Spring 2010 - Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program

Charlotte Harbor
National Estuary Program
Working together to protect the natural environment of Florida from Venice to Bonita Springs to Winter Haven
Effective October 1, 2014, our contact information is:
Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program
326 West Marion Ave., Punta Gorda FL 33950-4416
941/575-5090 • Toll-Free 866/835-5785
Fax 941/575-3365
www.CHNEP.org
[email protected]
Please visit the website to learn more about the program and products.
Lake
Hancock
STATE OF
FLORIDA
Polk
County
TAMPA
BAY
Kissimmee
River
Hardee
County
SARASOTA
BAY
GULF OF
MEXICO
SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA
Manatee
County
Sarasota
County
Myakka
River
Lemon
Bay
CHARLOTTE
HARBOR
Charlie
Creek
Horse
Creek
Lake Wales
Ridge
DeSoto
County
Peace
River
Shell Creek
Fisheating Creek
Charlotte
County
Caloosahatchee
Canal (C-43)
Caloosahatchee
River
Pine
Island
Sound
Lee
County
Estero
Bay
Lake
Trafford
Big Cypress
Lake
Okeechobee
Adventures in the Charlotte Harbor
Watershed
A Story of Four Animals and Their Neighborhoods
T
he Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program published this The www.CHNEP.org website includes PDF files of the book in
60-page children’s book as a tool to help children better understand English and Spanish, resources suggested by teachers, and guidance
the natural environment of southwest Florida. Readers learn about the
environment through the adventures of a yellow-crowned night-heron
on the Caloosahatchee River, an alligator on the Peace River, an otter
on the Myakka River and a mullet in the estuaries.
For the third year, the CHNEP is pleased to provide the book to
approximately 18,000 school children. All seven school districts
that participate in the CHNEP — Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee,
Polk, Hardee and DeSoto counties — give the books to their third-,
fourth- or fifth-grade students (their choice).
on how to purchase the printed book from the CHNEP and several
of its partners. Donations to help the CHNEP continue to provide
school children with the book are appreciated.
(Contact Maran Hilgendorf
at [email protected],
866/835-5785, ext. 240.)
Illustrations by
Rachel Rebekah
Renne.
Spring 2010: Volume 14, Issue 1
Spring 2010: Volume 14, Issue 1
Program update
I2010thinkas wethewill“Water
always remember Spring
Quality Spring”! So
many water quality issues have emerged
that the CHNEP hosted a day-long water
quality workshop on March 3 to allow citizens, scientists and resource managers the
opportunity to discuss these interrelated, but
moving, targets in the context of each other.
Over 40 people participated!
Our workshop began with a review and
discussion of two technical reports funded by
the CHNEP, which will become the foundation of our water quality policies. The first
technical report addressed the development
of CHNEP water clarity targets. This work
will result in an easy-to-read diagram of
changes in water quality over time related
to our seagrass targets. The difficulty is
differentiating, in a sensitive, meaningful
and responsive manner, between natural
variability and problems caused by anthropogenic changes. The method developed by
our contractor, Janicki Environmental Inc.,
looks promising.
The second technical report we reviewed was
an update to our pollutant loading estimates.
Though we had originally funded this work
as an environmental indicator of change and
a demonstration of the benefits of installing
various best management practices (BMPs),
this work became more relevant. The results
will allow us to examine the relationships
between nutrient loading and water clarity
and will also allow nutrient load targets to
be established based on our water clarity
targets. This work will form the basis of
proposed estuarine numeric nutrient criteria
or downstream protective values adopted by
the EPA and the state of Florida. This brings
us to the next big emerging item!
On January 26, 2010, the EPA issued a
proposed rule for Water Quality Standards
for the State of Florida’s Lakes and Flowing
Waters, otherwise known as numeric nutrient
criteria. The draft rule focused on freshwater
criteria; however, downstream (estuarine)
protective values were added as an additional
control on nutrients. The position of the four
Florida national estuary programs was that
the downstream protective values should be
developed based on local data and through a
science-based consensus process. The EPA
agreed and will remove the downstream
protective values from the Lakes and Flowing
Waters rule, anticipating better downstream
values for rule making in 2011. It is exciting
that the CHNEP management conference
(citizens, scientists, resource managers and
elected officials that participate in our program and form that science-based consensus
process) will have such a fundamental role
in the future of our waters. Wow!
Last November, the FDEP issued a draft
rule that would have substantially changed
surface water designated uses. Designated
uses are the basis of water quality standards,
assessment and corrective actions within
the Clean Water Act. In response to many
comments, the FDEP released a revision in
February that will keep our designated uses
CHNEP is a partnership that
protects the natural environment
from Venice to Bonita Springs to
Winter Haven.
Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program
1926 Victoria Ave. • Fort Myers FL 33901-3414
239/338-2556 • Toll-Free 866/835-5785 • Fax 239/338-2560
www.CHNEP.org
Dr. Lisa B. Beever, Director
[email protected] | ext 235
Liz Donley, Contracts & Grants Mgr
[email protected] | ext 234
Maran Hilgendorf, Communications Mgr
[email protected] | ext 240
Judy Ott, Program Scientist
[email protected] | ext 230
2
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Spring 2010
and the work invested in water quality assessment and restoration whole. The CHNEP
wrote a letter in support of the new draft rule.
Last July, the FDEP issued a draft of its
stormwater quality handbook, as well as a
draft rule in September. During the workshop, we discussed the handbook and rule
in general; however, we knew that revisions
would be available later in March 2010. The
new draft rule and handbook were issued on
March 17 and are posted at www.dep.state.
fl.us/water/wetlands/erp/rules/stormwater/
index.htm. Comments are due by June
15. Public hearings are scheduled in Fort
Myers on May 25 from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. at the
SFWMD Service Center and in Tampa on
May 13 from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. at the SWFWMD Tampa Service Center.
As you can see, we are in the midst of the
2010 “Water Quality Spring,” and the March
3 water quality workshop was an important
step to addressing the many water quality
challenges facing us.
Dr. Lisa B. Beever, Director
Harbor Happenings Spring 2010: Volume 14, Issue 1
The CHNEP publishes this free quarterly newsletter to provide information
about the environmental “happenings” in the CHNEP study area. News
items, photographs and letters are welcome and may be submitted to the
CHNEP editor by mail or email. Deadlines are February 1, May 1, August
1 and November 1. The newsletter is typically distributed in January, April,
July and September.
The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the CHNEP or its cooperating agencies and associations.
The mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute, in
any way, an endorsement or recommendation for use.
Request a free subscription by contacting the editor.
EDITOR/DESIGNER: Maran Hilgendorf, [email protected]
CONTRIBUTORS: Ralph Arwood, Ameé Nicole Bailey, Lisa Beever, Deborah
L. Blanco, Pam Burt, Korina Chilcoat, Terri Durdaller, Brooke Elias, Robyn
Felix, Richard Finkel, Eva Furner, Maran Hilgendorf, Jane Hurwitz, David
Jaeger, Nancy Kilmartin, Bob Klein, Jandy McCoy, Kaley Miller, Brie
Ochoa, Don Parsons, Rachel Rebekah Renne, Katie Schlotterbeck, Joanne
Shamp, Michelle Sims, Nadine Slimak, Karen Smoke, Sherm Stratton,
Janice Sylvain, Mary Tagliareni, Brenda Thomas, Aswani Volety, Mike
Wessel, Debby Zeilman
Printed on recycled paper.
✁
April 2010
Dear Reader:
The CHNEP has published Harbor Happenings for 13 years. The free
quarterly newsletter provides information about the environmental “happenings” in Florida from Venice to Bonita Springs to Winter Haven. In this fiftyfirst issue, we would like your input to assist us in making improvements
as well as guide us in developing and enriching our programs in the future.
Your time and attention are valuable to us, and your contributions,
comments and opinions represent the very heart of this organization.
Please grant us 10–15 minutes of your time to complete this survey.
You may complete the survey provided here (mail to CHNEP, 1926
Victoria Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33901) or use the online version at
www.CHNEP.org. If you can, please complete the online version.
Feel free to add additional paper if you complete the printed survey.
We wo u l d a p p r e c i a t e y o u r
responses to the questions in this
survey even if you responded to the
CHNEP calendar survey.
You represent the very heart
of this organization. Would
you please take a few minutes
to let us know your opinions?
Your responses will be valuable whenever you can provide them, but we
hope you will be able to complete the survey by May 15. Your responses
are anonymous. The data will appear in summary form and will not identify
any individual’s responses.
If you have a question or if you would like to discuss anything, please send
an email message to [email protected] or call toll-free 866/835-5785,
ext. 240. We would also love to hear of any participation or initiative you
have engaged in on behalf of the natural environment.
Thank you, Maran Hilgendorf, CHNEP Communications Manager
1. I am very satisfied with Harbor Happenings.
Strongly agree
Strongly disagree
(1)____
(2)____
(3)____
(4)____
(5)_____
7. What other subjects do you find to be the most valuable to you?
2. Do you have any suggestions to improve Harbor Happenings? If so,
please describe:
8. Please check the responses that accurately describe Harbor Happenings
for you.
__ Informative
__ Outstanding
__ Fair and accurate
__ Biased
__ Too technical
__ Easy to read
__ Too simple
__ Boring
__ Graphically interesting
__ Hard to read
__ Too many photos __ Not enough photos
__ Other. Please describe:
3. With 10 being the greatest amount of knowledge, please circle how
much understanding you had of the topics covered in Harbor Happenings.
Before you began reading the newsletter: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 –5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10
After reading the newsletter: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 –5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10
4. How many people read your copy of the newsletter, including yourself?
___ 1–2
__ 3–5
___6–10
___More than 11
5. How long have you been reading the newsletter?
___For the past year
___For the past 2–3 years
___For the past 4–5 years
___For 6 or more years
6. What features of Harbor Happenings are important to you? Please
check all features that are important to you.
___ Events
___ Volunteer opportunities, including opportunities to be a citizen
scientist
___ Information about grants
___ Learning about materials provided by CHNEP (children’s book,
reports, etc.)
___ Posters (center two pages)
___ Special places to go to learn about the environment
___ Programs, books, workshops and websites that provide
opportunities to learn more
___ Book reviews
___ Report cards on the status of the health of the environment
___ Guidance on ways to be friendlier to the environment
___ Progress reports on the status of
___ research, ___ restoration, ___ outreach, ___ legislation.
___ Progress reports addressing stewardship
___ Progress reports addressing fish and wildlife habitat loss
___ Progress reports addressing hydrologic alterations (water flow)
___ Progress reports addressing water quality degradation
___ Photos and artwork
___ Other. Please describe:
9. Please place a check by the number that most closely resembles your
point of view. Because of reading Harbor Happenings. . .
a) I am more aware of the issues addressed by the CHNEP.
Strongly agree
Strongly disagree
(1)____
(2)____
(3)____
(4)____
(5)_____
b) My knowledge about the issues addressed by the CHNEP has increased.
Strongly agree
Strongly disagree
(1)____
(2)____
(3)____
(4)____
(5)_____
c) I have learned about behaviors helpful to the natural environment.
Strongly agree
Strongly disagree
(1)____
(2)____
(3)____
(4)____
(5)_____
d) I have taken some personal action to protect the natural environment.
Strongly agree
Strongly disagree
(1)____
(2)____
(3)____
(4)____
(5)_____
e) I want to continue supporting the efforts of the CHNEP in protecting
our environment.
Strongly agree
Strongly disagree
(1)____
(2)____
(3)____
(4)____
(5)_____
f) The importance of protecting the natural environment is much clearer
to me now.
Strongly agree
Strongly disagree
(1)____
(2)____
(3)____
(4)____
(5)_____
10. How did you learn about the CHNEP newsletter?
Picked up a copy at __ an event, __ a library, __ a government office,
__ a nature center. Learned about it from a __ friend, __ media,
__ online, __ other. Please explain:
Page 1 of 2
11. Have you gone to the CHNEP website (www.CHNEP.org) to read more
because of an article in Harbor Happenings? __ yes, __ no
12. What is your level of familiarity with the Charlotte Harbor National
Estuary Program?
Very familiar
Very unfamiliar
(1)____
(2)____
(3)____
(4)____
(5)_____
13. What is your level of familiarity with the CHNEP Comprehensive
Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), the program’s 20-year plan
to protect the environment?
Very familiar
Very unfamiliar
(1)____
(2)____
(3)____
(4)____
(5)_____
14. How confident are you in CHNEP’s knowledge and authority on the
environmental status of the natural environment of southwest Florida?
Very confident
Not confident at all
(1)____
(2)____
(3)____
(4)____
(5)_____
15. Please check the aspects of the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary
Program that are important to you. The CHNEP. . .
___ Is a partnership.
___ Is committee-driven.
___ Addresses issues through research, restoration, outreach, legislation.
___ Is science-based.
___ Works by consensus building.
___ Identifies issues of concern that affect the health of the natural
environment (stewardship, water quality and flow, and habitat).
___ Recognizes that to protect the water, the land that drains into the
water must also be protected (watershed of 4,700 square miles in
seven counties of southwest Florida).
___ Works to implement a plan to protect the environment.
___ Supports others efforts to protect the environment by offering grants
and assistance.
___ Is a source of information.
16. In your own words, how would you define an estuary?
17. In your own words, how would you define a watershed?
18. Please check all that apply. Since 2008, I have:
___ Attended an event promoted in the newsletter.
___ Received a grant from the CHNEP.
___ Participated in Management Conference meetings.
___ Received posters, videos or publications from the CHNEP.
___ Watched videos or read publications received from the CHNEP.
___ Obtained information from the CHNEP website.
___ Relied on the newsletter for information on issues.
___ Changed some of my habits or behaviors in order to help improve
our environment.
___ Been an advocate of issues of concern to the CHNEP.
___ Taken a personal action to protect the natural environment.
___ Told a friend or family member about the CHNEP and its efforts.
___ Volunteered for an environmental program or event.
Page 2 of 2
19. Do you consider yourself to be a member of the CHNEP?
__ yes
__ no
___not sure
Please explain:
20. Do you consider yourself to be a partner of the CHNEP?
__ yes
__ no
___ not sure
Please explain:
21. Where do you live? Please indicate one of the following:
___ Year-round Florida resident ___ Part-time Florida resident
___ Not a Florida resident
22. What is your ZIP Code in Florida? ____________If you have another
residence, what is the ZIP Code of that residence? _____________
23. Were you born in Florida? ___ yes, ___ no
24. How many years have you lived/vacationed in Florida in total? ____
25. How much formal education have you attained?
__ Attended high school
__ High school graduate
__ Some college
__ Associate’s degree
__ Bachelor’s degree
__ Some graduate coursework
__ Master’s degree
__ Ph.D.
__ Postdoc
26. Please indicate your racial/ethnic background.
__ African American
__ American Indian
__ Asian
__ Pacific Islander
__ Other. Please explain:
__ Caucasian
__ Hispanic
27. Do you consider yourself to be a (check all that apply):
__ Boater
__ Kayaker/Canoeist __ Angler
__ Environmentalist __ Educator
__ Nature enthusiast
__ Outdoors person __ Birder
__ Citizen scientist
__ Ecotourist
__ Ecotour operator
Please list other ways you enjoy the outdoors:
28. How healthy do you consider the natural environment of southwest
Florida?
Very healthy
Not healthy at all
(1)____
(2)____
(3)____
(4)____
(5)_____
29. What else should the CHNEP do to protect the environment? Please
describe suggestions you have on issues of concern, audiences to reach,
materials to create, etc.:
30. Have you engaged in any actions on behalf of the natural environment
of southwest Florida of concern to the CHNEP? If so, please tell us about
them:
Thank you for your input.
— Estuaries Day, Every Day —
Peace River Environmental Education
Network (PREEN): May 18
PREEN is a partnership of businesses, government agencies,
educators, citizens and nonprofit organizations who joined together
in 2000 as an information-sharing network to forge cooperation and
foster relationships regarding the environmental integrity of the
Peace River watershed.
PREEN will meet Tuesday, May 18, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the FDEP
Bureau of Mining and Minerals Regulation office in Bartow. The
meeting will include a guided tour of nearby Mosaic Park. For
details, visit www.CHNEP.org or contact Maran Hilgendorf at
[email protected] or 866/835-5785, ext. 240.
Your involvement in PREEN:
• Helps maintain a networking strategy that will enable a flow of
information between PREEN partners and interested persons.
• Keeps you informed of a variety of issues, events, programs and
environmental education sites in the Peace River watershed.
• Allows you to meet and help solicit participation from citizens;
e nv i r o n m e n t a l
educators; state,
county, and local agency representatives; and
industry representatives.
• Helps maintain
a voice for the
environment including the link
between economPREEN met at the Hardee County Outdoor
ic sustainability
Classroom Fazzini Wilderness Center in 2007.
and environmenKayton Nedza shows how high water levels were
tal integrity.
after three hurricanes passed through the area in
PREEN
meets at
2004. Photo by Maran Hilgendorf.
least once a year.
Science at Sea Cruise: Be a marine biologist for the day!
Richard Finkel, Captiva Cruises
A new cruise offered by Captiva Cruises is a hands-on scientific
inquiry and fun voyage suitable for all ages. The program was made
possible, in part, when Captiva Cruises received a micro-grant from
the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program.
This new “all hands on deck” cruise provides people of all ages with
an introduction to what impacts water quality, some water quality
terms and concepts used by marine biologists, and information about
the inhabitants of Pine Island Sound.
CHNEP offers up-close look at estuaries
Wade into the shallow waters for a closer look at the creatures buried beneath the
sand, clustered within an oyster shell, swimming among the seagrass blades or hidden
in a tangle of mangrove prop roots. The CHNEP is pleased to sponsor the wading trips
listed below. Visit www.CHNEP.org for more scheduled
wading trips.
Cedar Point Park/Lemon Bay in Englewood at
9 A.M. Wednesday • April 28 • May 26 • June 30
• July 28. Call CHEC Cedar Point Environmental Park
at 941/475-0769.
During a wading trip you can
take a close look at some of
the plants and animals that
live in our estuaries. This
photo was taken during a
Science at Sea cruise.
Indian Mound Park in Sarasota County at 9 A.M.
Wednesday • August 11. Call CHEC Cedar Point
Environmental Park at 941/475-0769.
Ponce de Leon Park in Punta Gorda at 9:30 A.M.
Wednesday • May 29. Call CHEC Alligator Creek Site
at 941/575-5435.
Activities include
u s i n g s c i e n t i fi c
equipment to measure salinity, temperature, dissolved
oxygen and clarity
of back bay estuary
waters; participating
in actual scientific
research in conjunction with the SanibelCaptiva Conservation Foundation Marine
Lab to learn about the components of water
quality and how marine biologists measure
the health of this ecosystem; and hauling in
crab traps and plankton net while discussing
commercial fishing techniques and some of
the inhabitants of the waters surrounding
Sanibel and Captiva. Children will use a
compass for a navigational aid and magnifying viewers to help with observations of
water samples.
Call Captiva Cruises at 239/472-5300 for
additional information and reservations.
Bring in this article for a $5 discount on
one adult fare for the Science at Sea cruise.
Photographs provided by Captiva Cruises.
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Spring 2010
5
My Invasives: Confessions of a Pest Plant Propagator
Karen Smoke
T
his much I know: I cannot claim
innocence. I knew what I was doing when
I planted invasive species on my property.
But like an alcoholic or drug addict — I
thought I could maintain control. What I
didn’t consider was that their tenacious roots
and fecund reproductive habits would run me
ragged trying to control them. I also did not
consider that the next owner of my property
may not be as willing to expend energy to
control my problem plantings.
Instead of seeking out a 12-step program,
I was inspired by the CHNEP Native Plant
Workshop to rethink my landscape choices.
Aided by the January freezes, I decided to
focus on eliminating Ruellia brittoniana,
Mexican petunia, and a large non-hardy
variety of bamboo from my landscape.
I had admired the Mexican petunia at a
friend’s house on Fort Myers Beach in 2000.
In the salt-washed air and full sun, it grew
sparse and flowerful. I brought a handful
of cuttings home and stuck them in a pot.
A few weeks later, the roots filled the pot.
I had second thoughts, but I went ahead
and planted them in a flower bed where I’d
enriched the soil by years of mulching with
shredded leaves.
About mid-summer I realized something
was wrong with my Mexican petunias. The
foliage was a deep lush green and they were
spreading out in all directions, but there were
few flowers. Like most weeds, Ruellia flowers best in poor soil. Eventually the Mexican
petunias took over the entire flower bed and
then began to spread into the lawn.
The January freezes left the plants an
unsightly black mass, but at the roots there
were signs of green. With a garden fork
I ruthlessly dug out the roots and heaped
them on the burn pile. Ruellia will resprout
from the smallest piece of root tissue. One
effective way to slow down the process is
to deprive the sprouts of sunlight. I covered
the area with a double layer of flattened
cardboard boxes and spread mulch over the
cardboard. The cardboard will decompose
in a few months, and then I will have to be
vigilant about removing the sprouts.
The tropical bamboo arrived as a gift from a
friend. Two rooted cuttings in a three-gallon
pot looked innocuous enough; besides, we
envisioned making all sorts of things out of
bamboo — from furniture to wind chimes.
S
ince 2005, the CHNEP, in cooperation
with many others, has organized native
plant conservation landscaping workshops
for residents of Hardee and DeSoto counties. The next workshop will be held on
Sat., Jan. 29, 2011, in Arcadia. If you’d
like to help plan the workshop or offer a suggestion, please contact Maran
Hilgendorf ([email protected],
toll-free 866/835-5785, ext. 240). Visit
www.CHNEP.org for more information
about these workshops and those that serve
other counties.
Planted in the late 1980s, the bamboo thrived
and expanded. The stalks grew larger, taller
and more numerous each year. With a maximum diameter of 5 inches and a height of 50
feet, the bamboo was impressive. The gently
swaying stalks and rustling leaves produced
their own music. Although a non-running
type of bamboo, the clump “walked” and
grew outward from the initial planting site.
The first cold winter proved it not cold hardy.
Twice I’d had to cut down the frozen stalks.
Hurricane Charley left it bowed and broken,
and again surgery was called for. Even with
these setbacks, the clump now occupied an
area of about 75 square feet. After the freeze
of 2009, I spent a week cutting it down.
Eleven months later it was well on its way
back to 50 feet tall when the January freezes
hit again. This time I resolved to cut it all down and
try to burn the roots out. I
know I won’t get it all, but
I’ll lop off any stalks that do
shoot up. Does anyone have
a recipe for bamboo shoots?
I expect to be battling these
two demons for at least the
next 12 months.
And next year maybe I’ll
attack the Wedelia and the
Sansevieria.
6
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Spring 2010
Stalks of the tropical bamboo (below) are stacked
for burning on a rainy, windless day. Even a
bulldozer would have a hard time removing this
root mass.
With roots like this, Ruellia (left) is tough to
eliminate. In fertile soil it grows lush but with
few flowers. Cover soil with a double layer of
cardboard to deprive the sprouts of sunlight.
Karen Smoke lives in DeSoto County and
writes a weekly gardening column for the
Arcadian, a section of the DeSoto Sun Herald.
Contact her at [email protected].
Wildlife populations take a hit during Arctic cold spell
Nadine Slimak, Mote Marine Laboratory
Bcoldetween
Jan. 2 and 13, Arctic waves sent
air blasting south into Florida and
caused record-low air and water temperatures
across the state.
The environmental effects of the cold were
wide-reaching and many of our state’s waterborne residents — fish, sea turtles, manatees
and even corals — were hit.
Fish
Thousands of fish of a variety of species,
including popular game fish such as snook,
tarpon and redfish, died following the cold
wave. Hundreds of fish kills were reported
statewide, including kills reported in Lee,
Charlotte and Sarasota counties.
Dr. Aaron Adams, manager of Mote Marine
Laboratory’s Fisheries Habitat Ecology
Program and director of operations for
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, said it will take
some time to understand the impact of this
fish kill. In the Pine Island boat basin where
Adams has his office, he counted more than
1,000 dead fish in one day.
“We’re in the northern geographic range
of habitat for snook and a number of other
species,” he said. “Natural disturbances
are part of the world we live in and will
continue to impact game fish and their
habitats. However, two things are different
now: there are more fishermen and there
is less fish habitat. That could make
it harder for fish species to recover.”
The Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC)
has recorded fish kills since 1972. A
database is available at http://research.myfwc.com/fish kill/.
Manatees
Biologists with FWC Fish and Wildlife
Research Institute documented more
than 149 manatee carcasses killed by
the cold in state waters in January.
The number of cold-stress deaths exceeds
the previous record of 56 for that category
in a single year, which was set in 2009. In
addition, researchers note that exposure to
cold this year likely contributed to the deaths
of several newborn manatees, classified as
perinatal.
Sea Turtles
A record 4,591 sea turtles were cold-stunned
during the prolonged cold weather, according
to the FWC. The majority of the coldaffected turtles were greens at 4,369,
followed by loggerheads at 93, Kemp’s ridleys
at 72 and hawksbills at 57. The effort to
save sea turtles was massive and statewide,
involving state and federal agencies and
nongovernmental organizations. Sea turtles,
which are reptiles, become lethargic and
their internal organs and bodily functions
can shut down when water temperatures
drop low enough. In all, as of Feb. 11, there
have been 948 turtle deaths, 3,500 were
An American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) that lived on
Sanibel for most of the past 30 years has died. The 11.8-foot-long,
300- to 350-pound, 50- to 60-year-old female reptile was found
dead on Jan. 26 on a trail along the Sanibel River.
It is believed that the recent cold snap played a role in the croc’s
death, but the animal could have died of old age.
Snook are tropical fishes at their northernmost
limits in southwestern Florida. The coldest water
temperature they can tolerate is 54°F. Photo by
Don Parsons, www.natureinmypocket.com.
released, and another 100 or so of the sickest turtles remained in rehab. Mote treated
44 cold-stunned sea turtles and more than a
dozen remain hospitalized in their Sarasota
rehab facilities.
(See p. 8 for more impacts of the cold.)
Due to the prolonged cold, FWC executive
order 10-03 prohibited the taking and/or
harvesting of snook, bonefish and tarpon,
three popular recreational fish, as of Jan.
16, 2010. Bonefish and tarpon resumed
their regular status on March 31 and snook
season will open again Aug. 31. The order
can be shortened or lengthened, depending
on what the data indicates as more information comes in.
Photo by Don Parsons, www.natureinmypocket.com
The American crocodile is listed as an endangered species under
the federal Endangered Species Act. Breeding populations are
clustered in southeast Florida.
By next January, her skeleton and a small memorial will be on
display at the visitor center in the J. N. “Ding” Darling National
Wildlife Refuge, according to Refuge Biologist Tara Wertz.
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Spring 2010
7
Monarch butterflies also a casualty of the weather
Residents can help by converting their yard into habitat
Jane Hurwitz, NABA Butterfly Garden and Habitat Program
The springtime migration of monarchs from Mexico into the U.S.
began this past March. Unfortunately, due to torrential rain and
mudslides during the winter at their overwintering site in Mexico,
the number of monarchs that will move into the southern U.S. to
breed is expected to be the smallest population in decades.
Monarch butterfly
caterpillars grow
to about 2” long.
Monarch’s wing span
is 3 3/8” to 4 7/8”.
Photos provided by
Jane Hurwitz.
Fluctuations in butterfly populations due to rain, low temperatures
and even natural disasters are common and can be quite severe. Yet
another common reason that butterfly populations decrease in many
areas is due to the loss of suitable habitat; that is, plants that provide
nectar for butterflies and food for their caterpillars.
While we cannot control the weather or prevent natural disasters,
we can help butterflies survive and thrive by providing suitable
habitat. North American Butterfly Association’s Butterfly Garden
and Habitat Program provides regionally based information (www.
nababutterfly.com) for developing and increasing the habitat needed
for butterflies to grow and reproduce.
The program website has a section devoted to south Florida
butterfly gardening that currently lists 13 native plants, shrubs and
trees that provide habitat for local butterflies. More plants will be
added to the site in the coming months. For those who are new to
butterfly gardening, a list of butterflies that are commonly seen in
south Florida gardens provides a helpful starting point. The “Basics
of Butterfly Gardening” section contains a number of articles on
butterfly gardening and how to get started.
The Kemp’s ridley turtle
was rescued in Tarpon Bay
during the cold snap and
taken to the Clinic for the
Rehabilitation of Wildlife
(C.R.O.W.) where it was
treated and later released.
Photo by Don Parsons, www.
natureinmypocket.com.
Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), considered
the smallest marine turtle in the world, weighs on average around
100 pounds with a carapace (top shell) measuring between 24–28
inches in length. Adult Kemp’s primarily occupy “neritic” habitats,
muddy or sandy bottoms where prey such as swimming crabs, fish,
jellyfish and an array of mollusks can be found. Males appear to
occupy many different areas within the Gulf of Mexico. Females
leave breeding and nesting beaches in Mexico and continue on to
foraging zones ranging from the Yucatán Peninsula to southern
Florida. They rarely venture into waters deeper than 160 feet.
SOURCE: www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/turtles/
8
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Spring 2010
It will be a number of months before we know how the monarch
population will fare this year. In the meanwhile, a hopeful gesture
would be to plant a butterfly garden and be sure to include some
milkweed for the monarchs!
Visit www.CHNEP.org to learn more about local chapters of NABA.
WANT TO BE INVOLVED AS A CITIZEN SCIENTIST?
Florida’s shallow bays and estuaries provide important habitats
for threatened and endangered sea turtles. Adults and juveniles of
three species — loggerhead, green and Kemp’s ridley — can be
found throughout the year in these salty waters. Green sea turtles
in particular find their primary food, seagrass and seaweed, here.
Loggerheads and Kemp’s ridleys search for crabs, mollusks and
other crustaceans.
Unlike marine mammals such as dolphins or manatees, sea turtles
cannot keep themselves warm — their body temperature vary with
the surrounding water.
As water temperatures drop, many sea turtles will seek warmer
water. A very rapid drop in the air and water temperature can
trap sea turtles in the shallower coastal waters. They can become
inactive, settling close to the bottom or in deeper water within
the estuary. However, at very low temperatures (less than 50°F)
these cold-blooded animals may become lethargic, or “stunned,”
so they are not able to move very well, if at all. If you see a coldstunned or stranded sea turtle, please contact the FWC Wildlife
Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC, ext. 3922.
SOURCE: http://research.myfwc.res/view_article.asp?id=34320
Targets help managers track goals for protection and restoration of seagrasses
Mike Wessel, Janicki Environmental, Inc.
T
he Charlotte Harbor National Estuary
Program (CHNEP) identified the need to
develop water quality targets that protect and
restore seagrass health throughout the estuarine system. The project’s primary goal was
to establish targets designed to maintain and/
or restore seagrass acreage to its historical
extent. Historic estimates of seagrass extent
were derived from aerial photos of the area
that were taken around 1950. To compare
historic and current seagrass conditions, the
historic estimates were adjusted to remove
nonrestorable areas, such as the Intracoastal
Waterway and dredge-and-fill projects
within the study area. Estimates of seagrass
extent over recent time period were based on
Southwest Florida and South Florida water
management district surveys.
The study area was divided into 14 “segments” based on the sampling scheme used
to collect information on water quality
throughout the study area (figure below).
Comparisons of the historic estimates of
seagrass to the 2006 estimates suggest that
the study area has as much
seagrass now as in the 1950s.
For example, Pine Island Sound,
which has the largest extent of
seagrass in the study area, has
gained a substantial amount of
seagrass compared to historic
conditions even after accounting
for a large uninterpretable area
in the historic photography. Seagrass acreage has been increasing since 1999 (chart). Seagrass
acreage has also increased in
Cape Haze and San Carlos Bay. However,
not all segments have recorded gains in
seagrass over this time. Seagrass losses
have been recorded in Matlacha Pass and
Estero Bay. Despite losses in these segments
compared to the 1950s, these segments have
also recorded significant gains since 1999.
Management goals for seagrass areal extent
were established based on this analysis.
Where the historic extent was greater than
the average of recent surveys, a restoration
goal was established
to return the areal
extent of seagrass
to its historic extent
after accounting for
nonrestorable areas.
Where seagrasses are
currently greater than
the historic estimate,
the management goal
was to protect the
current extent of
seagrass. The study
acknowledged that
interpretation of
aerial photography
for estimated seagrass extent in the
tidal river segments,
including the Peace,
Myakka and Caloosahatchee rivers and
Dona and Roberts
Bay, is difficult due
to the naturally colored waters flowing
from these tributaries. Therefore, seagrass management
goals were not
Pine Island Sound Seagrass Acreage
The extent of seagrasses in Pine Island Sound
have been increasing since 1999. This segment
has the largest extent of seagrass of the 14 segments in the CHNEP study area
defined using this method in these tidal river
segments. While the extent of seagrass in the
study area may be governed by a variety of
processes including erosion, salinity changes, biological perturbations, prop scarring
and sedimentation, water clarity is thought to
be the principal controlling factor in the longterm health of seagrasses in the study area.
Therefore, management-level water clarity
targets that are related to the light requirements of seagrass are also being developed to
allow managers to correlate changes in water
clarity conditions and seagrass conditions
over time. Together, the management targets
will allow the CHNEP to report on water
clarity and seagrass changes over time and
provide a reporting tool to inform the public
on the estuarine conditions throughout the
CHNEP estuarine study area.
Seagrasses stabilize sediments and help
to absorb excess nutrients from land runoff. They support hundreds of species of
fish at various stages
of their lives. The
CHNEP has created
a short video to help
boaters learn how
to spot seagrasses
and how to minimize
damage if a boat does
run aground. Visit
www.CHNEP.org to
learn more.
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Spring 2010
9
Sarasota County celebrates 10 years of protecting environmental lands
Brooke Elias and Debby Zeilman, Sarasota County Natural Resources
S
arasota County marked the 10-year anniversary of the Environmentally Sensitive
Lands Protection Program (ESLPP) with an
outdoor celebration at Deer Prairie Creek
Preserve on the Myakka River in Venice.
ESLPP is the result of citizen desires to
protect both large and small areas for wildlife habitat and nature-based recreation. In
March 1999, voters approved a referendum
to authorize funding for land acquisition that
would preserve and protect forest and scrub
habitats, waterways and wetlands within
Sarasota County.
According to Sarasota County Land Protection
Coordinator Brooke Elias, the program has
successfully protected 27,500 acres over the
past 10 years. Protected lands range from the
8-acre Pocono Trail Preserve in Nokomis,
one of our few remaining natural waterfronts, to the 6,400-acre Deer Prairie Creek
Preserve that protects an entire watershed.
“Our Environmentally Sensitive Lands
Protection Program is recognized both
within Florida and the nation,” said Elias.
“Because of strong citizen support, we’ll be
able to leave connected trailways, protected
creeks and wildlife encounters as a legacy
for our kids.”
Deer Prairie Creek Preserve has a diversity
of habitats and wildlife, including pine
flatwoods, scrub, prairies, wetlands and the
river. These areas provide homes for gopher
tortoises, alligators, otters, wild turkeys,
swallow-tailed kites, scrub-jays and many
wading birds. Native flowering plants, such
as St. John’s wort, tarflower and pine lily,
thrive here. The entire length of Deer Prairie
Creek within Sarasota County is now protected, ensuring cleaner water flowing into
both the ‘Wild and Scenic” Myakka River
and the Gulf of Mexico. With over 60 miles
of trails and 7 miles of riverfront, Deer Prairie Creek Preserve invites hikers, horseback
riders and paddlers to explore.
Travel east approximately 2.5 miles.
Turn right onto South
Moon Drive, which
merges into Forbes
Trail. Travel approximately 2.2 miles to
preserve entrance on
right.
One of the scenic
areas of Deer Prairie
Creek Preserve along
the Myakka River.
Photo by Sarasota
County staff.
FGCU and volunteers begin oyster reef construction
Fscientists
lorida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)
and local volunteers began reef
construction and restoration in Estero Bay
this April. In its seventh year, the project
involves loading fossil oyster shells into
wire mesh bags, transporting them and placing them in strategic points in the estuaries
that attract natural oyster spat (larvae) and
eventually form reefs.
The project began in 2002 with support
from a CHNEP research and restoration
partner grant awarded to Dr. Aswani Volety
at FGCU. The project helped educate and
involve the general public and students in a
community-based project to restore oyster
reefs in the lower Charlotte Harbor estuary
by creating, maintaining, restoring and enhancing oyster shell reefs in order to establish healthy, living oyster reefs. The project
also assessed the suitability of other locations
For more information on Sarasota County’s
Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection
Program, please call the Sarasota County
Call Center at 941-861-5000 and ask for
Natural Resources.
Directions to Deer Prairie Creek Preserve,
7001 Forbes Trail, Venice: From I-75, take
Exit 193 north on Jacaranda Blvd. Travel
0.8 miles and turn right onto Border Road.
10
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Spring 2010
within the lower Charlotte Harbor estuary for
the enhancement of existing oyster bars or
the restoration of historic bars. (Visit www.
CHNEP.org for a report of this project.)
This year, FGCU scientists, Lee County and
West Coast Inland Navigation District, in
collaboration with local, state and federal
agencies, are involved in a project that creates and restores oyster reefs in Estero Bay,
thereby improving water quality and habitat
availability as well as protecting shoreline
and mangrove erosion.
Within one year, the 200 square meters
of oyster reef created by this project will
produce more than 1,000 oysters per square
meter, filter at least 10 liters of water and
particulates per oyster per hour from the
water column, provide stability to mangrove
shorelines by minimizing the impact of
boat wakes, and provide food, shelter and
habitat to nearly 300
species of invertebrates, fishes and
birds.
FGCU students, staff
and volunteers transport shell bags to
create a reef. Oyster
larvae in the water
column settle, attach
to these created substrates and form oyster
reefs. Photo by David
Jaeger, FGCU.
Endangered Least Terns Claim Nesting Grounds on Florida’s Beaches
Brie Ochoa, Lovers Key State Park
A
mid the shell pieces and white sand that
cover the beach dune lay three quarter-sized,
oval eggs. Speckled with gray and brown
flecks, the eggs all but disappear on top of
the beach. This unadorned scrape in the sand
is the nest of a least tern.
Listed as a threatened species by the state
of Florida, the least tern has struggled to
maintain its population since the early 1900s
when the birds were hunted for plumage.
Today, North America’s smallest tern is once
again in jeopardy. Human disturbance and
loss of nesting habitat threaten its survival.
Least terns nest in colonies, typically in areas
above the high tide line, where the water is
easily visible. By keeping the water in view
from their perch on the nest, the birds feel
protected from predators and do not need to
stray far to feed. Colonies may consist of
several nests, or several hundred, depending
on food availability, disturbance frequency
and suitable habitat.
In southwest Florida, the least tern’s nesting
season can begin as early as April and runs
through September. For about three weeks,
the male and female will collaborate to protect their eggs from the harsh sun, summer
storms and predatory disturbances. Many
bird species incubate their eggs to keep
them warm. But least terns are faced with
the tedious challenge of moderating egg
temperature between the scorching hot summer sun and the cool nighttime sea breezes.
Throughout the day, the birds reposition
themselves to cool their eggs by standing
over the nest to provide shade. Overheating
of the eggs is a constant threat. The nesting
pair rotates stints on the nest so each can feed
and the nest is never left unattended. When
disturbed, terns will fly from their nests to
issue an attack on the perceived predator,
leaving their eggs unprotected from the blazing sun. Vulnerable to the elements of a hot
summer day, the eggs can become unviable
in only 20 minutes.
Human traffic, dogs, raccoons, ghost crabs
and real or perceived avian predators (kites
are a common perceived predator) are
the most common sources of disturbance.
These factors — combined with the growth
of tourism and development on Florida’s
beaches — have led to the decline of suitable
nesting habitat.
When there is an
angry little bird
shrieking at you
and torpedo diving
at your head, you
are too close to a
nest!
Eva Furner submitted
this photograph of
least terns near Little
Estero Lagoon for the
CHNEP 2010
calendar.
Oftentimes a well-intentioned bird watcher
or beachgoer is the most destructive cause
of disturbance. Approaching a nesting least
tern and causing it to fly leaves the eggs
completely unprotected and vulnerable to the
sun’s heat. Getting close for a look, flying
a kite, throwing a football or simply laying
out your blanket and umbrella too close to a
nest can cause the birds to leave their eggs.
How do you know when you’re too close to
a nest? Simple: When there is an angry little
bird shrieking at you and torpedo diving at
your head, you are too close to a nest!
away from nesting shorebirds and by paying
close attention to the signals the birds give.
At Lovers Key State Park we’ve made
avoiding nests easier for visitors by staking
off a designated nesting area. We employ
lifelike decoys to help attract least terns to
the nesting area. We can’t always convince
the birds to nest within the staked-off area,
but our weekly bird surveys let us know
when an unruly tern has decided to brave the
beach outside the ropes. Once a “rebel” nest
has been identified, the area around it will
quickly be staked off to prevent disturbance.
Beachgoers can assist in the survival of this
species by choosing an area of the beach
Call Lovers Key State Park at 239/463-4588
for a schedule of birding tours.
Lee County honors the lifelong public service of Bob Janes
T
he Lee County community is mourning
the loss but celebrating the life and accomplishments of Lee County Commissioner
Robert P. (Bob) Janes who died in his home
March 10. Janes was a lifelong public servant
and champion for the local community.
Last June, the 5,620 acres of the Babcock
Ranch that lie in north Lee County were
renamed the Bob Janes Preserve in honor of
the active and dedicated role Janes played in
negotiating the public purchase and subsequent preservation of this important piece
of the local environment. The county had
purchased the land under its Conservation
20/20 program.
“When the sale talk began (in 2003),” Janes
explained, “I immediately realized its environmental potential and wanted to get intimately involved in the acquisition process.
I jumped on the chance for acquisition and
became active in the process, knowing that
it would be a boon for Lee County citizens.”
In June of 2009 on behalf of the Commission, Mr. Janes accepted $82,301.86 from
the Babcock Preservation Partnership. In
December, the Estero Bay Agency on Bay
Management also donated $2,255.
Visit the website www.CHNEP.org to learn
more about Commissioner Janes, the property and how you can help.
Do you miss the poster? We’re hard at work developing a pullout
supplement of special places where you can learn more about the natural environment of southwest Florida. The 11x17-inch posters will return in future issues.
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Spring 2010
11
Polk County’s Bone Valley Selected Area Study
Ameé Nicole Bailey, Polk County Long Range Planning Division
A
pproximately 200,000 acres, or 15.3
percent of Polk County, have been mined for
phosphate rock or used to support the mining
industry. Currently, approximately 188,000
acres, or 14 percent of Polk County, has the
future land-use designation of phosphate
mining land use, which is a temporary use
of the land. The majority of the land has
been mined and is now very rural in nature.
and the implementation plan. The process
generally takes 18–24 months to complete.
Some of the interim work products can assist
the subject local governments with existing
and continuing planning issues.
the focus group to produce the existing
conditions document. The final existing
conditions document will be presented to
the public and posted on www.polk-county.
net/projects by the fall of 2010.
Phase 1 is anticipated to wrap up in the
summer of 2010. County staff is using all
information provided and the guidance of
Visit www.CHNEP.org to read a longer
version of this article.
The Polk County Long Range Planning
Division recognizes that this area is transitioning as the mining industry moves out
of the county. Planning is needed to create
a cohesive community with the appropriate
infrastructure to support the transition, recognizing and protecting existing resources
while establishing a framework for quality
growth and plan implementation. Therefore, the county has begun the Bone Valley
Selected Area Study (SAS) within Polk
County to create a future land-use plan for
areas that previously supported the phosphate mining industry. The county formed a
focus group by partnering with local cities,
adjacent counties, state agencies, the mining
industry, community representatives, large
landowners and other stakeholders to build
broad-based community support for the
study recommendations and to receive the
endorsement of the affected jurisdictions.
There are three stages to the SAS process: existing conditions analysis, long-term vision
Wetlands assessed on land mined for phosphate then reclaimed
Michelle Sims, FDEP Bureau of Mining and Minerals Regulation
T
he Florida Department of Environmental to provide a more accurate accounting July 2007 and a literature review of all
Protection conducted an assessment of
the mandatory phosphate lands’ wetland
mitigation and reclamation in the Peace
River Basin. The report is currently in draft
status, but the preliminary findings are as
follows:
From July 1, 1975, to Dec. 31, 2007,
approximately 98,766 acres have been
mined for phosphate in the Peace River
Basin, of which 68,353 have been reclaimed
to mandatory standards.
Wetland acres in the phosphate mines
occurring in the Peace River Basin that
were reported as reclaimed in 1999 in the
Peace River Cumulative Impact Study were
further analyzed using Bureau of Mining
and Minerals Regulation file holdings
12
of wetlands. The comparison using the
additional data took the total reported
number of reclaimed wetlands occurring
in 1999 from 4,694.3 to 9,675.8 acres. The
audit of phosphate mined lands after 1975
assessed the status of released mitigation and
reclamation wetlands, but it also provided an
evaluation of the wetlands’ current function
using Part I of the Uniform Mitigation
Assessment Methodology (Chapter 62345, Florida Administrative Code) and
acknowledged any known construction
techniques used in reclamation. An audit
of wetland accounting was completed
using field observations from reclamation
and mitigation wetlands that were released
from regulatory responsibilities prior to
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Spring 2010
pertinent scientific media relating to wetland
construction techniques. The audit revealed
possible recommendations regarding underutilized wetland design and construction
methodologies.
The preliminary findings after visiting 105
wetlands show that, on average, the wetlands
exhibit a functioning value of 0.56 on a scale
of 0.0–1.0 (0.0 being poor and 1.0 being
exceptional value). On average, sites that
scored higher were lands that were mined
more recently, had an accompanying WRP
standard and were adjacent to preservation.
The report will be available at www.CHNEP.
org once it is approved. A PowerPoint
presentation based on the report is available
now, as are links to additional information.
Florida Panther
A
lthough we call them Florida panthers,
these shy cats once roamed throughout
the entire southeast from east Texas to the
Atlantic and north to parts of Tennessee.
Overhunting, loss of habitat and reduction
of their primary prey reduced their population to a remnant living on the southern tip
of Florida. They prefer upland habitat but
will use diverse habitats. They mainly prey
on deer and hogs.
Puma concolor coryi is one of the last
subspecies of puma still surviving in the
eastern United States. Today the panther is
restricted to less than 5 percent of its historic
range in one breeding population of fewer
than 100 animals located in south Florida.
They are threatened with extinction, and
human development in panther habitat
negatively impacts their recovery. Panthers
are wide-ranging and secretive, occurring at
low densities. Florida panthers require large
contiguous areas to meet their social, reproductive and energetic needs. Panther habitat
selection is related to prey availability (i.e.,
habitats that make prey vulnerable to stalking and capturing are selected). Limiting
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Big Cypress National Preserve annually
capture panthers to assess their health and fit them with a radio collar. This 2.5-year-old female
panther weighed in at 84 pounds on Feb. 7. © Ralph Arwood.
factors for the panther are habitat availability,
prey availability and lack of human tolerance.
Habitat loss, degradation, vehicle strikes and
fragmentation are among the greatest threats
to panther survival.
SOURCE: http://floridapanther.org/
Panther expands territory into wildlife reserve in Sarasota County
Sherm Stratton, Friends of the Carlton Reserve
Smembers
arasota County Natural Resources staff Florida residents, this was the first panther Then on Feb. 24, Debbie found more
have been waiting for another she had seen. Within moments of the panther unmistakable signs — perfect 4-inch paw
panther since the spring of 2005 — the last
time an endangered Florida panther was
known to be roaming the T. Mabry Carlton
Jr. Memorial Reserve in Venice. Paw prints
from that cat were first found in the Reserve
in 1999 and were documented with four trail
camera photos in December 2001. It roamed
the Reserve and surrounding natural lands
until 2005, which is when land managers
stopped seeing its distinctive paw print. After
many frustrating sightings were received too
late or were cases of mistaken identity, their
watchful waiting has again been rewarded.
On the rainy evening of Feb. 5, 2010, Stephanie
Green, a land manager for the Southwest
Florida Water Management District, spotted a panther on a trail in the Reserve. For
several moments Stephanie was able to get
an unrestricted view of a very large, longtailed, tawny-coated cat from less than 75
yards as it sat down, looked back at her and
then leaped an 8-foot-wide drainage canal
in the same direction where several feral
hogs had dispersed. As with many lifelong
disappearing, she heard the unmistakable
scream of a hog.
On the following day, Debbie Blanco, the
Carlton Reserve land manager, was able to
make a plaster cast of the panther print at the
location of Stephanie's sighting. The fourinch-long print was verified by the Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
as definitely being a panther's.
prints and distinctive scrapes typically left
by panthers to mark their territory.
State biologists think this cat is probably a
young male that may have come out of south
Florida looking for his own territory. Male
panthers can claim up to 200 square miles for
their territory and use "corridors” between
their remaining habitats to look for mates.
The Carlton cat has been in residence since
February, but he may have to leave if he is
to find his mate. No female panthers have
yet ventured out of south Florida.
Over 2,400 pictures of wildlife have been
taken by five digital cameras. The cameras were purchased and are maintained
by Friends of the Carlton Reserve, who are
keeping a wildlife database and assisting
Debbie, who is always on the lookout for
another panther as she implements the current land management plan for the Carlton.
The voters of Sarasota County set aside the
Carlton Reserve in the 1980s to provide a
water resource but also to protect wildlife
habitat and provide passive recreation.
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Spring 2010
13
Ranchers to improve fertilization practices
Robyn Felix, Southwest Florida Water Management District
C
harlotte County ranchers can learn how to
use soil testing to more effectively fertilize
pastures through a Community Education
Grant from the Southwest Florida Water
Management District.
The Range Cattle Research and Education
Center received a $5,000 grant to offer free
soil and tissue testing and educational materials to regional beef and forage producers.
Reductions in the amount of fertilizer applied to pastures could decrease pollution of
surface water and groundwater resources in
ecologically sensitive areas in west-central
Florida. If you are a rancher who would like
to participate in the project, please contact
Reyna Speckman, range cattle station Extension specialist, at 863/735-1314.
Funding for the project is provided by the
SWFWMD Alafia River, Manasota and
Peace River basin boards.
The overall goal of the Community Education Grant program is to actively engage
adults in water-related issues pertaining to
conservation, protection and preservation.
These grants offer up to $5,000 to help fund
projects that motivate communities to get
involved in watershed protection through
various educational activities.
The SWFWMD 2011 Community Education
Grant program will begin its application
process in June 2010. For more information,
please call the District’s Communications
Department toll-free at 800/423-1476, ext.
4757.
CHNEP supports your good work with grants
The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary
Program is anticipating to again offer public outreach grants to help others further
a plan to protect the natural environment
from Venice to Bonita Springs to Winter
Haven. The plan is specifically concerned
with stewardship, water quality, water flow
and habitat loss.
This year the CHNEP will increase the
maximum award from $3,000 to $5,000.
Guidance is now posted at www.CHNEP.
org/. The application deadline is Sept. 1.
Additional grant opportunities from the
CHNEP will be available on the website
once guidance and funding are approved.
DEP expands public access to contaminated site information
Terri Durdaller, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
T
he Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) has developed the Contamination Locator Map (CLM) web tool,
which will make DEP’s work more transparent. Users who want to be notified on
the cleanup progress of a specific site can
receive emails from DEP.
Initially available for petroleum-contaminated
sites only, the email subscription service
is now available for all DEP cleanup sites.
“CLM is an online tool that enables the
public to search for waste cleanup sites near
their homes, neighborhoods or any identified
location on a Florida map,” said Mary Jean
Yon, director of DEP Division of Waste
Management.
CLM includes locational information for
nearly 17,000 contaminated sites, including
13,527 petroleum sites, 101 Brownfield sites,
44 Superfund sites and 3,256 other waste
cleanup sites such as dry-cleaning, hazardous waste and state-owned lands.
Search results in the vicinity of the specified
location are depicted on a map with site
name, address, facility identification number,
site type and cleanup status. Users may view
actual documents associated with the site by
clicking on the direct link to search DEP’s
web-based document management system.
To visit the CLM site, go to www.dep.state.
fl.us/mainpage/programs/waste.htm and
click on the CLM button.
Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron
Walking with its neck bent low.
Fishing for prey in the water below.
A bill that is stout and black.
Moving the water forth and back.
At dusk and night when no one’s around,
Avoiding competition . . . its dinner is found.
Looking for food to bring to the nest . . .
And a night of hunting comes to a rest!
Written by excellent educators Katie Schlotterbeck and Jandy McCoy during Lee County
School District’s Adventures in the Charlotte Harbor Watershed workshop. The School
District held the workshop to help teachers incorporate CHNEP’s book into classroom
activities. Illustration by Rachel Rebekah Renne.
14
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Spring 2010
Dear Naturalists of the Charlotte
Harbor Watersheds:
Naturalists have a grand tradition of recording
the dates of annual events. It could be the
first observation of bur-marigolds (Bidens
laevis) in the ditch along a roadway or the
first appearance of belted kingfishers (Ceryle
alcyon) in fall. It could be when citrus trees
in an area flower in the spring. My own
grandfather recorded his first observations of
coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) flowers blooming in Sweden in the 1920s. These records
have become more valuable as scientists are
investigating the effects of changing climate.
If you have any systematic recording of
annual natural events (diary, log, etc.), please
let me know at [email protected]. It may
be more valuable than you imagine!
Estuaries Live
I
n 2002 and 2003, the CHNEP hosted
hour-long live programs known as Estuaries Live! These programs were broadcast
over the Internet and the CHNEP has tapes
of the entire programs available. However,
short clips (5–8 minutes in length) are now
available on the Internet. Links to each can
be found at www.CHNEP.org.
• Estuaries and the First People: Corbett
Torrence, Fort Myers Beach Mound
House
• Collecting Creatures in the Charlotte
Harbor: Kayton Nedza and students in
the Hardee County Outdoor Classroom
• Oysters: Vicki McGee, Rookery Bay
NERR with Kayton Nedza
• Turtle Tales: Zander Srodes (when he
was 12!)
• Interview with a Manatee: Monica
Dorken, CHEC
• Mangrove Maniac: Matt Finn, Huckleberry Fisheries
• Mangrove Q&A with Bill Hammond,
Florida Gulf Coast University
Planning for Meaningful Evaluation
May 12–13, 2010, 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
Laishley Community Room, Punta Gorda
he CHNEP is pleased to host this training
to help partners in their efforts to protect the
natural environment and fulfill the CHNEP
management plan.
T
The NOAA Coastal Services Center will
teach the course, the City of Punta Gorda
is providing the facility and CF Industries
will help provide refreshments and lunches.
Visit www.CHNEP.org to learn more and to
register.
T he 11
th
annual
Charlotte Harbor
Nature Festival will
be held Saturday,
N ov. 2 0 , 2 0 1 0 ,
at the Charlotte
Sports Complex
in Port Charlotte.
Would you like to
help plan or sponsor
this festival? Please
contact Maran Hilgendorf (mhilgendorf@
swfrpc.org or 866/835-5785, ext. 240).
One-two-three, One-two-three:
The dance of the honeybee decoded
Korina Chilcoat
hroughout history,
dance has been an
important essential
to culture. For some
“individuals,” it’s the
key to survival. This
would be the case for
the honeybee. This
tiny, intelligent creature has existed for
thousands of years,
telling others in his
hive where to find food sources simply by
. . . dancing! Visit www.CHNEP.org to learn
more about the dance of honeybees.
T
CHNEP Meetings and Events – 2010
T
hese dates are tentative. Confirm dates and obtain locations and
agendas at www.CHNEP.org/. Additional meetings and events are
also posted on this website, as are grant deadlines. All meetings
are open but the public is encouraged to join the Citizens Advisory
Committee. Membership is open to anyone interested in protecting the natural environment bounded by Venice, Bonita Springs
and Winter Haven.
Approximately 50 volunteers from the Myakka community, the
Manatee County Parks Department and Mosaic worked together
on a beautification project at the Myakka Community Center.
Volunteers planted various Florida native plants at the park site.
The idea for the beautification project came from members of Mosaic’s Manatee Citizens Advisory Panel (MCAP). Manatee County
provided the plants for the project. Mosaic’s MCAP volunteered
along with other Myakka citizens and Mosaic employees, despite
pouring rain that day. Mosaic sponsored breakfast for the crew.
TAC/Science Forum
April 14
Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)
April 21
Management
May 7
Planning for Meaningful Evaluation Workshop May 12 - 13
Policy
May 21
Submit entries for CHNEP 2011 calendar by
July 14
TAC/Science Forum
July 14
Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)
July 21
Select images for 2011 calendar
August
Management
August 6
Policy
August 23
Public outreach grant applications due
September 1
Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)
September 8
TAC/Science Forum
October 13
Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)
October 20
Management
November 5
Association of National Estuary Program November 8-10
Charlotte Harbor Nature Festival
November 20
Policy
November 22
CHNEP Harbor Happenings Spring 2010
15
Harbor Happenings
Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program
1926 Victoria Ave
Fort Myers FL 33901-3414
Not receiving Harbor Happenings in the mail? Request a free subscription. Visit the website at www.CHNEP.org for details.
Please let us know of any address corrections by sending an email to [email protected].
Harbor Happenings en Español: Cada publicación de Harbor Happenings será traducida al español y publicada en el website del
Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program www.CHNEP.org. Por favor anime a sus amigos que hablan español a darle un vistazo.
Submit and select images for the CHNEP 2011 calendar
Because of the generosity of those who
submitted images and those who reviewed
the images, since 2005 the CHNEP has produced beautiful and popular calendars that
depict the natural environment of southwest
Florida. (Visit www.CHNEP.org and take a
look for yourself! All calendars are available
as PDF files on the website.)
Because of the generosity of many who
donated to the CHNEP because of the calendar, we anticipate creating a 2011 calendar.
CHNEP 2011 calendar
Whether you are young or old, professional
or amateur, you may submit up to three
entries that capture the beauty of the natural
environment of southwest Florida (as defined by CHNEP) for consideration in the
CHNEP 2011 calendar. The images could
have been captured today or 50 years ago in
any medium (photography, oil, illustration,
etc.). Please also encourage others to submit
images. The entry form, instructions on how
to select images, a subscription form and
additional guidance are available at www.
CHNEP.org/.
1. Submit up to three digitized entries by
July 14, 2010.
2. Select the images during August 2010
that you would like to see in the calendar.
3. If you are not already receiving Harbor
Happenings, subscribe online by Sept. 14
to receive your 2011 calendar in the mail.
Subscribers can expect to receive their
calendar in the mail in early November.
To have a calendar mailed to you after
this deadline will require a $15 donation.
Joanne Shamp of Fort Myers Beach submitted this photograph of a scallop. It is the July 2010 featured
image in the CHNEP 2010 calendar.
Since 2005, the CHNEP has also provided
calendars to many of our partners, including
nature centers, libraries and government offices for their distribution. If you’d like to
receive a supply for your own distribution,
please complete the request form on the
website by July 30. This project is primarily funded by CHNEP’s financial partners,
who are committed to helping protect the
natural environment of southwest Florida.
We require that the calendars you request
be distributed to those who might help fulfill
this purpose. Requests will be honored as
demand and funds allow.
Bay Scallops, Argopecten irradians
M
ost bay scallops live 12–18 months.
Each population must replace itself, or
receive offspring from neighboring populations, each year. In Florida waters, they
appear to spawn only once, generally during
the fall. Larval scallops are pelagic (living
in the water column rather than on the bottom) for 10–14 days. During that time they
may be dispersed a considerable distance.
Scallop harvest is governed by statewide
regulations, restricting individual and boat
limits and harvest to July 1 to Sept. 10.
SOURCE: http://research.myfwc.com/