ARTHUR R. MARSHALL LOXAHATCHEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
SCHEDULED PROGRAMS
September 2015
National Public Lands Day - Volunteers Needed! Saturday, September 26, 7:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Come roll up your sleeves and devote your morning to caring for your public
lands! Volunteers are needed to plant cypress trees on the eastern edge of the
Refuge. Please wear hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray and closed-toed shoes. Water
and light snacks provided. Students can receive Community Service hours. For more
information or to volunteer, please contact Elinor Williams at 561-496-4305 or
elinor@loxahatcheefriends.com.
Admission is free all day to all visitors. Guided Bird, Butterfly and Wildflower Walks
Every Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Join our volunteer naturalist for an early morning nature walk and see how many birds and
other critters you can spot. Learn about our migratory and year-round residents of the
Refuge and their habitat. Your guide will discuss the marsh ecology, answer your questions
and identify the birds, butterflies, plants, reptiles and anything else you might find along
the way. Meet in the Marsh Trail parking lot. Early Morning Bird Walk on the Marsh Trail
Sunday, September 27, 7:30 a.m.
Join a volunteer naturalist from the Audubon Society of the Everglades for an early
morning bird walk on the Marsh Trail. Meet in the Marsh Trail parking lot. Tram Tours of the Marsh
Every Tuesday and Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, September 10, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Take a Tram tour of the marsh with our volunteer naturalist, who will take you from the
Visitor Center to the boat ramp to the LILA impoundments, then back through the C10
impoundment and the Marsh Trail, across to the Arthur R. Marshall kiosk and back to the
Visitor Center. Your guide will talk about the Refuge, its birds and other wildlife, the
ongoing research in the mini-Everglades impoundments of LILA, and answer all your
questions in the comfort of your shaded electric tram. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Call the Visitor Center at 561-734-8303. Guided Canoe Trips
Saturday, September 5, 9:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Saturday, September 19, 9:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Saturday, October 10, 9:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Saturday, October 24, 9:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Saturday, November 7, 9:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Saturday, November 21, 9:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Saturday, December 5, 9:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Saturday, December 19, 9:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Meet at the Lee Road Boat Ramp to enjoy a beautiful canoe tour through a portion of the
Refuge interior. You may rent a canoe for $33 from Loxahatchee Canoeing or bring your
own. (One canoe seats 2 to 3 people.) RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Call the Visitor Center at 561-734-8303. Enjoy this 3-minute video made on the canoe trail:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW49VXaOvGU&feature=related
Full Moon Guided Canoe Trips
Saturday, September 26, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 25, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 22, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 19, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 20, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Meet at the Lee Road Boat Ramp to enjoy a guided moonlight canoe tour through a portion
of the Refuge interior. Wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants and bring a flashlight and
bug spray. Canoe rental from Loxahatchee Canoeing is $33; you may not bring your own. (One canoe
seats 2 to 3 people.)
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED - PLEASE CALL LOXAHATCHEE CANOEING at 561-7330192. *** Programs subject to change, for more information on any of the activities and
programs, please call the Visitor Center at (561) 734-8303. Events are listed on the Friends website at loxahatcheefriends.com/events/events.shtml
Lee Road Cleanup - Volunteers Needed! Saturday, September 19, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Come out and help the Friends pick up litter from the entrance road to the Refuge. The
Friends have officially adopted Lee Road from U.S. 441 west to the Refuge gate under the
Palm Beach County Adopt-a-Road Litter Control program. Please wear closed-toed shoes,
hats, sunglasses, sunscreen and bug spray. Meet at the Visitor Center to get your safety
vest, plastic gloves and instructions. Water and light snacks provided. Students can
receive Community Service hours. Teens need parent or guardian's signed permission. For
more information contact Steve Horowitz at 561-637-9751 or stephenjayme@yahoo.com.
Fee-Free Day - National Public Lands Day, September 26
The Department of the Interior is waiving admission fees at all National Parks, National
Wildlife Refuges and all other federal fee areas for National Public Lands Day, Saturday,
September 26. Travel to Belize with Friends, January 9 - 18, 2016
It's time to plan your trip for next year! This year’s trip to Costa Rica with Holbrook
Travel was such a hit, we’re planning another trip with them to Belize in January. Travel
with the Friends to explore the mangrove ecosystems, rainforest habitats, and ancient
Maya sites of this former British colony. Among Belize’s many treasures are the
hemisphere’s longest coral reef, hundreds of sandy offshore islands, and 500 species of
birds found within pristine tropical forests. Make your reservations now! For more information visit: http://www.holbrooktravel.com/dateddeparture/loxahatcheebelize
6th Annual Juried Art Contest - Loxahatchee Visions
Entries accepted: Monday, October 12 - Saturday, October 17
Reception and Award Presentation: Sunday, October 25, 1:00 p.m. The contest is open to all artists. Each artist may submit one or two works of art, inspired
by "Loxahatchee Visions". Any media or mixed media may be used, with the exception of
photography. (Save your photographs for next year’s photo contest!) Each entry must be
framed and ready for hanging. Wrapped canvas edges are fine. Size limit is 36" on each
side, including frame. Prizes will be awarded in 2 categories - Novice (to age 18) and Adult (age 18 and
older). First prize - $250; Second prize - $150; Third prize - $100. The entry fee is $5 for Friends members and Refuge staff and $25 for non-members. The
fee is waived for Novices. Bring your artwork along with the entry form and entry fee in an
envelope labeled "Friends Art Contest" to the Visitor Center. For the Contest Entry Form and the complete set of rules, go to:
www.loxahatcheefriends.com/upload/Lox2015ArtContestForm.pdf
National Wildlife Refuge Association 2015 Photo Contest
Entries accepted: Tuesday, September 15 - Sunday, November 15
Enter the 2015 National Wildlife Refuge Association Photo Contest and help highlight the
natural beauty found on our National Wildlife Refuges. For details go to:
http://refugeassociation.org/people/photo-contest-2015/
Enter for your chance to win the $1,000 Grand Prize! Tropical Photography Tour of Costa Rica, January 6 - 17, 2016
If you attended or heard the glowing reviews of the Friends photography workshop earlier
this year, you know how fabulous an instructor Don Hamilton is. He regularly leads
photography workshops and birding excursions in Costa Rica. According to Don, his goal
for the upcoming workshop is to teach you how to deal with difficult exposures that are
quite common in the tropics. For more information view the flier at:
www.loxahatcheefriends.com/upload/CostaRicaTropicalPhotographyPhotoTour2016_G
UESTS.pdf
Feel free to email Don with questions at flyinghamiltons@comcast.net or 561-212-7358.
Audubon Society of the Everglades: Birding by Season - Paddy Cunningham
Tuesday, September 1, 7:00 p.m.
Topic: BIRDING BY SEASON, Right Bird, Right Place, Right Time! Speaker: Paddy
Cunningham, Bird Guide, Owner Birding Adventures, Science Teacher of Gifted
Students www.birdadventure.com www.evergladesbirdingfestival.com
Location: Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, 6301 W. Summit Blvd, West Palm
Beach, Rooms 101 and 102
Discover when and how to find the birds you seek by learning to Bird by Season. Through
the use of checklists, annual graphs, range maps and apps you will learn to find target and
life birds here in Florida and throughout the U.S.
The monthly meeting of the Audubon Society of the Everglades features Paddy
Cunningham, a popular speaker and guide at Florida birding festivals, coordinator of the
Everglades Birding Festival, and owner/guide for Birding Adventures - “intense birding at a
relaxed pace.” Despite being a Busy Mom and a full time Gifted Science Teacher in 2008
during a BIG YEAR she was 1st in Florida, 20th in the Lower 48 states and 27th overall for
the A.B.A. area! The meeting is free and open to the public. Refreshments at 6:30 p.m. For more
information visit www.auduboneverglades.org or contact Sue Snyder at 561-701-7773 or
roysue@bellsouth.net. The Unseen Everglades: Inside a Legendary Wilderness
Wednesday, October 21, 6:00 p.m.
Location: Palm Beach County Library, 3650 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach
The Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group and the Audubon Society of the Everglades are proud
to present the documentary film, “The Unseen Everglades: Inside a Legendary Wilderness,”
followed by a panel discussion with Everglades experts: Charles Kropke, Managing Partner
of Dragonfly Expeditions; Christopher McVoy, Lake Worth City Commissioner; Dr. Tom
Poulson, Friends Education Chair and Ecology Professor Emeritus; with Drew Martin,
Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group Conservation Chair as Moderator. The event is free and
open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Call
the Main Library at 561-233-2600. Spread the word! A flier for the event can be found at:
www.loxahatcheefriends.com/upload/EvergladesDocumentaryFlyer.pdf
Upcoming Florida Master Naturalist Course
Location: Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, 6301 W. Summit Blvd, West Palm
Beach
The Habitat Evaluation Special Topic course will be held on November 5, 7, 12 and 14.
This is a field-oriented class with lots of hands-on experience on methods for large and
local scale habitat assessments and techniques for water quality monitoring. For course
details and to register: http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/fmnp/E15-04.htm
Or visit www.masternaturalist.org for information about this and other courses; click on
the "Current Course Offerings" menu tab to see course details and to register. L-40 Levee/Bike Trail Closure - Mondays thru Fridays
The L-40 Levee south of Lee Road remains closed to the public on Mondays through
Fridays until early September, 2015, due to repair of the road on top of the levee by the
South Florida Water Management District. This portion of the levee will be open to the
public for hiking and biking on Saturdays and Sundays, except for approximately three
miles at the south end of the Refuge where Site 1 construction work continues. The L-40 Levee north of Lee Road remains open to hiking. Everglades Conservation Trail to Gain Access from Broward County
Long-range plans for increasing recreational opportunities at the Refuge include opening
up the entire 57-mile levee around the Refuge interior to hiking and biking. Hikers and
bikers can already take the Everglades Conservation Trail north from Markham Park in
Sunrise to the Refuge, but up to now the trail has had no access points in Broward
County. A joint project of Broward County and Coral Springs aims to fix that, with
construction now beginning on a trailhead at the west end of Atlantic Boulevard at the
Sawgrass Expressway…
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-atlanticboulevard-levee-trailhead-20150810-story.html
Snail Kite Video
Watch one of our endangered snail kites up close and personal in this
July 26 video from Jay Paredes. He calls this female snail kite the most cooperative of the
ones who have been seen hunting for apple snails in the flooded fields and canals near
Bedner’s Farm near the entrance to the Refuge. She has a federal color band labeled
Y2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9g09pgth-U&feature=youtu.be
Refuge Biologist Rebekah Gibble Featured in Boynton Forum
Refuge Senior Biologist Rebekah Gibble talks about her job and some of the issues affecting
the Refuge in this Boynton Forum article by Sun-Sentinel reporter Jan Engoren…
www.loxahatcheefriends.com/upload/BoyntonBeachForum-07-29-2015-RebekahGibble
One of the serious issues affecting the Refuge is the spread of invasive exotic plants, along
with the lack of resources to effectively combat them. Using native plants for landscaping
is one of Rebekah’s recommendations on how we can all help out. SCA Interns Share their Experiences on the Refuge
Much of the work done to preserve habitat for native wildlife on our National Wildlife
Refuges would not be possible without our internship programs. Student Conservation
Association biology interns Sarika Khanwilkar and Joshua Parks both spent time this
summer working on the Refuge water quality program, among many other activities. See
through their eyes what it was like to be working in the middle of the Everglades through
Sarika’s photo essay and Josh’s 6 ½ minute video…
http://www.thesca.org/connect/blog/ultimate-science-adventure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y4LzQ8mzo4
Public Comment Invited on Recreational Use of Strazzulla Marsh
Deadline for Public Comment: Friday, September 25, 2015
The Refuge is seeking public comment on proposed recreational uses of the Strazzulla
Marsh, a 2,586-acre tract of fresh water marsh, sawgrass and cypress swamp on the
eastern edge of the Refuge. It is the newest addition to the Refuge and is being acquired
through a land swap agreement between the Refuge and the South Florida Water
Management District. A draft version of the Environmental Assessment, which includes
maps of the area and evaluates potential public uses of it, can be viewed
here:
http://www.fws.gov/southeast/planning/EA/StrazullaPublicUseDraft.html
Comments and suggestions can be submitted to Deputy Refuge Manager Steven Henry at
Steven_S_Henry@fws.gov, Subject: Strazzulla EA, or by FAX at 561-369-7190.
This article appeared in the Sun-Sentinel before the public meeting that was held on August
17: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-loxahatchee-land-20150814story.html
African-Americans Found Group to Reconnect With Outdoors
Tired of being the only African-American she saw on her hiking and camping trips, a former
Morgan Stanley analyst launched Outdoor Afro on Facebook and a
blog…
http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/07/12/421533481/outdoor-afrobusting-stereotypes-that-blacks-dont-hike-or-camp
News from the National Wildlife Refuge System
Find out what’s happening in the
National Wildlife Refuge System with the August issue of "Friends Forward" and the latest
from the Friends
NewsWire…
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/friends/August_2015/index.html
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/friends/newswire/index.html
National Wildlife Refuge System FY 2016 Funding Deadline Nears
The House and Senate Appropriations Committees approved their annual bills to fund the
Department of the Interior, under which the National Wildlife Refuge System and other
wildlife conservation programs operate, in hopes of officially passing the bills before
FY2015 appropriations expire on October 1. But the Interior bill has not passed either
chamber, and Congress will likely pass an omnibus bill or a Continuing Resolution prior to
the October 1 deadline. In the current drafts, both the House and Senate Interior bills keep funding levels for
critical conservation operations and maintenance and grant funding relatively intact,
although lower than the President’s budget requests. The President’s budget assumes
Congress will end sequestration (mandatory cuts across all government) while leaders in
the House and Senate have stated they will not. Without a compromise, this could lead to
another government shutdown as in October 2013. Even at the higher amounts proposed by the President, the Refuge System would be
operating on a budget of less than $1 per acre. The National Wildlife Refuge Association
has long advocated that the Refuge System needs a minimum of $900 million annually to
meet operational needs, nearly twice the amounts recommended by the House and
Senate. Please consider contacting your Congressional representatives and urge them to
adequately fund the National Wildlife Refuge System. To contact your Representative, go to http://www.house.gov, type your zip code at the top
of the screen and click "Go", then click on your Representative's name; To contact your Senators go to http://www.senate.gov, select your state and click “Go” next
to the “Find Your Senators” box at the top of the screen. For more information on the various budget proposals, go to:
http://refugeassociation.org/news/flyer/the-flyer-e-newsletter-august2015/#washington
Maintenance Backlogs & Staffing Shortages Plague National Parks & Refuges
The National Park Service reports that Florida’s nine national parks need about $190
million in crucial maintenance left unfunded at the end of the last fiscal year. Everglades
National Park, for example, ended the past fiscal year with $58.8 million in unmet needs,
including $36.7 million for roads, $1.3 million for trails and $7.8 million in building
repairs. After four years of across-the-board budget cuts, the National Park Service’s
systemwide maintenance shortfall has grown to $11.5 billion, even though 292 million
visitors used the parks last year. Staffing also has been cut across the board, including law
enforcement officers, firefighters and park rangers - 400 park rangers have been lost
during the past five years. Staffing shortages affect not just our National Parks but all
public lands, including our National Wildlife Refuges, National Forests and lands under the
Bureau of Land
Management.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/opinion/commentary-sheerneglect-threatens-floridas-nation/nm9Hx/
Park Service Policy Discouraging Bottled Water Sales Raises Ire of Congress In the
"no good deed goes unpunished category," after the National Park Service started replacing
bottled water with refillable bottles and refilling stations, Congress attached a rider to an
appropriations bill that would cut off federal funding for the refilling
stations…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/07/30/parkservice-to-big-water-no-federal-funding-for-bottled-water-bans-well-find-our-ownmoney-thanks/
Florida DEP Secretary Confirmed After State Park Controversy
After earlier controversy, Florida’s three Cabinet members confirmed Governor Rick Scott’s
choice for Department of Environmental Protection Secretary, Jon Steverson. Steverson
had been criticized for his proposals to open state park land to hunting, cattle grazing and
timber production as a way to generate additional revenue. He said the state might not be
able to continue maintaining all of its publicly owned land without the ability to generate
additional revenue, and that we should discuss sustainability now instead of having to
discuss later “which parks might we have to figure out we can do without.”
But Cabinet
members said he needs to rethink the proposal, and bring the public into any discussions
on using the parks to generate revenue. “They’re not going to be self-sustaining,” Florida
Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam said. “What it would take to manage the parks
to be self-sustaining would be unacceptable to the reasons why we got
them.”
http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-govtpolitics/cabinet-again-approves-scotts-environmental-law-pi/nnFDG/
http://opinionzone.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2015/06/15/scotts-environmental-agencychoice-would-exploit-state-parks/
http://tbo.com/news/politics/battle-brewing-over-logging-grazing-at-state-parks20150607/
Florida’s Groundwater Supplies at Risk
Most Floridians depend on the freshwater contained in the Floridan aquifer system for our
drinking water. During times of drought that fresh groundwater is at increased risk of
saltwater intrusion, as a 2011 report from the Florida Geological Survey warned. A
Gainesville geologist is sounding the alarm about a recent proposal from the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection. The proposed rules would provide subsidies
from tax revenues to incentivize the construction of more wells to pull water from deep
within the Floridan
aquifer…
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20150809/OPINION03/150809728/1/opinion?p=1&tc=pg
SFWMD Governing Board Backtracks, Cuts Tax Rate
On July 31 South Florida Water Management District governing board members voted 8-1
to reduce tax rates for 2016, reversing an earlier 6-2 decision that would have left tax rates
unchanged but still required taking nearly $200 million from reserves. The board has cut
the District's tax rate every year since 2011. Board Chair Daniel O’Keefe acknowledged
hearing from unhappy officials in Tallahassee after the board’s July 16 vote to keep tax
rates at their 2015 level, which, because of rising property values, would have brought in
an additional $21 million for water management and Everglades restoration. Mounting
maintenance expenses for canals, levees, pumps, locks and other flood-control structures
as well as concerns about taking even more money from reserves were among the reasons
board members decided initially to keep the tax rate the same. Governing board members noted that some of the tasks the district oversees - Everglades
restoration, for example - are a burden that should be shared more with state and federal
officials. But neither the state nor the federal government has committed to giving the
District more money. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-everglades-tax-backtrack-20150731story.html
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/aftertallahassee-pressure-s-florida-water-manager/nm96m/
http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/opinion/editorial-tallahassee-pressuremust-not-undo-water/nm6L2/
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/editorials/fl-editorial-water-district-rss072620150724-story.html
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-everglades-tax-reconsidered20150724-story.html
Farmers Exceed Requirements for Reducing Phosphorus Pollution Sugar cane
growers and other farmers in the Everglades Agricultural Area south of Lake Okeechobee
have reduced the phosphorus flowing from their farms into the Everglades by 79 percent
this year. State law calls for the amount of phosphorus to be 25 percent less each year than
the levels before pollution-reduction efforts began. During the past 20 years, the nearly 500,000-acre Everglades Agricultural Area has
averaged a 56 percent reduction. That's accomplished by growers lessening the use of
fertilizer, cleaning out drainage ditches, changing irrigation practices and taking other
steps to curb pollution. The water that drains off farms is directed toward 57,000 acres of man-made filter marshes
designed to absorb tons of phosphorus before the water flows in the Everglades. Too much
phosphorus in the Everglades can cause unwanted plants such as cattails to crowd out
native vegetation and wreak havoc on the Everglades’ food chain. Yet Audubon of Florida and other environmental groups say too much phosphorus is still
ending up in the Everglades, where the state has yet to meet federal water quality
standards. They argue that the state's pollution reduction standard was intentionally set
too low. They also question basing the pollution reduction result on an average of
phosphorus runoff for the region, instead of requiring each individual farm to meet the 25
percent cutback. Using the average masks pollution hot spots that are increasing, not
cutting back on, phosphorus runoff. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-everglades-pollution-results20150813-story.html
http://protectingyourpocket.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2015/08/13/farmers-south-oflake-o-lauded-for-20-years-of-beating-pollution-goals/
Audubon this month lost an appeal of a legal challenge that was aimed at getting the South
Florida Water Management District to impose tougher phosphorus cleanup requirements
on growers. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/local/court-upholds-sugar-growers-waterdischarge-manage/nnLLH/
Palm Beach County Ag Reserve Featured in Palm Beach Post Series
Palm Beach Post
reporter Wayne Washington has written a series of articles on Palm Beach County’s
Agricultural Reserve, in an attempt to capture the viewpoints of farmers and nursery
owners, preservationists, equestrians, developers and policy makers. The 22,000-acre Ag
Reserve is the area between the Refuge and Florida’s Turnpike. His most recent article in
the series is an interesting comparison of Palm Beach County’s Ag Reserve to the Ag
Reserve in Montgomery County, Maryland, which has been far more successful in
accomplishing the goal of preserving agriculture in the county.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/a-tale-of-two-agreserves-palm-beach-countys-vs-on/nnJ89/
http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/policymakersreferee-fight-over-growth-unloved-by-/nm98p/
http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/nursery-ownersfighting-unfair-rules-or-a-little-g/nm2md/
Note that the voter referendum passed in 1999 that led to the protection of about 2,400
acres of prime farmland in the Ag Reserve, with county voters agreeing to spend $50
million to preserve more environmental lands and another $100 million to protect land for
farming, is mistakenly referred to as Amendment 1 in the second article in the
series: http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/local-govtpolitics/preservationists-palm-beach-county-letting-growth/nm2hZ/#ff8a4d91.3458625.735799
http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/from-builders-pointof-view-growth-a-reality-natur/nmw7L/#42b52c62.3458625.735799
Zoning Changes Approved for Palm Beach County Ag Reserve
On July 30 Palm Beach County commissioners voted 6-1 to make it easier for developers to
get the land they need to meet the Agricultural Reserve’s preservation requirements and
proceed with their building projects, with only Commissioner Paulette Burdick
dissenting. The change involves the county rule that requires builders to set aside 60 acres
for every 40 they develop in the Ag Reserve. Under that rule, unless the parcels are 150
acres or larger, the preservation parcels had to be contiguous to other parcels already set
aside for agriculture or wetlands. Commissioners voted to eliminate the contiguity
requirement, allowing more parcels to be eligible for preservation use. Developers would
then be able to meet building requirements by preserving several small properties spread
throughout the Ag Reserve, instead of requiring larger properties or connected pieces of
land. Several of us expressed the concern that the smaller preservation parcels are not as
valuable for farmers or wildlife - I was quoted in this Sun-Sentinel article: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-farmland-development-vote20150730-story.html
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/breaking-news/change-by-palm-beachcounty-to-spur-more-growthwe/nm9LQ/
http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/palmbeach-county-considers-ag-reserve-changes-to-/nm77h/
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/fl-ag-reserve-changes-20150724story.html
Palm Beach County extended the lease it has with Bedner Farms to allow the company to
continue to farm the 262 acres of land it sold to the county 14 years ago. Bedner’s asked
the county to extend the lease because of concerns it had about the proposed zoning
changes in the Ag Reserve. The 262 acres Bedner’s leases is part of the land the county
purchased with proceeds from the voter-approved $100 million bond issuance.
http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/palm-beach-countyextends-lease-deal-for-bedner-fa/nm4Sw/
Opposition Mounts to Oil Drilling in Broward County Everglades
A Miami company has applied to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for
exploratory oil drilling on 20,000 acres of wetlands the company owns in the Everglades of
Broward County. Many cities and towns in the region draw most, if not all, of their drinking
water from the Biscayne Aquifer which runs through that section of the Everglades. The
Broward County Commission has expressed opposition to the project, as well as Miramar,
the city closest to the drilling site, Sunrise, Pembroke Pines, Hallandale Beach, Plantation,
Tamarac, Weston and Wilton Manors. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/miramar/fl-miramar-opposes-oil-drilling20150819-story.html
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-browardcommission-oil-drilling-20150811-story.html
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-everglades-oil-update-20150807story.html
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-drilling-opposition-grows-20150723story.html
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/editorials/fl-editorial-drill-oil-everglades20150718-story.html
U
UF Invasive Plant Research Lab Remains Open For Now
The University of Florida lab working on natural ways to battle invasive plants was set to
close this month after Governor Rick Scott vetoed its entire $720,000 budget, but is now
expected to stay open with a skeleton crew until January, thanks to the St. Lucie County
Commission. The lab has been focused on evaluating and introducing natural enemies of
invasive plants such as the Brazilian pepper tree and insects such as a weevil that is wiping
out native bromeliads. It was on the verge of releasing the first biological control agent
against the pepper tree. The trees take over space where native plants should be. Animals
such as the Florida panther and migratory birds that depend on native vegetation for food
and shelter are deprived of that habitat. Florida has the nation’s largest infestation of invasive species, and spends about $100
million to control and remove various plants and pests. http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/business/uf-invasive-species-lab-to-remainopen-until-janua/nm5my/
A recent conference in Davie on invasive species noted some successes but many more
battles ahead despite chronic underfunding…
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article28372429.html
The article notes that Old World climbing fern or lygodium, the worst invader here on the
Refuge, has spread from Palm Beach County south all the way to Cape Sable. Water and Land Conservation Amendment Funds Diverted To Settle Lawsuits
To add insult to injury, the Amendment 1 funds that voters expected to go towards
conservation land acquisition - that instead went to pay staff salaries and other operating
expenses at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection - are now being tapped to
settle seven public-records lawsuits involving alleged violations of Florida’s public-records
law by the governor’s office.
http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article30651006.html
http://opinionzone.blog.palmbeachpost.com/2015/08/19/gov-scott-bills-taxpayers-ashe-tries-to-block-sunshine/
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/cerabino-govscott-misusing-environmental-money-fo/nnMP2/
Florida Officials Argue Against Establishing Additional Panther Populations
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials on Friday said they have no
intention of seeking to remove the Florida panther from the endangered species list or
changing any protections, concerns that were raised when the original draft of a policy
paper was presented to commissioners last June. The new draft removes language that
said current panther populations were "straining and currently exceed the tolerance of
landowners, residents and recreationists in the region" as evidenced by the killing of
livestock on ranches and crashes with cars on roadways. It emphasizes the need to restore
and protect panther habitat in southwest Florida, rather than establish new populations
outside the area as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service believes is necessary to ensure
survival of the species.
http://www.saintpetersblog.com/archives/237749
The Miami Herald notes that the number of panther deaths so far this year are on track to
break last year’s unenviable record of 33.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article30957357.html
Least Terns Return to Their Native Coastal Habitat in Palm Beach County
For the first time in more than 20 years, least terns have been found nesting in Palm Beach
County in their native coastal habitat. So far, 12 nests have been spotted on mangrove
islands that were built as part of the Grassy Flats restoration project in the Lake Worth
Lagoon. Least terns are on the state of Florida’s threatened species list. http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/business/least-turns-return-to-coastal-areasshould-draw-bi/nmz7F/
Seahorse Key Mystery
For decades, Seahorse Key in Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge has been home to
thousands of nesting birds – herons, egrets, pelicans, spoonbills and more. It's a 150-acre
mangrove-covered island 5 miles off the Gulf Coast of Florida near Cedar Key. One
Wednesday in May, a local tour boat operator found all of the nests abandoned, the eggs
broken and scattered on the ground. On Tuesday he had led a group out to view thousands
of birds crowding the shores of the key. But the next day there was nothing. "It's just that
drastic," he said. Researchers and scientists have tested a number of hypotheses but have yet to find one
that seems to fully explain such wholesale abandonment. Theories include predation by
raccoons or owls or eagles, lack of food, disease, poisoning, an extreme weather event,
military overflights, drug runners or surveillance flights looking for drug runners. The
mystery may forever remain a mystery.
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/98251f4a91ae4d2a88f384e47f037331/thousands-birdsabandon-eggs-nests-florida-island
https://www.audubon.org/news/what-made-all-seahorse-keys-birds-jump-ship
The Refuge Now Has an Official Facebook Page! The Refuge now has an official Facebook page, thanks to Park Ranger Joseph Whelan, and it
looks great! Check it out at: www.facebook.com/pages/Arthur-R-Marshall-Loxahatchee-National-WildlifeRefuge/786788128105300
And, Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, our sister Refuge, has one as well: www.facebook.com/pages/Hobe-Sound-National-Wildlife-Refuge/1471915343104184
All not to be confused with the Friends Facebook page, run for many years by intrepid
Friends volunteer Kay Larche: www.facebook.com/loxahatcheefriends
So, please, “Like” us all! Shop on Amazon and Support the Friends! Shop at AmazonSmile and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the Friends, at
no extra cost to you! Bookmark this link: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/59-2152926
Or, if you don’t have the link handy, just go to smile.amazon.com and select “Friends of the
Arthur R Marshall Loxahatchee Natl Wildlife Refuge.” (You can just search for
Loxahatchee,” but don’t try to spell out “National” or it won’t work!) Like Us on Facebook! Thanks to Kay Larche we have a very active community of Friends on
Facebook…
www.facebook.com/loxahatcheefriends
Please spread the word and ask the folks you know to “Like” us! Join the Friends! If you’re not already a Friends member, why not join now? Your support helps fund Refuge
programs and special projects, and helps make our annual Everglades Day possible. Dues
are only $20 per person or $30 for a family membership. All members receive our biannual
newsletter Gator Tales and a 10% discount in our gift shop. You can sign up online at:
http://www.loxahatcheefriends.com/membership/membership.shtml