NFNN/Water Wars/SB274/Turtles/Wetlands/Reef Relief/WaterNews/Water Reclaim/ASR

Our Santa Fe River, Inc.

www.oursantaferiver.org

1-386-454-4446

oursantafe@hotmail.com

Hello,

The High Springs Herald has created a environment social networking opportunity for us, you, and all

environment organizations that could benefit from this type of internet contact. Please take some time to

look at the NFNN posting below.

No new news on Lilly Springs on the Santa Fe River. We will keep you posted as info. becomes available.

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson

President of OSFR

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NFNN (North Florida Nature News)

The High Springs Herald has created a

North Florida Nature News Website
as a forum for people to stay informed about the North Florida environment.

The address is:
NatureNews.ning.com

Local residents, environmental groups and even politicians are encouraged
to sign-up so that they can begin sharing information. So many times,
there are a ton of groups doing the same thing without knowing others are
out there. This Website can be a place for those groups to communicate.

Some of the features of this site include the ability to start an
individual “group” page and to hold a “forum.” There is also a place where
upcoming meetings can be added. Even photos can be uploaded.

Basically, the site is designed to be a one-stop place for people to find
and give information on their local environment.

The site is free, and the more people who join, the better the site will
be at connecting people and events.

Please feel free to contact Rachael Anne Ryals (Herald reporter) at
386-454-1297 or at rryals@highspringsherald.com with any questions."

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Trust us, this is a new beginning, not beginning of the end

By R. "Robin" Lewis III
Special to the Star-Banner

Published: Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 6:30 a.m.

Eighteen months ago I made a presentation at the first "Water Wars" summit. At that time, I spoke from my heart with these comments: "I come before you today to speak for our rivers, our trees and our children who will inherit these from us, to speak for the bear, butterfly and blue crab, the otter and osprey, for they have few champions."

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Subject: SB 274 news

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Springs, Everglades measures fail as amendments

Sen. Lee Constantine's effort to get his springs bill attached to a Florida Department of Environmental Protection bill (SB 2104) failed today by a 19-13 vote. SB 274 by Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, would regulate nitrogen releases to groundwater from farms, sewage treatment plants and septic tanks. Scientists say increasing nitrogen in groundwater fuels the growth of weeds and algae in springs across the state. Developers and home-builders have challenged the cost to septic tank owners, though Constantine said septic tanks can be upgraded for less than has been estimated. "You have a DEP package here that has a lot of good stuff in it," Sen. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, said in speaking against the amendment. "This bill or this amendment really should stand on its own two feet because there is a significant amount of policy change in this amendment."

The blogger

Bruce Ritchie

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Turtles
High Springs Herald

All commercial turtle harvesting may be banned in Florida
By Rachael Anne Ryals
Herald Staff Writer

Under a newly proposed law, all commercial harvesting of freshwater turtles will be completely banned in Florida, but children who want a pet turtle will still be allowed to wade in rivers and lakes and catch a slippery, flipper-footed friend.

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Care2 subscriber since Jan 6, 2008 Unsubscribe | Forward to a Friend | Take Action

Hi Merrillee,

Four hundred years ago, in the area that would later become the lower 48 United States, there were approximately 220 million acres of wetlands. Today, there is less than half that amount remaining. In fact, we lose 80,000 acres of wetlands a year.

>Protect these precious resources. »

Wetlands serve many functions. They replenish and clean water, provide needed rest places for migratory birds and help reduce the risk of floods. Wetlands also provide opportunities to get away from our cities and get in touch with the natural world.

We must keep our remaining wetlands safe, and can't afford to lose more acres to human development.

Please act today, and help protect America's wetlands. »

Take action link: http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AFLX5/zj47/4DBq

Thanks for taking action!

Samer
ThePetitionSite

Protect America's Wetlands

Forward to a friend >>
Read the petition >>

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Reef Relief

Subject: Florida Legislature Passes Bill to Protect Coral Reefs

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may see it online.

FLORIDA LEGISLATURE PASSES BILL TO BETTER

PROTECT AND RESTORE CORAL REEFS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tallahassee - May 1, 2009 Today the Florida legislature unanimously passed a bill (HB1423) regarding the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission which included provisions to better protect and restore coral reefs from boat groundings and anchoring in southeast Florida waters.

The provisions, originally in a bill filed by Representative Ron Saunders (D) - Tavernier, was amended to a bill by Representative Troutman (R) - Winter Haven, by Senator Constantine (R) - Altamonte Springs, and passed by the full house and senate. It authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to establish methods for calculating damages to and access civil penalties for the damage of coral reefs in Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Dade and Monroe counties. Penalties range from $150 to $1000 per square meter depending on the extent and location of the offense. Penalties would double if in a state park or aquatic preserve and for repeat violations. First time damage of reefs of less than one square meter would result in a warning letter by the Fish & Wildlife Commission.

"This legislation will go a long way to protect and restore the daily damage from boaters grounding and anchoring on coral reefs," said Paul Johnson, President of Reef Relief. "Coral reefs take millennia to form, but can be physically destroyed and degraded by careless boaters not familiar with their presence nor importance in a generation."

The bill provides definitions for coral reefs and authorizes the department to enter into settlement agreements requiring parties responsible for injury to or destruction of coral reefs to pay a third party to fund projects related to the restoration of the reef.

"We thank the leadership in the legislature and cooperation among the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission in bringing this good bill to completion," said Johnson. "We look forward to working with the boating public and these agencies to better educate and implement this new law.

Take Action Now!

Please take a minute to email or call these legislators and agency heads to thank them for this added protection for Florida's coral reefs:

Senator Lee Constantine - constantine.lee.web@flsenate.gov (407) 331-9675

Representative Baxtor Troutman - baxter.troutman@myfloridahouse.gov (863) 298-5220

Representative Ron Saunders - ron.saunders@myfloridahouse.gov (305) 853-1947

DEP Secretary Mike Sole - michael.sole@dep.state.fl.us (850) 245-2140

FWCC Executive Director Ken Haddad - ken.haddad@MyFWC.com (850) 487-3796

Reef Relief is a global non-profit, membership organization based in Key West, Florida dedicated to protecting coral reefs. Learn more at www.reefrelief.org .

Save the date!

Reef Relief's Annual Membership Meeting

will be Wednesday, June 24th from 5pm--8pm

Generously hosted by the Casa Marina Resort

at the newly-restored Flagler's Ballroom

1500 Reynolds Street, Key West, Florida.

Don't miss the opportunity to learn about

Reef Relief's major achievements for coral reefs

and big changes ahead.

Members welcome; you can join at the door.

For more info: contact Reef Relief.

Be a Sea Fan for only $15

If you are not already a member of Reef Relief, now is a great time to join

and help support efforts to protect endangered coral reefs.

Right now, you can join Reef Relief at a special six month rate of only

fifteen dollars, the cost of a reasonable meal. And it is tax deductible.

Go to www.reefrelief.org to join online, call (305) 294-3100

to join using your credit card over the phone,

or mail your check to:

Reef Relief, Post Office Box 430, Key West, Florida 33041-0430.

P.O. Box 430 | Key West, FL 33041-0430 US

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Subj: BC Florida Water News - May 1, 2009

Friday, May 1, 2009

Hello,

Consider the sluggish effort to save the Glades officially stimulated. The Obama administration will pour $96 million of stimulus money into building a handful of key Everglades restoration projects. Combined with $183 million that Congress approved last month, it adds up to the largest one-year infusion of federal cash since the landmark restoration project was approved in 2000.

Getting Tampa Bay out of its three-year drought isn’t as simple as cranking up the power to the area’s desalination plant. Although the plant remains the largest in North America, transformer troubles — and size limitations — prevent the saltwater-purifying facility from quenching residents’ water needs.

And Westshore developer Al Austin, although he used more water last year than nearly everyone across the Tampa Bay area, says he's not an abuser, that he's operating within the rules and trying to keep his property in respectable shape.

Here are a few of the other stories making news across the state:

Crist's U.S. Sugar buyout withstands a Senate assault
Funding for Florida Forever land program may end
Davenport's old water tower poses a problem
Water main break closes Central Florida parkway
Volunteers needed Saturday to help make oyster beds in Stuart

To see the latest Florida Water News, click the icon at the top of the page or point your browser at:

http://www.bcwaternews.com/floridawaternews/fwn-501.html

Plenty of news from around the world, too, updated twice daily.

Welcome to our newest readers:

Jean Luc Bailly, manager, Assertec, Grenoble, France

Don't forget to check out BCWaterJobs.com, the industry's No. 1 site for water and wastewater job opportunities across the United States and Canada. BC Water Jobs is a service of Florida Water News and helps us bring this publication to you every week, free of charge.

Have a great weekend!

Ron Ash
Editor, Florida Water News
Brown and Caldwell

Help spread the word about Florida Water News — tell a friend or colleague about us, or send along your favorite water-related photos or news tips.

You are currently subscribed to florida as: merrilleeart@aol.com
To unsubscribe: Click here
For help managing your subscription: Click here.

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Water Reclamation Facility helps UF go green

By A.J. Nesbitt
Correspondent

In an era when the University of Florida and just about every place else is working to "go green," there's one source of greenness that tends to fly under the radar at UF.

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Forum on Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Wells:

DATE: Monday, May 4th, 2009

TIME: 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. (Meeting Room reserved until 10:00 p.m.)

LOCATION: Viera Government Center Building C, County Commission Meeting Room

ADDRESS: 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, Fl 32940

SEATING: The Commission Room has seating for 217 and holds 270. The Florida Room, on the third floor, is reserved for overflow. It holds 92 people.

TELEVISED: The forum will be televised on Space Coast Government Television. Space Coast Government Television (SCGTV) is a 24-hour, 7 days/week government access channel which can be viewed on BrightHouse cable channel 199 (or 99-2 on a digital TV), Comcast channel 51 in North Brevard, and Comcast channel 26 in South Brevard. SCGTV is simulcast on WBFT-LP 105.5 FM in Southeast Brevard. Additional air dates include: (Times are approximate) May 7 at 8 a.m, May 9 at 9 p.m., May 11 at 9 p.m., May 12 at 2 p.m., May 15 at midnight, May 16 at 2 p.m., May 17 at 9 p.m., May 21 at 6 p.m.

This forum will delve into the pros and cons regarding sewage wastewater ASR wells, and will provide the alternatives to ASR wells. The City of Rockledge and Save Our Aquifer will each have a panel of professionals and scientists (see below). Each panel will provide presentations offering information and scientific studies. Tony Sasso of Cocoa Beach will be the moderator. After the presentations, Tony Sasso will ask questions, provided by the public, to the panelists. Please mark your calendars to attend this Forum. It is sure to be an informative evening!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The City of Rockledge and Canaveral Port Authority Aquifer Storage and Recovery wells are not the typical "deep" injection wells, but rather shallow wells, directly into the Underground Source of Drinking Water (USDW). The deep injection wells are usually 2,700 to 3,000 feet below land surface into the boulder zone. The proposed Port Canaveral ASR injection well is 35-60 feet below land surface. The proposed Rockledge ASR injection well is 370-470 feet below land surface. These wastewater injection ASR wells are a very new concept, and one that is highly questionable and controversial. Imagine annually injecting 150 million gallons of partially treated sewage at the Canaveral Port Authority 35-60 feet deep into sand, shell, and a little bit of clay. The Indian River Lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean surround the Port on three sides. Currents flow south down the beach from the Port to the neighboring communities of Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach.

Panelists invited by the Save Our Aquifer include:

Jim Egan has a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science from Florida Institute of Technology and a Bachelors Degree in Geology, New York City University. Since 1998 he has been the Executive Director of the Marine Resources Council, a 501c3 non profit dedicated to the preservation of the Indian River Lagoon. He oversees the nation’s second largest volunteer water quality network, MRC’s Shoreline Restoration Program, Northern Right Whale Program, the Regional Land Trust of the Indian River Lagoon, the Adopt a Drain Program, Boaters for a Healthy Lagoon, the Brown Bag Lunch Educational Series, and the Library of the Indian River Lagoon. He has taught Environmental Science at several universities and reached the title of full professor. From 2000-2008 he served as Executive Director of the Indian River Lagoon Nation Scenic Byway Corridor Management Group. From 1986-1996 he was Laboratory Director of an EPA and Dept of Health-approved Environmental Analysis Laboratory. He is the author of numerous peer-reviewed books and scientific studies.

Randall W. Parkinson. Ph.D.. P.G.

Randall W. Parkinson is president of RWParkinson Consulting, Inc., a firm specializing in geological issues associated with the management and protection of coastal resources. He received a BS in Environmental Science from Cornell College (1979), MS in Geology from the University of Iowa (1982), and Ph.D. in Marine Geology and Geophysics from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami (1987). He is an Eagle Scout, Fulbright Scholar, NASA Summer Faculty Fellow, Registered Professional Geologist (State of Florida), member and vice-chair of the Selection and Management Committee, Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program (1990 to present), and Associate Editor of the Journal of Coastal Research. Prior to starting his own business in 2006, Parkinson was an Associate Professor of Geological Oceanography at the Florida Institute of Technology (1987 – 2000) and thereafter employed as a Senior Geologist and Laboratory Director for a coastal engineering firm (2000 – 2006).

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Panelists invited by the City of Rockledge includee:

Patricia Cline, Ph.D.

Dr. Cline has over 25 years of professional experience characterizing the environmental fate and potential adverse impacts from chemicals. She was the principal investigator for a two year research project evaluating potential impacts of endocrine disrupters associated with wastewater discharges to surface water. Her expertise is applied in design of sampling and analysis plans, evaluating data quality, and modeling fate of chemicals in soils, groundwater and surface water. This has included evaluating the fate of wastewater constituents in the Floridan aquifer and persistence and fate of microconstituents in land applied biosolids. She has an ongoing affiliation with the University of Florida, including classroom lectures, seminars, and collaborative research projects, and she has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in her field. Dr. Cline earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering Sciences from the University of Florida.

Mark McNeal, P.G.

Mr. McNeal developed and obtained permitting for the first Reclaimed Water ASR well in Florida while working for the Englewood Water District and is currently the Chief Executive Officer for ASRus, LLC. Mr. McNeal has more than 24 years of experience in hydrogeologic investigations in Florida, including management of projects for Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR), deep injection wells, reuse, and computer modeling of groundwater systems. He also has experience in aquifer pumping test design and analysis, ASR and water supply system startup, and ASR operational cycle testing. He has worked with water suppliers and water management districts across Florida including the Southwest Florida Water Management District, South Florida Water Management District, and the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority. Mr. McNeal worked with CH2M HILL in their Tampa office for 21 years, where he was Director of Groundwater Practices and Reuse for their Southeast Region. Mr. McNeal obtained his B.S. in Geological Engineering from Brigham Young University.

James McLellan, P.E. (Spokesperson for Jones Edmunds, Project Engineers)

Mr. McLellan is a Vice President of Jones Edmunds and has extensive experience in project management and water and wastewater facilities evaluation, design, and construction oversight. He has developed comprehensive systems facilities plans and designed, coordinated, and managed a multitude of projects involving water storage and distribution and wastewater collection and treatment systems for municipalities and industries. He is the principal-in-charge of projects specifically involving wastewater treatment, collection, transmission and reuse, water treatment, supply, and distribution. In addition to his engineering experience, he has taught several courses at the university level, including Environmental Chemistry, Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering, Water Supply Treatment and Design, and Water and Wastewater Process Design. Mr. McLellan obtained his B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Maine.

CONTACT:

Amy Mosher, Secretary

Save Our Aquifer, Inc.

(321) 636-2229

email: info@saveouraquifer.org

www.saveouraquifer.org

P.O.Box 251 Cocoa, Fla. 32923

Please forward freely...

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