Florida Chapter
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Loxahatchee Group Florida Chapter |
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| NEWS:Turtle Tracks Newsletter |
| Turtle Tracks Newsletter of the Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group Volume 26, No. 2 | April/May 2002 Table of Contents |
Back Issues
Newsletter Editor
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Earth Day Weekend!Earth Day weekend is April 20 and 21. The Lox Group is participating in two events for you, family and friends to join. At both, we'll sponsor a booth. We'll greet festival-goers, share literature, talk about Sierra Club, offer items for sale (and generally relax and socialize). Come and join us! Better yet, volunteer to staff the booth for a 2-hour time slot! For more information, call Nada MacKinney, 561-416-9134.
On Saturday, April 20, from 10 - 4, John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is hosting "Naturescaping: An Earth Day Celebration." It's a festival of sorts, with booths, food, music and a generally festive atmosphere. It was a great time last year! John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is located 2.8 miles south of the intersection of U.S.1 and PGA Blvd. on A1A in North Palm Beach.
On Sunday, April 21, also 10 - 4, Jonathan Dickinson State Park will also host an Earth Day Celebration. Ditto on the fun, food and music! Jonathan Dickinson State Park is located in Hobe Sound, FL., 12 mi. south of Stuart on US 1.
SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2002
Sierra Club Productions invites you to watch ANSEL ADAMS: A DOCUMENTARY FILM. The documentary will air on PBSšs American Experience on Sunday, April 21, 2002. No photographer has had more profound an impact on how Americans grasp the majesty of their own continent.
The General Meetings are on the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM at Boynton Beach Fire station No. 3. Located the S.W. corner of Congress Ave. and Minor Rd. Just north of Gateway Blvd. Hope to see you all there.
Our speaker for the April 16 General Meeting will be Scot Wehmeyer of
FAU Pine/Jog Environmental Center. Scot will tell us about the proposed fiber optic cables to be laid across the coral reefs off the Southeast coast of Florida, the impact this would have on the fragile coral reefs, viable alternatives, and actions you can take. Be sure to attend this important meeting.Our speaker for the May 21 General Meeting will be Dr. Mary Rice,
director of The Smithsonian Marine Station in Fort Pierce. Dr. Rice will
tell us about the research they are conducting and how it relates to the
marine life and ecosystems of the Indian River Lagoon, and the off shore
waters of Floridašs east coast. The studies conducted here are of interest
to scientists from all over the world.- John Gates Program Chair
Conservation Committee Meeting is on the 4th Tuesday of the month. Please contact JoAnn Miner for location information (561) 686-6088.
Next EXCOM meeting will be at the Gates house at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 8. Contact John and Kay for directions if you plan to attend (561/742-9219 or email johnkay@mindspring.com).
The Political Committee will meet on Wednesday April 24 at 7:30 pm at the home of John Koch, the Political Chair to consider possible endorsements of State and County level candidates in the 2002 election cycle. Call 963-5574 for directions.
Loxahatchee Group Newsletter Folding Party: If you don't already have plans for Memorial Day weekend, please join your fellow Sierrans for an hour or two sticking labels on our group newsletter,Turtle Tracks. Come join the fun and help with this important volunteer effort. Call Sabrina at (561) 732-4486 for directions (west Boynton). Everyone is welcome.
Directions to General Meetings
From the North: Take I-95 to Hypoluxo Road. Go West on Hypoluxo to Congress; then South on Congress to the traffic light at Miner Road. Go briefly West on Miner to the Fire Station entrance.
From the South: Take I-95 to Gateway Blvd. Go West on Gateway to Congress, then North on Congress to the traffic light at Miner Road. Go briefly West on Miner to the Fire Station Entrance.
The Arthur R. Marshall Foundation presented an elegant plaque to the
Loxahatchee Sierra Group in recognition of our support of their Cypress Tree Program. Good job Sierrans, you earned this award!Chair Kay Gates attended the Marshall Foundationšs fourth annual recognition luncheon on March 1, 2002; and accepted this award on behalf of the group.
Highlights of the affair included an excellent slide program on the
destruction and current restoration of the Everglades by Stuart Strahl of
the Audubon Society; and presentation of the M.F. Environment Award to Mark Musaus, director of Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge.
From the Easy Chair . . . . . .
Spring is subtle in south Florida. It doesnšt hit you bold like up north.
You have to look for it. Some signs are the melodious (incessant?) singing of the mocking bird outside my kitchen, and the intrigue of the brown thrashers. These beautiful rufous red, robin size birds have built a nest in our patio bougainvillea.And there was the tree planting. The last of the 20,000 Cypress trees have been planted in four locations this year. The Loxahatchee Sierra Group is proud to have worked with and supported the Marshall Foundation in this meaningful Everglades restoration project.
We received our annual SIERRA Club ballot last week. Each spring we elect five new members of the fifteen to the National Board of Directors. Instead of filing the ballot in the circular file thinking I donšt know these people, I urge you to consider why you joined the Sierra Club? Does largest grass roots, democratic, volunteer run, conservation group ring a bell? If so, take a few minutes, be involved. Read about the candidates. More information is posted at: www.sierraclub.org/bod/2002election. Help National to continue to be representative of us by voting! Deadline is April 24.
- Kay Gates
Want Environmentally Friendly/Healthy Farms?
America's drinking water, rivers and lakes are at risk from giant,
corporate-owned factory farms. These facilities confine thousands of
animals, and produce staggering amounts of animal waste in the process (2.7 trillion pounds per year). Too often, this waste leaks into our rivers and streams, fouling our air, contaminating our drinking water and spreading disease. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, hog, chicken and cattle waste has polluted 35,000 miles of rivers in 22 states and contaminated groundwater in 17 states.Factory farmed animals live in unhealthy conditions, so they are routinely fed antibiotics and other growth promoting agents. This contributes to the development of virulent anti-biotic resistant bacteria, which along with bacterial contamination, can cause illness in human consumers.
The Sierra Club has made Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOšS) a major priority, and is joining forces with Floridians for Humane Farms, other humane organizations, public health advocates and family farmers to oppose intensive animal agriculture.
Most Florida pig farmers already raise their animals outdoors, we do not
want mega hog factories to infiltrate Florida! Our legislators have not
done what is in the interest of the citizens to keep CAFOšS out of Florida.Please help us to ban this type of farming by signing the Animal Cruelty
Amendment petition. Petitions are available at our general meetings, at our Earth Day booths, or by contacting Floridians for Humane Farms or John Koch. Volunteers are needed to help gather 650,000 signatures by June to place this measure on the 2002 November ballot.For more information: www.sierraclub.org/factoryfarms/; John Koch,
banyanjohn@earthlink.net, 561-963-5574; Floridians for Humane Farms, 954-946-1691.
Still looking for concerned activists! If you would like to get on the band
wagon and be the contact person for any of these positions please call Kay at (561) 742-9219 or email johnkay@mindspring.com. Give phone no. or email where you can be reached.Air Quality
Corporate Accountability
Global Warming/CAFE
International Human Rights/Environment
International Population
International Trade
Marine
Mining
National Forests/ECL
Sprawl
WasteOther open positions: Fund Raising Chair, T-shirt Sales/Promotion
Bill Hutchins, who had been a guest speaker for our group on many occasions, passed away Wednesday, March 20, 2002, from a sudden illness according to the Palm Beach Post. Bill was a member of many environmental groups, including the Sierra Club. He was a true environmentalist, and a wonderful story teller of his many exotic rain forest travels. We will miss Bill.
It was a beautiful week-end, March 15-17, and eight of us participated in that outing. We had various activities planned: canoeing, kayaking, hiking and watching some wildlife: from birds (osprey, hawks, herons, ibis, turkey vulture) to deer, raccoons, bears (or feral pigs, we never figured it out) .... Some of us explored the Upper Myakka River, some of us went on a canopy walk (20 feet above the trees, we saw nothing but green tree tops and the lake at a distance), some of us went hiking in the back country and admired the hammocks and the prairie...all of us enjoyed the food, the campfires, and the friendship. Thanks to Cheryl and Sean, Diane and Ed, Barbara, Casey and Julian for participating in that outing.
- Maryvonne Devensky
Taking the Sierra Club advice to Take A Hike, 15 of us did just that
at the Quantum Industrial Park Pine Preserve in Boynton Beach, in mid
February. The Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council recently reiterated the fact that the Preserve is public property so we took advantage of that.Hike is perhaps a stretch. I don't know, what would you call it when a
bunch of people wander around in the woods for an hour or so? The weather could not have been more glorious! Blue skies, cool breezes and fresh spring growth combined for a sublime experience. We were too early for many spring blossoms and as I write this, it's getting late in the season, but, you might be able to see Pawpaws (Asimina reticulata) thrusting their creamy, bell shaped blossomed spikes to the sky. You'll have to look to spot them as this plant is disappearing as fast as the scrub it grows in. Where to find them? In disturbed sites along the coastal ridge in Palm Beach and Martin Counties. Like the field north of Gateway Blvd in the aforementioned Quantum Park, along High Ridge Road and in the nature preserves in Boynton Beach and Hypoluxo. The rangers at Jonathan Dickinson State Park say this time of year is excellent for wild flowers, so, get out there and Take a Hike!- Lisa Hanley
We continue to receive inquiries about donating to "The Elaine Usherson
Environmental Education Scholarship" program. These funds will be used to send deserving students to environmental summer camps. Students selected would not otherwise be able to afford this experience. Last summer we sent a total of 7 students to camp. Providing a window to the environment for youth is our goal!Checks may be made out to "The Sierra Club Foundation," (note - Loxahatchee Group Donations are tax deductible). Enclose a note that contribution is for the Elaine Usherson Environmental Education Scholarship program, or camp scholarships.
Send to:
Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group
P.O. Box 6271
Lake Worth, FL 33462Satisfaction to donors and campers alike, guaranteed!
Want to participate in a fundraiser to benefit the Elaine Usherson Scholarship Program? Join us on the Photo-Walk at Wakodahatchee on May 4, 2002.
Water Resources Advisory Commission Lake Okeechobee March Meeting Report
- By John Koch
I travelled to Okeechobee to attend the March meeting of the Water Resources Advisory Commission (WRAC) and become more informed about Lake O. I learned a lot. The towns that draw drinking water from the lake need new water treatment plants. Phosphorus is a big problem in the lake. Two creeks flowing into the north end of the lake have incredible phosphorus loads, like 700 parts per billion (ppb). The water that was back pumped from the sugar farms last spring was 300 ppb. These creeks drain farmland, but not all the phosphorus is from manure or fertilizer; the soil is naturally rich in phosphorus.
The plan is to build filter marshes to treat these creeks and some tributaries of the Kissimmee river to cut the phosphorus load. So far most of the effort to reduce phosphorus entering the lake has been working with farmers and businesses north of the lake to get them to adopt "best management practices", techniques to reduce their phosphorus runoff into the lake.
Other tactics include land acquisition (purchase), obtaining conservation easements or agricultural or land protection easements and resource conservation agreements from private landowners under the Rural &
Family Lands Protection Act, and public-private partnerships with the Nature Conservancy and others. During the Land Acquisition discussion, Jack Moller, a WRAC member representing Friends of Lake O. said that when the district buys land it should cancel the Consumptive Use Permits (permits to use water) issued for that land, and not allow the former owner to use that water allotment at some other location. Henry Dean, the Water Management District Executive Director, responded that he wants to review all consumptive use permits. (Some of us have been wondering if the District has issued permits for far more water than actually exists, or might exist after "everglades restoration" in which case the everglades would get ??? or nothing, so this is important.Too much water in the lake can be more damaging than too little. When the water is too deep the grasses growing on the bottom don't get enough
sunlight and die. When they decay more phosphorus is released and there is no food for little fish and no place for them to hide, so the fish
population crashes. This happened 2 years ago when the lake was at 17 ft. for a long time. The low water in the lake last spring was good for the lake. The aquatic plants got re-established. The Water Management District went in with bulldozers on the west side of the lake, the shallow side, that was dry land then, and pushed a berm of muck and decayed plant material into a string of islands, upon which trees are being planted. Plants use phosphorus, thus improving water quality. The fishing right now is excellent. Lake levels are measured in feet above sea level. I learned that the bottom of the lake in the middle, the deepest part, is about sea level, so if the lake is at 15 ft. that's about how deep it is.The best presentation of the day was by Paul Gray, manager of Audubon's bird sanctuary north of Okeechobee. He explained why seasonal fluctuation of the water level is important. When the water level drops during the dry season, organic material decomposes or burns, seeds germinate, light penetrates to the lake bottom, and fish are concentrated into a smaller area, providing lots of easy-to-get food for wading birds, alligators, etc. which leads to lots of nesting and a growing wildlife population. New plants get started, providing good fish habitat.
Paul's recommendations: Water level should not exceed 15 feet for extended periods, water should drop to 13-14 feet in most years (marsh is 5% dry at 14 ft., 42% dry at 13 ft.), occasional drawdowns below 12 ft. are helpful, and the spring water levels should recede steadily, without large reversals. Unfortunately, various interests that see the lake only as a reservoir want it as high as possible all the time, so getting the District to follow Paul's recommendations may be a struggle.
On Friday, March 1, Gary Lehnertz, Mike Fitzpatrick and I met with
Representative Mark Foley and his assistant Donald Kiselewski. A member of the U.S. Congress, for District 16, Republican Mark Foley has been supportive of the environment by voting NO to drilling in the Arctic Natural Reserve, NO to the Presidential Fast Track Initiative, and YES to campaign finance reforms.The Sierra Club at the national level has acknowledged Mark Foley for his voting record in the print media. The purpose of the meeting
was to personally thank Mr. Foley for his vote to protect the Arctic
Wildlife Refuge. Other issues we discussed were: the need to improve the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards, a priority issue for the Sierra Club; his continued support for new energy resource research; and local environmental issues in which the Lox group is involved.- Maryvonne Devensky.
Florida's Atlantic shore provides critical nesting habitat for the
endangered green and leatherback sea turtles and the threatened loggerhead sea turtle. Palm Beach County beaches record the highest number of leatherback nests and the second highest number of loggerhead and green nests in the United States.Despite their importance, approximately 5.5 miles of Palm Beach County's 45 mile shoreline are not consistently monitored for sea turtle nesting activity. Palm Beach County's Department of Environmental Resources Management (ERM) is looking for volunteers interested in becoming sea turtle monitors. Volunteers identify and count tracks left by sea turtles and report this information to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Surveys take place at dawn and volunteers must commit to at least one
morning a week from May to August. Volunteers are currently needed in
Tequesta and Palm Beach. This is a fun way to get involved in local
conservation efforts. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer monitor, please contact Carly Pfistner via email at cpfistne@co.palm-beach.fl.us or by phone at (561) 233-2519.
Environmental Regulation Commission
The Commission is an unpaid board of seven commissioners, appointed by our Governor, who approve most air, water and waste standards for the State D.E.P. They represent specific interest groups (lay citizen, agriculture, developers, sugar industry, science). Write them to share your concerns and to urge them to protect the quality of our environment in Florida. Letters to all members can go to:
Commission Chairman Ken Wright, Lay Citizens
Shutts & Bowen
300 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 1000
Orlando, FL 32801-4626
Phone (407) 423-3200
Fax (407) 425-8316
E-mail: kwright@shutts-law.com.The following sample letter was provided by JoAnn Miner:
Dear Commissioner:
You have a tough job to do as a member of the Environmental Regulation Commission. You have taken on the task to "balance all the complex factors" that determine when, where and how the quality of water is monitored in the Everglades.
Your decisions will determine the quality of life in the whole Everglades ecosystem. Agriculture and development interests want less restrictive regulations for economic reasons. Environmental groups want far more restrictive, science-based regulations. The Mikosukee and Seminole tribes have their agendas. Urban areas have growing, wasteful thirsts. You will need the wisdom of Solomon to balance all of these "complex factors."
These will not be your only critics. Just as we can now look back with
fifty years of hindsight on the work of the Central and South Florida
Project and say, "That was a dumb thing to do"; your children, grandchildren and even your great-grandchildrenšs great-grandchildren will be able to look on the results of regulations you are establishing now. What will you have them say?Although Nature may not be your most vocal critic; she will be your most effective. If you get the water right, she will reward us with a healthy and productive river of grass. Get it wrong; we all suffer. As Marjorie Stoneman Douglas said, "The Everglades are a test. If we pass it, we get to keep the planet.
Respectfully,
Your Name
CLASC - Conservation Land Acquisition Selection Committee Meets on the 1st Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m. ERM Building #509 off Belvedere Rd, West Palm Beach. (561) 233-2400.
ERM - Environmental Resource Management Constituency Meeting Meets on last Wednesday of every 2 month at 1:30 p.m. ERM Building #502 off Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach. (561) 233-2400.
NAMAC - Natural Area Management Advisory Committee to Board of County Commissioners. Meets on 3rd Thursday of each month at 1:30 p.m. ERM Building #509 off Belvedere Road, West Palm Beach. (561) 355-3229.
CTF - Citizen Task Force Meeting date varies. Meets at Planning and Zoning (on 4th floor) at I-95 and Southern Blvd. (561) 233-5000.
SFWMD - South Florida Water Management District Governing Board: Workshop 2nd Wednesday 9AM, business 2nd Thursday 8:30AM, at 3301 Gun Club Rd. WPB. Call John Koch re. parking, etc. Workshops occasionally move out of town. (561) 686-8800.
WRAC - Water Resources Advisory Commission: Advisory body to SFWMD. Usually 1st Thursday 8:30 AM at SFWMD, but dates and locations occasionally change. (561) 686-8800.
Environmental Action Committee - A group of environmentalists meeting
informally, usually at a SFWMD conference room usually during 1st week of the month. Contact John Marshall at the Marshall Foundation, (561) 805-TREE (8733). Not a government meeting, but good for learning issues.Palm Beach County Commission - First and Third Tuesdays, 9:30 AM. Televised on Cable TV Ch. 20. We really need someone to monitor the PB County Commissioners, either on TV or in person. For information, visit http://www.pbcgov.com/Agenda, or call (561) 355-3229.
Get involved in our very own Loxahatchee E-mail Forum. Itšs the best way to get environmental alerts, meeting, party and outing reminders, and other good stuff from your fellow Loxahatchee Group members. You can sign on or off at any time. If you are interested, e-mail me at: rhaines999@aol.com.
- Ron Haines
For Outings and Other Activities, Please Visit Events
Turtle Tracks is published bi-monthly by Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group, 619 SW 2nd Avenue, Boynton Beach, FL 33426. The purpose of this newsletter is to inform members about environmental issues and events. Members subscribe through their annual dues. Nonmember subscriptions are available for $12 per year.
Newsletter submissions are welcome. The deadline is the third Tuesday of each month. Email articles to Marcia Karasoff at mkarasoff@mindspring.com (phone 561/278-5240), or deliver Macintosh format 3.5" disc or Zip disc copy to general membership meeting. (Typed hardcopies are also acceptable, but not preferred).
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