com
Calling for Volunteers — EARTH DAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Saturday, April 14th from 9AM - Noon
The CFL Sierra Club need volunteers to help staff our booth at the Earth Day celebration at Spring Hammock Preserve in Longwood, located at the Envionrmental
Center just off of 419. You’ll help educate those who stop by our booth about what
Sierra Club represents, pass out membership brochures, and encourage people
to come to our meetings and on outings. To volunteer, contact Mary-Slater at
407-481-4398 or [email protected]
Saturday, April 21 from 10AM - 6PM
The CFL Sierra Club needs volunteers to help staff our booth at the VegCF
Earth Day celebration that will be taking place at Lake Eola in Orlando. You’ll
help educate those who stop by our booth about what Sierra Club represents,
pass out membership brochures, and encourage people to come to our meetings and on outings. To volunteer, contact Mary-Slater at 407-481-4398 or
[email protected]
We’re always looking for more feedback and volunteers toward making our Sierra
Club of CFL Group better than ever. Attend our monthly meetings or outings to
speak with us in person. We would love to hear from you! Also...
Find us on facebook: www.facebook.com/CentralFLSierraClub
And on meetup too: www.meetup.com/CentralFloridaSierraClub
HAPPY EARTH DAY, and hope to see you soon,
Maria Bolton-Joubert
TWO GREAT SPEAKERS AT ROLLINS COLLEGE:
Thurs, March 22nd, 7:00pm is filmmaker and photojournalist, Ed Kashi,
who is speaking on “Far Flung Places: Photos from the Corners of the
World.” His work includes Madagascar.
The other is Jane Goodall on Thurs, April 19 th, 7:30pm at Rollins, but in
the Alfond Sports Center. SURE to be a FULL HOUSE on both!!!
Events are free and open to the public — seating is first come, first serve.
Check on Rollins website for further updates on this: www.rollins.edu/ses/
2012 CONSERVATION GOALS
This year the Sierra Club Central Florida
Group will focus on protecting Central
Florida’s valuable natural resources in
the areas of growth management, water
resources, waste minimization and electing green candidates. Many Central Florida
counties are located in the Priority Water
Resource Caution Area designated by the
St. Johns River Water Management District. The District has determined that high
demand for fresh water from the Floridan
aquifer is lowering the water table resulting
in harm to many lakes, rivers, streams and
springs.
1. GROWTH MANAGEMENT
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs! Florida’s business
lobby has successfully dismantled state
oversight in favor of developers and local
governments who no longer have to prove
that there’s a financially feasible way to
supply roads, sewers, parks and schools
to new ex-urban developments. Ex-urban
is defined as a region lying beyond the
suburbs of a city, especially one inhabited principally by wealthy people. The
legal definition of “urban sprawl” has been
watered down to make it harder to prove in
court that a project is sprawl. Despite the
challenges, the Sierra Club will continue to
support infill development and mass transit
that helps to maintain the Urban Growth
Boundary while protecting rural and agricultural lands that are home to key wildlife
corridors. We will meet with agencies to
help guide development in a sustainable
direction and will work with local planning
departments on large scale development
proposals.
2. QUANTITY/WATER QUALITY
Water quality and water quantity are integral to issues such as energy, land use,
and maintenance of a healthy environment
for plants, wildlife and humanity. The Sierra
Club believes that conserved water is the
best and cheapest “new” water. A Water
Ethic – How we value water from appreciating local streams to being willing to pay
an appropriate price for water is a guiding
principle that will help to ensure a fresh
water supply for future generations.
1) Conserved water is new water that is
significantly more cost effective than building new infrastructure designed to siphon
surface water from the St. Johns River in
Central Florida. The Sierra Club will work
to encourage local governments to implement commercial rebate programs that pay
to retrofit commercial users so they will use
less water. The San Antonio Water Authority’s programs are so successful that the
City of San Antonio has deferred billions of
dollars of costly alternatives while servicing
a population that has doubled.
2) Gray water and reclaimed water, highly
treated water from sewage, reduces the
need for new sources of fresh water as it
reduces our reliance on groundwater resources. Domestic wastewater composed
of wash water from kitchen sinks and tubs,
clothes washers, and laundry tubs are
common residential sources of gray water.
Gray water can be used by homeowners
for home gardening, lawn maintenance,
landscaping, and other uses that do not
require potable water. Using recycled water
that is of lower quality for uses that don’t
require high quality water saves energy
and money by reducing treatment requirements. While reclaimed water lines are
required for new development, there is not
much being done to retrofit older residential neighborhoods. We will work to encourage retrofit incentives for indoor gray water
systems and water reuse lines to residential users for outdoor landscape irrigation.
The Sierra Club recommends that a new
tax from the sale of bottled water can help
pay for these retrofits as well as higher
rates for water guzzlers.
3) Water is our state’s natural resource.
The Sierra will advocate for an environmental surcharge on bottled water sold at
retail. Some examples of funding activities include, retrofit residential lines for
reclaimed water, restoration of polluted
areas, the management and restoration of
ecosystems, and land acquisition.
4) Florida is a state defined by and dependent upon the quality of its water
resources. Fertilizers pollution can destroy
plant, animal life, and humans. The Sierra
Club will continue to oppose state preemption of local fertilizer ordinances that
ban the sales of fertilizer with nitrogen or
phosphates during the rainy season, June
through September — or any time during
the year when big storms or flooding hit.
5) The Sierra Club will continue to support
regulations for inspection and replacement
of non-performing septic tanks.
3. ZERO WASTE FOR FLORIDA/WASTE
MINIMIZATION
Reducing Waste
Shopping with cloth bags is a simple
way to reduce the environmental
impacts of plastic waste. Individuals,
business and government must do
each do their part to reduce waste.
Zero Waste means designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and
toxicity of waste and materials, conserve
and recover all resources, and not burn or
bury them. Businesses and communities
that achieve over 90% diversion of waste
from landfills and incinerators are considered to be successful in achieving Zero
Waste, or darn close. The full definition of
Zero Waste adopted by the Zero Waste
International Alliance can be viewed at
this link: www.zwia.org/joomla/index.
php?option=com_content&view=article
&id=9&Itemid=6
With a 75% statewide recycling goal,
Florida is achieving only about 28 percent
recycling rate. Public entities (schools,
state and local public agencies) are directed to report the amount they recycle annually to their counties. Private businesses
are encouraged (but not mandated) to
report the amount they recycle to their
counties.
Sierra Club’s Zero Waste policy addresses
not only the quantity of waste we generate,
but its toxicity, its contribution to climate
change, and the important links between
waste reduction and corporate responsibility. We reject the idea that waste-to-energy
(WTE) is recycling.
The Sierra Club will help individuals, businesses and local governments to achieve
zero waste goals and incentives that
include recycling, composting, regulation
of plastic bags and Styrofoam containers,
producer responsibility (products & packaging) as well as government leadership
towards zero waste in Central Florida.
4. ELECTING GREEN CANDIDATES
page 3
Inspirational Nook: “SAVE THE WHALES – SAVE THE EARTH”
by Alex Goodwin
I was brought up with sounds from great tunes of the Beatles, the Doors, Janis Joplin, and some strange fellow by the name of Country
Joe McDonald. Some of you may have heard his Anti-Vietnam War song, “The “Fish” Cheer / I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die-Rag,” which was
popular as they played at Woodstock. Sure, this was a time before I was born, but his impact on my life would come almost a decade later. I
heard a song when I was a mere 8 years of age that would change my life forever. It never hit the top ten list, but it was number 1 in my book
(always has been and always will be). The name of the song was “Save the Whales.” As I opened the album (which I actually still own that
piece of vinyl) like a book to read, inside was a picture that had me mesmerized. Spread across the inside was a picture of a mother sperm
whale and a baby by her side. The insert talked about the whaling industry – the death and misery. I could feel the ache in my heart as I
listened to the words and heard the sounds of humpback whales in the background, about an issue that still presents itself in today’s world. I
knew that I had to do to something. That one song inspired me to become who I am today and to make a difference in the world. Even though
I now play it on my iPod, the impact and inspiration still remains – more than a quarter of a century later!
Lyrics:
When my grandpa was a boy, he went down to the general store
Saw a picture book of a whale shooting its spout and flashin’ its tail
Then he got a sailor’s dream ‘bout cruisin’ around on the salty sea
Joinin’ up with a fishin’ crew to go out and get him a whale or two
Tell me what kind of men are these who sail upon the salty seas
Up in the rigging in the afternoon, swabbin’ the decks and sharpenin’ harpoons
Hooray and up she rises; Hooray and up she rises
Hooray and up she rises; Early in the morning
There’re lots of whales in the deep blue sea, we kill them for the
company
We drag ‘em ‘longside and cut ‘em in two and melt ‘em down and sell ‘em to
you
There hardly is a sailor alive who can keep the tears from his eyes
As he remembers the good old days when there were no whales to save
Now we can thank the companies for scouring the deep blue seas
Looking for ivory and perfume and oil to light your living rooms
Hooray and up she rises; Hooray and up she rises
Hooray and up she rises; Early in the morning
Shanghaied by the light of the moon, put out from Boston in the middle of
June
After six months out at sea, it’s nothin’ but death and misery
Set out on a three-year cruise, a union ship and a union crew
And after six months you begin to see, that whalin’s not what it used to be
A modern ship and a modern crew with sonar scopes and explodin’ harpoons
A mechanical boat made outta steel, a floating machine built to kill the
whales
Country Joe McDonald
Paradise With An Ocean View
©1975 Fantasy Records
www.countryjoe.com
If you want to tell us your inspirational story, please email
Alex: [email protected]
Want to Help Salvage Some Native Plants?
Native plants are a great way to help the environment, save on water, and save you money! They’re sustainable!
The Tarflower Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society salvages plants for relocation from areas to be developed. They have been regularly
salvaging upland plants from the natural area of the Pine Ridge Landfill (located in west Orange County) the first Saturday of the month.
Contact: Jackie Rolly 407-620-6963 or Marjorie Holt 407-679-6759 to learn more about this. Thank you!
Sierra Club FL Political Committee Volunteer Opportunities
Sierra Club Florida’s Political Committee needs help building up our library of political reference materials. If you blog and read blogs,
if you follow people and ideas on the Internet, if you read newspapers and magazines, we need your help. If you Google and blog and
read online stories from around the state, you are seeing material we need. This political research is very important to us, and you don’t
have to leave your computer to be of help. Get in touch with the Political Committee and get started building our library for the 2012
elections. No meetings involved. Contact Beth Connor at [email protected]
page 4
The Worth of Water: A Core Ethic of the
Center for Earth Jurisprudence
by Jane Goddard
Behind me, the Little
Wekiva River reclines
in the moonlight, its
narrow twists and
turns hidden by the
last bend I’ve navigated. Ahead, the Wekiva
River flows gently
through the silvered
darkness, inviting me
to continue my kayak
journey. Most of my
companions have
paddled ahead, eager
photo credit to Bill Belleville
for a fireside dinner on
this final night of the year. Only a few of us hang back to savor the glimmering water, the calls
of barred owls, and the occasional glow of gator eyes.
The Wekiva River system is one of the best protected in Florida, and because it remains
largely in its natural state, it can still deliver a transcendent experience. With over 34 known
springs, this river system relies heavily on a healthy aquifer. But it is subject to the same pressures as other Florida waters, including unsustainable ground water use, the inflow of excessive nutrients, and habitat loss.
These pressures are caused or worsened by Florida’s economic model based on perpetual
growth. Too often we Floridians forget that development must occur within ecological limits,
and that we depend upon the continuing health and survival of nature’s systems for our own
health and survival.
The Center for Earth Jurisprudence (CEJ), based at the Barry University School of Law, was
founded specifically to address the legal facets of these realities. “Jurisprudence” is the philosophy of law, and Earth jurisprudence examines how the law’s current assumptions, values,
and structures overlook or ignore that our human experience is not independent from but interdependent with the functioning of Earth’s systems. CEJ’s work supports alternative policies
that enhance current legal tools with an interdependent approach.
CEJ’s work also aligns with the international Rights of Nature movement, which recognizes the
right of nature to “exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles, structure, functions
and its processes in evolution.” Ecuador has already written such rights into its constitution,
and over two dozen U.S. communities have included such rights in local ordinances. The
Rights of Nature movement expresses another aspect of CEJ’s work: legal change that values
nature, not just as human property or resources, but for its own sake.
To increase legal and community awareness, CEJ also creates educational programs and
publications. CEJ is now partnering with Equinox Documentaries to create a short film connecting Earth jurisprudence concepts, including enhanced legal protection for nature, with the
true sustainability of Central Florida’s unique ecosystems.
Proverbial wisdom says we never know the worth of water until the well is dry. Many of us
hope that is not true, that we will realize how wasteful water practices and perpetual development compromise the future of Florida’s waters – before it is too late to save our springs and
lakes and rivers.
Our human well-being and our economy depend on clean, abundant water, especially in a
water-driven state like Florida. But there’s often a disconnect between turning on a faucet and
acknowledging the finite magic of the aquifer that keeps the water flowing from it. CEJ’s core
ethic seeks expanded legal protection for the rights of these natural systems, to ensure that
they are not squandered but sustained.
Jane Goddard is a lawyer and Florida native who serves as Manager of Programs & Growth at
the Center for Earth Jurisprudence in Orlando, Florida.
F94Q W3304 1
Print this out, Enclose Payment info & Mail to:
Sierra Club Membership Services
85 Second Street, 2nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
page 5
VICTORY against Big Fertilizer, Big Pest Control, Big Turf!
Article by Katie Parrish, Sierra Club Associate Organizing Representative
Under the Clean Water Act, local governments are responsible for their
local water quality, but this year, for the 6th consecutive year, lawmakers in
Tallahassee proposed legislation to take away local control of water pollution - to preempt the nearly 50 strong urban fertilizer ordinances that have
been adopted by local governments since 2007.
This year the bills, HB 421 and SB 604 (Limited Certification for Urban
Landscape Commercial Fertilizer Application) were aimed at gutting local
fertilizer ordinances by exempting commercial fertilizer applicators from all
summer rainy season bans. The summer rainy season ban is the backbone
of meaningful fertilizer management and ordinances without the ban are
essentially meaningless. If the Orange County ordinance is to ever become
a meaningful pollution control, local governments must retain the right to
regulate rainy season fertilizer application.
The effort to kill these bad fertilizer bills is a true grassroots success story!
This year the story starts in Tallahassee where Sierra Club volunteers and
staff traveled to the Everglades Water Supply Summit in Tallahassee in midJanuary and lobbied legislators urging them to vote against HB 421 before
the Military and Community Affairs Committee heard the bill. We attended
the committee meeting that week and spoke out against HB 421.
Simultaneously, volunteers on the ground in Southwest Florida began generating phone calls into Representatives’ offices. The grassroots pressure
was so loud that the bill sponsor asked to “temporarily postpone” the vote
– it was clear that we had the necessary “no votes” to kill the bill and the
sponsor needed time to rally the votes he needed to pass the bill through
committee.
Sierra Club activists voice their opposition loud & clear! While we waited
for the next committee vote on HB 421, Sierra Club, other clean water
organizations and local elected officials organized four press conferences
throughout Florida – in Clearwater, Sarasota, Ft. Myers and Stuart. The
press conference sent a loud message to legislators in Tallahassee, as
well as the media, that local governments, organizations, businesses and
citizens wanted to keep their local urban fertilizer ordinances in place.
Despite the building political pressure to kill the bad fertilizer bill, the sponsor worked the Tallahassee system and turned just enough legislators to
yes votes the next week when HB 421 was addressed again in the Military
and Community Affairs Committee.
A very similar process was followed in the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee: We knew our grassroots approach
was working so we got on the phones, urging citizens, business owners and even progressive landscapers to make calls into the committee
members’ offices urging them to vote against SB 604. Elected officials
from Southwest Florida made the long trip to Tallahassee to speak out
at the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee
including: Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah, Bonita Springs City
Councilwoman Martha Simons, and Sanibel Vice-Mayor Mick Denham.
Again, when it became apparent we had the “no votes” to kill it, the bill
was temporarily postponed.
Time to turn up the heat! We knew it was now time to turn up the heat.
Both SB 604 and HB 421 were based on the claim that the pest control
and fertilizer applicators could be trusted to self-regulate, but just days
before the committee vote the Pinellas County Water Resources Department provided bombshell photographs of commercial landscapers applying fertilizer during a rainstorm- a violation of the industry’s own rules
and local ordinances. Sierra Club coordinated a press conference, in
Pinellas County, our 5th press conference in two weeks, to highlight the
photographs - proof that the industry cannot be trusted to self-regulate
when it comes to fertilizer management.
We also took our story to the editorial boards in Tampa, Sarasota and
Fort Myers urging the editors to speak out to protect local water quality.
The News-Press responded by publishing this editorial in opposition to
SB 604 the morning before the vote.
When SB 604 came up for a vote the following week in the Environment
Preservation and Conservation Committee, our local elected champions travelled once again to Tallahassee and the committee rejected the
fertilizer preemption bill with 3 votes in favor and 4 against. The bill was
officially dead in the Senate for the year!
While local ordinances always remain at risk from last minute preemption
amendments until the legislative session adjourns, we are well on our
way to securing a victory for our waterways in the face of great pressure
from the biggest names in lawncare - Scotts Miracle-Gro and TruGreen
- and the powerful Florida Turf industry. Our goal is to retain the right to
improve and strengthen the Orange County ordinance and spread wise
urban fertilizer management around the region.
GET THE FACTS ABOUT MULCH
Various materials are used for mulching in landscapes, such as leaves,
grass clippings, pine bark, pine straw, pecan hulls, wood shavings, and
cypress trees.
Mulch has many functions: weed control (reduces maintenance time),
decreases the evaporation of moisture from the soil, decomposed mulch
adds valuable nutrients for plants and mulch can be aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
Since cypress mulch is the most widely used material in Florida, we
will focus on the cypress tree. There are three recognized varieties of
cypress trees: pond, bald and dwarf. Bald cypress trees are fast-growing,
and are usually found in flowing waters. Pond cypress are located in still
page 6
water swamps and are more fire tolerant than the bald variety. Dwarf
cypress is pond cypress that grows where nutrients are severely limited.
Cypress mulch used to be called cypress bark mulch because it was the
stripped by-product of the cypress lumber industry. Over the years, the
use of cypress lumber declined, but the mulch became hugely popular.
The primary cypress product is now mulch.
Cypress swamps are clear-cut using heavy machinery. The trees are
transported to a mulching company where they are chipped and shredded into mulch or wood chips. What’s left of the swamp, is a bog of
broken, spindly trees and worthless stumps.
Cypress trees most often form round “cypress domes” (hardwood
wetlands with cypress trees in the center) or “strands” (linear wetlands)
throughout the central Florida and southeastern states. In the Green
Swamp, cypress swamps comprise approximately 30% of the land area.
To give you an idea of just how important wetlands are, if 80% of those
wetlands were drained, available groundwater for consumption (drinking
and bathing) would be reduced by 45%.
Cypress swamps provide food, shelter, and nesting sites for a variety of
wildlife species and endangered plant life. They also serve as a natural
filtering system. The swamps absorb and filter out pollutants that otherwise would contaminate our lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and aquifers.
Preservation of wetlands and cypress swamps is important for the functions they perform for free! In a world with an ever increasing population, the demand on land for food production, industrial and residential
development has overshadowed the importance of watershed protection
and biodiversity. Wetlands are particularly vulnerable because they often
represent the only undeveloped land in an area.
As mentioned above, there are several different materials you can use for
mulch in your landscape. If you prefer to purchase bagged mulch, please
consider varieties other than cypress. One excellent alternative is Floramulch. This mulch comes from the melaluca or “punk” tree.
The State of Florida considers melaluca a very costly, destructive pest.
It was imported to the United States from Australia in an attempt to soak
up water in wetlands. The state and private land managers spend millions
of dollars every year fighting the invasion of these pest trees in our native
swamps.
Bottom line: Please stay away from Cypress Mulch at all costs.
Hog Farming and the Watershed
by Julie Levine
When people think of hog farms, usually the
treatment of the animals is the first thing that
comes to mind. Unfortunately, that is not
the only problem with hog farms. Americans
consume meat at a rate that would be unsustainable if the rest of the world consumed the
same amount. This gluttonous consumption has
caused small hog farmers to go out of businesses while big companies grow even larger
and dominate the scene. Traditionally, a small
hog farm spreads the pig waste onto fields,
into small lagoons or even into the local water
system. Now, these large companies are using
the same tactics, but they haven’t taken into
account that they have more effluent from their
processes than that of a small farmer. Practices
that were once considered only marginally bad
are now causing massive fish kills, hypoxic rivers and a litany of human health issues.
I will be focusing on the largest pork processor in the world, Smithfield Foods and their
notorious environmental contributions. One of
the reasons why this problem has not been well
regulated is due to huge campaign contributions from Smithfield founder, Joseph Luter to
politicians in charge of hog reform. Luter gave
$100,000 to then Governor of Virginia’s political
action committee while Smithfield was trying
to fight a huge fine for pollution. In 1998 alone,
corporate hog farmers in North Carolina spent
$1 million to fight politicians who were trying to
impose reform on the hog industry lagoons.
The lagoons are a major problem for locals and
the local ecosystem. The lagoons are pits that
can be as large as 120,000 square feet and
hold the waste from the hog stalls. The waste
comprises of fecal matter, dead pigs, trash,
chemicals, drugs, still born pigs, waste from giv-
ing birth and blood. The lagoons are filled to the
brim and even a small amount of rain can cause
them to over flow. In 1999 hurricane Floyd
caused major problems for towns around the
hog farms. The hurricane washed 120 million
gallons of lagoon material into the local community. The dark color of the water was visible
from space. Pig waste contains over 100 microbial pathogens as well as ammonia, methane,
hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, cyanide,
phosphorous, nitrates and even heavy metals
which were released into the water during hurricane Floyd. At times the lagoons are so close to
overflowing that workers need to remove some
of the waste in them. They do this by spraying
the waste on surrounding fields which means
that it even gets on the trees.
Another health problem for humans that also kill
fish is the microbe Pfiesteria pisicidia. In its toxic
form, it has killed about a billion fish and hurt
countless humans. P. pisicidia is colorless and
odorless and breeds in nutrient rich areas, such
as the nutrient rich pig waste. It causes bloody
sores on fish and impaired human memory,
headaches, blurry vision and respiratory problems after just a few seconds of exposure.
Some pig farms have plastic liners, but they
can be punctured by rocks. This means that the
waste can seep into the ground water contaminating local drinking water supplies. Another
way that the water can be affected is from the
direct flow of waste into waterways. In North
Carolina the Neuse River has been severely
contaminated from the Smithfield operation
upstream. In 2003 in less than a week over 4
million fish were found dead along the banks
of the Neuse River. The rivers become hypoxic
due to the large algal blooms and the toxins
and microbes in the water can kill plants and
animals immediately. Smithfield was fined $12.6
million for 6,900 Clean Water Act violations, the
third largest civil penalty imposed by the EPA. It
might seem like a large fine, but $12.6 million is
only .035 percent of Smithfield’s annual sales.
The largest environmental spill in the United
States, more than twice as large as the Exxon
Valdez, happened in 1995. A 120,000 square
foot lagoon, run by Smithfield, released 25.8
million gallons of effluent into the New River in
North Carolina. It took almost two months for
the sludge to move 16 miles to the ocean and
was so toxic it burned your skin if you came in
contact with it. Nothing lived in the river after the
sludge moved past.
Things are being done about the hog industry,
but not enough. Legislation has been passed
to regulate the practice of large hog farmers
consuming small local farms. Waste disposal
systems are required in some places while
others ban lagoons. The problem is that these
are not national laws so they are not in every
state. A large producer could just move their
operation to a state that has more relaxed laws.
North Carolina has placed a moratorium on all
new hog farms and forced Smithfield to fund
research into alternative, clean ways to dispose
of the hog waste. South Carolina has taken a
preemptive step and announced that Smithfield
is not welcome in their state. Actions like this
will push Smithfield to clean up their actions.
Works Cited:
Tietz, Jeff. “Boss Hog” Rolling Stone Magazine,
Issue 1015, Dec 14, 2006. p 89-96 cont.139.
Learn about the Meatless Monday Movement,
and lessen your carbon footprint by kicking back
your consumption of meat:
www.meatlessmonday.com
page 7
FWC Moves Forward on Plan to Manage, Conserve Florida Black Bears
Provided by Marge Holt
News Release from
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Commission Meeting.
Media contact:
Diane Hirth, 850-410-5291
Here is the latest information from
the Florida Fish Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC): Since public comments have been received and some recommendations have been developed to help ensure the future of the Florida Black Bear. FWC Commissioners are scheduled to take up a revision of the draft plan and the rule during
their June meeting. The draft bear management plan, released on Nov. 10th, 2011, was followed by a two-month period of public input, which included
public workshops in Bristol, Naples, DeLand and Gainesville.
Floridians offered feedback at the workshops, online where the draft plan was posted at MyFWC.com/Bear, and by mailing written comments. About
2,500 comments were received from private citizens and stakeholder groups on the draft plan. Additionally, people had the opportunity to speak at
today’s meeting. The public commented on issues such as updating bear population estimates, reducing human-bear conflicts and continuing the
review of land-use changes impacting bear habitat. Members of the public also expressed opinions on whether to allow bear hunting in Florida and
whether taking bears off the state’s threatened species list would impact bear conservation.
FWC staff is recommending following many of the public’s suggestions to change, clarify and improve the overall plan.
Commissioners also gave tentative approval to a proposed FWC rule that would make it unlawful to injure or kill bears, continuing protections similar
to the ones granted to bears as a state threatened species. The rule additionally commits the FWC to working with landowners and regulating agencies to guide future land use to be compatible with objectives of the bear plan.
The draft plan proposes:
* Seven bear management units (BMUs)to reflect areas where Florida’s black bear populations are concentrated. The units would offer the opportunity
for local input on managing bear populations and habitat. For example, the Central BMU, based in Ocala National Forest, has the largest estimated
population of about 1,000 bears; the East Panhandle BMU encompasses Apalachicola National Forest, with roughly 600 bears; and the South Central
BMU in Glades and Highlands counties has about 175 bears.
* Creation of “Bear Smart Communities” in areas of high bear activity. A “Bear Smart Community” would involve its residents, businesses, public
agencies and schools in educating people about how to live in bear country and respond appropriately to human-bear conflicts. For example, the U.S.
Air Force’s Hurlburt Field in Okaloosa County switched to bear-proof garbage cans and dumpsters, instituted an active education program and trained
personnel in appropriate responses to human-bear conflicts. After two years of these efforts, Hurlburt experienced a 70-percent reduction in humanbear conflicts.
The Florida black bear is among the 62 wildlife species that soon will join the list of species, like the bald eagle, already under an FWC management
plan. Florida’s new threatened species conservation model requires that management plans be created for all species that have been state-listed and
that plans be updated at specified intervals.
For more information about bears, go to www.MyFWC.com/Bear
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issues a year, located at www.CentralFloridaSierra.org
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page 8
HUGE EARTHDAY EVENT by VEGCF AT LAKE EOLA
Saturday, April 21st from 10AM - 6PM!
Hope to see you here!
Learn more at www.cfearthday.org
by Julie Levine
The Dead Zone: What and Where is it?
T
he Dead Zone is an area in the Gulf of Mexico on the inner to
mid continental shelf from the Mississippi River Delta westward towards the upper Texas Coast defined by a decreased
amount of dissolved oxygen or hypoxia. This is the second largest
hypoxic zone in the world trumped only by the zone in the Baltic
Sea. The Gulf of Mexico hypoxia zone has reached up to 20,700km²,
an area larger that the state of New Jersey.
The definition changes from area to area depending on the water
conditions, but for the Gulf of Mexico hypoxia is defined as levels of
dissolved oxygen below 2mgL^-1.
Picture Below of Oxygen Levels in the Dead Zone from (NOAA
“Scientists”)
Hypoxia is caused by two main factors: a stratified water column
and the increase in nutrients such as carbon and nitrogen. When
the warm, fresh water from the rivers flow into the colder, salty Gulf
of Mexico the water becomes stratified and so mixing of the water
column is difficult. Hypoxia can occur in 10 to 80% of the water
column. The other factor contributing to hypoxia is an increase in
organic carbon which has three potential sources: the Mississippi
and Atchafalaya Rivers, rotting due to destroyed wetlands and from
marine phytoplankton through natural processes. The increased
nutrients allow for large algae blooms. As the algae dies it sinks to
the bottom of the salt water layer and decomposes therefore using
all the oxygen in that layer. The algae can also be noxious or toxic.
The salt water cannot receive oxygen from the atmosphere due to
the layer of fresh water on top, so the bottom layer becomes a dead
zone void of fish and plants.
The Dead Zone: Where are the nutrients coming from?
Here is the answer…you ready? Cultural eutrophication. Eutrophication is the accumulation of nutrients that causes an increase in biological processes and cultural eutrophication is the addition of nutrients from anthropocentric sources, or man created sources. Some
examples of anthropocentric sources are through the generation of
wastewater, fertilizers, nitrogen fixation from leguminous crops, and
atmospheric deposition from increased burning of fossil fuels.
The Mississippi and the Atchafalaya Rivers flow into the Gulf of
Mexico and contribute 80% of the freshwater found there while the
Mississippi drains over 40% of the continental United States. Forty
seven percent of the nation’s rural population and 52% of U.S.
Farms lie in the Mississippi River Basin.
Picture of drainage area from Rablais et al., “Beyond.”
The drainage of the United States is where the fertilizers come from.
The annual flow of nitrogen into the Gulf tripled from 1955 to 1970
to 1.6 million metric tons. Sixty-one percent of the nitrogen input is
in the form of nitrate and 90% of all nitrate found in the rivers are
from non point sources with 74% of that from agriculture, Population grown on the Mississippi basin and municipal waste water
page 9
Gulf of Mexico Program office at the Stennis
Space Center in Mississippi said that “This is
a very serious issue…We’ve seen what can
happen in other places in the world,” and “We
don’t want to see a collapse of this fishery.” He
also said that boats catch 1.7 billion pounds of
fish a year valued at $26 billion.
The Dead Zone: What Are We or Should We
be Doing About it?
systems are just two reasons why it is easier for nitrogen to run
into the Mississippi. There has also been in increase in landscape
alteration such as deforestation, conversion of wetlands to cropland,
loss of riparian zones and expansion of agricultural drainage which
reduced the Mississippi’s natural ability to filter and absorb nutrients. There is direct evidence to link the hypoxia zone to the flow
of the rivers. In 1993 the highest discharge for the Mississippi was
recorded and an almost twofold increase in the area of the dead
zone was recorded compared to 1985-1992 area data. In 1988, a 52
year low flow was recorded for the Mississippi and low oxygen areas
were almost absent.
The Dead Zone: Effect on the Environment
Just like people aquatic plants and animals need oxygen. Marine
organisms can actually tolerate different levels of dissolved oxygen
(DO) in the water. Fish and crustaceans cannot live if the DO falls
below 1.5 to 2mgL-1 while some other organisms die at levels below
1.5 mgL-1 (Rabalais et al. “Hypoxia”). Once an area becomes
hypoxic fish will either have to move or die which disrupts migration, their life cycle, habitat and the food chain. Fish are then more
susceptible to predation by humans and marine organisms. Although
no studies have been done on how the hypoxic zone in the Gulf
affects fish, preliminary data suggests a herding effect where there
are more fish on the edge of the zone. If fish are concentrated in one
area then there it is more likely that their new habitat will not be able
to sustain the increased number of fish. Jim Giattina, director of the
In 1997 the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) formed the Mississippi River/Gulf of
Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force that
asked the White House Office of Science and
Technology Policy to research the causes and
effects of the hypoxia through the Committee on Environmental and Natural Resources
(CERN) (NOAA). I know those are a lot of
offices, but I want you to be informed and
c’mon we are talking about the government. It
was written into law, Section 604a of P.L. 105383, that it was required that an assessment of
hypoxia in the Gulf be executed and the results submitted (NOAA)
P.L. 105-383 outlines that a plan is necessary in order to minimize,
mitigate and control the hypoxia in the Gulf (NOAA). The Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force will be in
charge of creating the plan. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) will be conducting the assessment for CERN
in order to investigate the proper ways to manage and understand
the problem. Six reports were completed in which old data was analyzed by government and non-government experts in order to clearly
define different aspects of the hypoxia. The report compiled by the
Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force was
submitted to Congress in 2001.
Other than harmful effects to your health and your sea food dinner
the states that border the Gulf could take an example from our own
Tampa Bay. The water quality of the bay and reduced habitat led the
Tampa Bay Estuary Program to adopt a nutrient management plan
that reduced nutrients into the bay and improved sewage treatment.
It took 8 years for Tampa Bay to recover after the decrease in nutrients, and about 10 for the Black Sea after similar issues. Imagine
how long it will take the Gulf of Mexico to recover.
Arbor Day Facebook Tree Photo Contest
Post a photo of your favorite Orange County, Florida Tree on the Orange County Environmental
Protection Division Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ocepd beginning Florida Arbor Day,
January 20 th, 2012 through National Arbor Day, April 27th, 2012. Encourage your friends to “Like”
your photo and post their own! The photo with the most “Likes” by National Arbor Day, April
27th, 2012 wins a free shade tree. Also, don’t forget to “Like” EPD’s page.
page 10
CLOTHES TO DYE FOR Reprinted with permission from Patagonia’s Environmental Campaign
You can see on Google satellite images the pollution of the Pearl
River where it flows indigo into the South China Sea. Indigo is the
color of denim and of the discharge from textile mills from the world’s
largest jean factory upstream in Xingtang.
The textile industry is one of the most chemically intensive industries
on earth, second only to agriculture, and the world’s largest polluter of increasing scare fresh water. The World Bank estimates that
nearly 20 percent of industrial water comes from textile dying and
treatment. They’ve also identified 72 toxic chemicals in our water that
have textiles as their source; these dyes, when not controlled in the
work place, can compromise the health of employees. The textile
industry is also a water hog, for coal or wood powered steam to fuel
the mill, and for water-intensive dyeing and finishing processes.
Wastewater that goes-often illegally-untreated or partially treated returns to a river, where it heats the water, increases pH and saturates
it with dyes, finishes and fixatives. This leaves a residue of salts and
metals that leach into farm land and settle into the viscera of fish.
It takes a mill about 500 gallons of water to produce enough fabric
to cover a couch. To grow cotton, then weave and dye the fabric for a single Patagonia pima cotton shirt, uses over 600 gallons-the equivalent of a day’s
drinking water for 630 people. And fifteen years from now, between a third and half the world’s population will live in an area plagued by drought.
Patagonia is working to ensure wastewater from dying fabrics for Patagonia products is properly treated and thoroughly cleaned before it leaves the dyehouse. Most of Patagonia’s fabrics are manufactured in Asia, but their model dyehouse is in Los Angeles. California has strict laws governing water and air
quality but if a dyehouse can operate profitably here and to high environmental standards, then other regions with more water and cheaper labor should be
able to follow suit.
Swisstex California was started in 1996 by two industry veterans who wanted to create a cutting-edge dyeing and finishing facility. The dye machines are
automated to reduce downtime and errors. Swisstex’s keenness for efficiency extends to energy and water usage. They faculty uses natural gas and ultralow NOx gas burners. It consumes half as much energy as the average dyehouse in the US and 80% less than the average Asian dyehouse (measured
as resources consumed per pound of fabric dyed). A thermal oxidizing system cleans hot exhaust air leaving the dryers; skylights minimize the need for
electric lighting. A state-of-the art wastewater heat recovery system enables them to use wastewater energy to preheat incoming cold water, and water is
recycled as many times as possible.
NOTE FROM SIERRA CLUB: So, think about where your clothes are made next time you want to shop! A local secret is the Goodwill boutique on Orange
Ave. in Winter Park. New clothes from Winter Park stores are often in this Goodwill with the original tags. Another suggestion to reduce/reuse clothes is to
shop in consignment shops and have clothing swaps with friends and family — Every bit counts!
UPCOMING PROGRAMS:
All programs are held the 3 rd Wed of the month at 6:30 PM, at Harry P. Leu Gardens, 1920 N Forest Avenue, Orlando Florida.
For directions to Leu Gardens, visit: www.centralfloridasierra.org
Door opens at 6:30 PM, with light snacks and socializing. A great way to meet more environmental folk and network.
Programs are held from 7 - 8:45 PM. A brief discussion of environmental issues precedes the program.
Admission is always free, and the public is invited — So come on down, and bring your friends!
WED. March 21st PROGRAM:
Jim Thomas, an environmental biologist and owner of BIOSPHERE in Winter Garden, will speak on Lake Apopka restoration. Lake
Apopka was once a world-class bass fishery, but years of abuse caused the lake to be named Florida’s most polluted large lake. The
increase in nutrients discharged into the lake led to a chronic algal bloom, and Lake Apopka’s waters turned pea green. The cloudy
water prevented sunlight from reaching underwater vegetation critical to fish and wildlife habitat. The settling of dead algae created a
thick layer of soupy muck, which also destroyed the habitat necessary for fish and wildlife to thrive. The restoration process started
in 1996 with the signing of the Lake Apopka Restoration Act. This culminated in the buyout of the muck farms and the beginning of
the end of the phosphate loading.
WED. APRIL 18th PROGRAM:
Mark your calendars! We’re going to have a special screening of the “Bag It” movie at our Wed, April 18th Meeting at Leu Gardens!
Check out the cover page of this newsletter to learn more on this special meeting, or also visit: www.bagitmovie.com
See you at our monthly meetings!
page 11
UPCOMING OUTINGS:
Participants on Sierra Club outings are required to sign a standard liability waiver. To read the waiver prior to the outing, contact the Outings
Department at 415-977-5528 or visit us online at www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms/ Sierra Club is a Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No.
ST37115. CA Seller of Travel CST 2087766-40. (Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.)
Sat, March 10th: Sierra Club garage sale in Winter Park! Do some spring cleaning and give Sierra Club your items and we’ll
use them for the spring garage sale. Please call Mary-Slater to arrange pick-up or delivery of your items. 407-481-4398
[email protected]
Sun, March 11th: Wekiva Springs Hike and swim. Meet at 11:00am in the back parking lot for a 5.3 mile hike. We will enjoy the
wilderness and wildlife of the rolling sand hill community. When we are done, we’ll cool off with a swim in the springs. Bring a
picnic if you want to eat lunch by the springs. Cost: $5.00 per car entrance fee.
RSVP: Rodney Posey [email protected] 321-436-2349 (Fla. Trail Outing)
Sat, March 17th: Kayak with the Hearthland Group of Florida Trail on the Chassahowitzk River at 10 am. Meet at the boat ramp:
8600 W. Miss Maggie Drive, Homosassa, FL. Join us as we Kayak along the Chassahowitzka River in the Chassahowitzka
National Wildlife Refuge. Please bring water, snacks, sun (Note: This is not a Central Florida led activity-you must contact the
leader to confirm your attendance on this outing). Leader: Eileen. RSVP: http://www.meetup.com/Heartland-FTA/events/49156772
Sat & Sun March 24th-25th: Moss Park Play date. Meet at 10:30am on Saturday and bring your kayak, bike, camping gear and
anything else you use for playing outdoors. Moss Park is on a lake and we’ll meet on the beach and do an informal show and tell.
The ideal is to try out gear and decide what you like. For anyone who wants to spend the night on Saturday and try out camping
gear, camping is available but reservations are accepted in person only. Bring lunch and enjoy a day of fun.
Leader: Rodney Posey [email protected] 321-436-2349
Sun, April 8th: Hike 5.5 miles on the Yearling Trail in Ocala National Forest. Meet at 11:00am and bring lunch. The natural beauty
of the area and the colorful life style of these rugged people fascinated the author, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. She stayed with the
last two inhabitants of the island, Calvin and Mary Long in 1933. She recorded many stories told by the Longs. Calvin’s childhood
story of nursing a deer from a fawn gave her the idea for the Pulitzer Prize winning novel “The Yearling”. Children over the age 10
welcome to attend. Directions: From the intersection of SR 40 and SR 19 to the east of Juniper Springs, drive north on SR 19 for
6.2 miles. The trailhead is marked by a sign on the left, across from the entrance to Silver Glen Springs Recreation Area.
Leader: Mary-Slater 407-481-4398 [email protected]
Sun, April 15th: Family Hike at Lake Lotus Park at 10:30am. This park is the City of Altamonte Springs nature preserve. Total area
is approximately 150 acres, including 120 acres of woods and wetlands. The 1.7-mile trail system provides a great respite from
surrounding suburbia. We’ll play some environmental games, walk on the boardwalks amid the massive cypresses. We’ll end the
hike by playing in the playground. Bring a picnic lunch. Kids age 5+ are welcome on this hike (younger kids are welcome to stay
with a parent in the playground). Directions: From Interstate 4, follow SR 414 (Maitland Blvd) west past Maitland Center and the
SR 434 interchange. The very next traffic light leads you into Lake Lotus Park BUT the parking area for Lake Lotus Park IS ON
THE LEFT. YOU MUST PARK here and take the tram into the park. Do NOT cross the road on foot!
Leader: Mary-Slater 407-481-4398 [email protected]
Sun, April 29th: Hike Three Lakes Trail Loop. Meet at 8:00am at the Super Walmart behind the Taco Bell at the corner of
Goldenrod and Hoffner to carpool. The path penetrates the heart of a wooded wildlife management area populated with whitetailed deer, bald eagles, and sandhill cranes. Most of the walking is level, but wading may be necessary after heavy rain. Leisurely
5.5-mile hike. Bring water, hat, and lunch. We will stop for dinner on the way home at a catfish restaurant in St. Cloud. No pets
please. Fee area: $2.00 per person.RSVP: Rodney Posey [email protected] 321-436-2349 (Fla. Trail Outing)
Central Florida Group
Post Office Box 941692
Maitland, FL 32794-1692
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
MID FLORIDA, FL
PERMIT 547
page 12