News - CHNEP.WaterAtlas.orghttps://chnep.wateratlas.usf.edu/Recent news items for CHNEP Water Atlas60Private companies could also offset water pollution with new creditshttps://chnep.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22872<h4> Passed by the Florida Legislature, SB 1532 allows private companies to buy the new water quality enhancement credits originally intended only for government agencies.</h4> <p> Florida&rsquo;s Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is working on draft language for a new water quality credit trading program, after members of the public asked questions about the program and raised some concerns at a rulemaking workshop last week.</p> <p> The program paves a new path for Florida entities to offset their pollution, by buying and trading the &ldquo;water enhancement credits&rdquo; and operating water quality enhancement areas, or WQEAs.</p> <p> A WQEA, or &ldquo;natural system,&rdquo; is defined in the draft language as &ldquo;a designed, constructed, or altered ecological system supporting aquatic and wetland-dependent natural resources.&rdquo;</p> <p> Environmental lawyer and current Waterkeepers Florida Chair Jen Lomberk said she&rsquo;s concerned a lack of reliable water quality monitoring data could jeopardize the program, which would rely on modeling. The current draft rule mentions nothing about actual water sampling.</p> <p> &ldquo;This means that they are essentially predicting water quality changes, rather than actually going out and sampling to confirm what is happening,&rdquo; Lomberk said. &ldquo;Models are only as good as the way that they&#39;re designed and the data that they&rsquo;re based on.&rdquo;</p> WaterAtlas.orgThu, 28 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTConcerns over Lake Okeechobee discharges underscore need for Everglades restorationhttps://chnep.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22873<h4> Concerns over Lake Okeechobee discharges underscore need for Everglades restoration</h4> <p> PEMBROKE PARK &ndash; Communities on both Florida coasts are bracing for impact as they monitor the billions of gallons of water being discharged by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from Lake Okeechobee since mid-February.</p> <p> The discharges flow east to the St. Lucie River and west to the Caloosahatchee River, to alleviate the higher-than-normal water levels caused by one very wet dry season fueled by El Nino. But as the outflows increase, so do the fears of red tide and other harmful algae blooms.</p> <p> &ldquo;Because of these releases we&rsquo;re seeing a really high amount of tannic water which is brown tea-colored water, that&rsquo;s making its way into the estuary,&rdquo; explained Codty Pierce, Chief Waterkeeper for Calusa Waterkeeper.</p> <p> The polluted water is laden with fertilizer runoff from Central Florida farmland and other sources of dangerous nutrients north of the lake such as septic contamination.</p> WaterAtlas.orgThu, 28 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTLake Okeechobee water is heading to Florida’s coasts. What that means for red tide.https://chnep.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22874<h4> The organism that causes red tide was found at trace levels in three counties last week.</h4> <p> It didn&rsquo;t take long for the aerial images to emerge.</p> <p> Just days after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said El Ni&ntilde;o rains meant it needed to release Lake Okeechobee water into Florida estuaries, clean water advocates took to the sky to document the damage.</p> <p> The images show plumes of murky lake water clashing with normally clear and sparkling waters. On the east coast, aerial imagery earlier this month showed lake water flowing out of the St. Lucie inlet and colliding with the Atlantic Ocean. On the west coast, the water poured out of the Caloosahatchee River and collided with the Gulf of Mexico.</p> <p> The short-term consequences of Lake Okeechobee discharges are already becoming clear: In the St. Lucie River, salinity levels have dropped, putting oysters and other marine life at risk. If high volumes of lake water continue into April, oyster and fish spawning in the Caloosahatchee could be harmed, environmental nonprofits worry.</p> WaterAtlas.orgThu, 28 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTMote Marine Laboratory provides critical role for potential rescue of endangered smalltooth sawfishhttps://chnep.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22877<p> <img alt="MML logo" src="https://cdn.wateratlas.org/img/logos/Mote.jpg" style="float:left;margin-right:10px;width:150px;" /></p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p> Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is providing a critical role for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in their response effort to address smalltooth sawfish erratic behavior and mortality in the Florida Keys.</p> <p> Over the past few months, sightings of &ldquo;spinning&rdquo; fish have been reported in South Florida. Along with this abnormal behavior, there have also been reports of fish deaths, including 28 smalltooth sawfish as of March 24. Approximately 109 sawfish ranging from 10-14 feet in length have been affected.</p> <p> The death of smalltooth sawfish in South Florida could have devastating consequences for this critically endangered ray and negatively impact population recovery that has been occurring since the species was listed under the Endangered Species Act in 2003.</p> <p> Scientists do not yet know what is causing the erratic behavior. NOAA has initiated an emergency response effort with FWC, Mote Marine Laboratory, and other partners including Havenworth Coastal Conservation, Dynasty Marine Associates, Inc., and Ripley&rsquo;s Aquariums, to possibly rescue, rehabilitate, and release smalltooth sawfish impacted by this mortality event. Investigations into the abnormal fish behavior and deaths by FWC are ongoing and Mote staff, working with FWC, have collected important samples from live distressed sawfish.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> WaterAtlas.orgThu, 28 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTFertilizer restriction begins April 1 in North Porthttps://chnep.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22878<p> <img alt="North Port logo" src="https://cdn.wateratlas.org/img/logos/NorthPort.png" style="float:left;margin-right:10px;width:150px;" /></p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p> NORTH PORT &ndash; The City of North Port is reminding residents that fertilizer application on turf grass is prohibited starting April 1 through Sept. 30 each year.</p> <p> Excess fertilizers in our waterways can cause detrimental algal blooms. These nutrient pollutants can also affect the regional watershed.</p> <p> &quot;Please help the City of North Port protect its water resources from excess fertilizers in rain runoff,&quot; said Stormwater Manager Elizabeth Wong. &quot;Everyone can do their part and join in the regional effort to improve water quality.&quot;</p> <p> The City Commission approved an updated fertilizer ordinance last year, with the restrictive period starting earlier to better coincide with the start of rainy season. The City also promotes voluntary non-use of fertilizer year-round to further protect our waterways and drinking water supply.</p> <p> To learn more, view <a href="https://youtu.be/eqfZGgCtvu8?feature=shared" target="_blank" title="Fertilizer Video"><strong>this video</strong></a> on City&#39;s YouTube page, or visit <a href="https://northportfl.gov/fertilizer" target="_blank" title="City of North Port website"><strong>NorthPortFL.gov/Fertilizer</strong></a>.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>WaterAtlas.orgThu, 28 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTNOAA announces plans to begin rescuing sick sawfish amid a mysterious die-offhttps://chnep.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22879<h4> The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Wednesday it will take the unprecedented step of catching and caring for sick sawfish in an effort to prevent ongoing deaths.</h4> <p> As the number of endangered sawfish deathscontinues to rise in the Lower Keys, federal wildlife officials announced plans Wednesday to take the unprecedented step of trying to rescue sick fish.</p> <p> &ldquo;An effort of this kind has never been done before in the United States. The logistics are complex,&rdquo; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a statement.</p> <p> Starting next week, the agency said it will begin catching sawfish showing signs of distress to try to prevent more deaths. As of March 24, 28 rare smalltooth sawfish had been confirmed dead, with 109 affected by an ailment scientists have not yet been able to identify. The first death was reported in late January, amid widespread reports of dozens of other species in the Lower Keys spinning and showing signs of distress.</p> <p> &ldquo;We suspect that total mortalities are greater, since sawfish are negatively buoyant and thus unlikely to float after death,&rdquo; NOAA Fisheries&rsquo; sawfish recovery coordinator Adam Brame said in the statement. &ldquo;Given the limited population size of smalltooth sawfish, the mortality of at least two dozen sawfish could have an impact on the recovery of this species.&rdquo;</p> <p> NOAA said it will work with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Havenworth Coastal Conservation, Ripley&rsquo;s Aquariums, Mote Marine Lab and Dynasty Marine Associates to catch the fish. Rescued fish will be taken to the groups&rsquo; facilities while FWC officials continue to investigate what&rsquo;s causing other species to become sick.</p> WaterAtlas.orgThu, 28 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTPublic invited to help plan the future of the Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb WMAhttps://chnep.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22866<p> <img alt="FWC logo" src="https://cdn.wateratlas.org/img/logos/FWC-logo.jpg" style="float:left;margin-right:10px;width:150px;" /></p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p> The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites you to attend the Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area (Babcock/Webb WMA) 10-year Land Management Plan public hearing on <strong>Wednesday, March 27</strong>. The public hearing will be held at <strong>7 p.m. at Schandler Hall Park, 419 Florence Ave, in Fort Myers</strong>.</p> <p> The Babcock/Webb WMA encompasses approximately 83,832 acres in Charlotte and Lee counties and, along with the adjacent Babcock Ranch Preserve, conserves the largest and highest quality native slash pine forest remaining in south Florida. Its flatwoods, marshes and prairies provide important habitat for wildlife, such as gopher tortoises, red-cockaded woodpeckers and Florida bonneted bats. The Babcock/Webb WMA is one of Florida&rsquo;s oldest and largest publicly owned wildlife management areas and offers many opportunities for public recreation, including shooting, hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, bird watching, hiking, biking, primitive camping and horseback riding.</p> <p> &ldquo;The Babcock/Webb WMA was purchased to ensure the preservation of fish, wildlife, and other natural and cultural resources for future generations, and to provide fish and wildlife-based outdoor recreation opportunities to the public,&rdquo; said Nicholas H. Coppock, FWC land conservation planner. &ldquo;This Land Management Plan will specify how we intend to accomplish that goal.&rdquo;</p> <p> To obtain a copy of the draft elements of the Land Management Plan for the Babcock/Webb WMA, contact Coppock at 850-487-5988 or email <a href="mailto:Nicholas.Coppock@MyFWC.com">Nicholas.Coppock@MyFWC.com</a>.</p> <p> The public is encouraged to attend and will have the opportunity to comment on and ask questions regarding the Land Management Plan. Maps, drawings and other information will be available on display.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>WaterAtlas.orgMon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTAs sawfish deaths mount, researchers scramble to respond, records showhttps://chnep.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22869<p> Overwhelmed experts are baffled over a trail of sick or dead sawfish that has stretched across 78 miles of shallow water in the Keys. The mystery is also stressing dozens of other fish species.</p> <p> As dead sawfish began washing onshore in the Lower Keys this winter, state researchers and wildlife officers raced to respond to the mounting number of endangered fish thrashing on beaches, circling flats and uncharacteristically jerking their toothy rostrums out of the water.</p> <p> One was spotted near Marathon in a channel once used for a James Bond movie scene. The same day another appeared miles away, south of the Key West airport, then even farther away, in the remote Mule Keys.</p> <p> On social media, pictures from the Southernmost Point in Key West competed with videos of smalltooth sawfish pitching onto beaches and swimming into seawalls near the popular tourist town.</p> <p> Then late last week, videos posted on YouTube looked showed a large sawfish swinging its rostrum out of the water in Boynton Inlet, looking eerily similar to images from the Keys.</p> <p> Altogether, the trail of sick or dead sawfish in the Keys stretched across 78 miles of shallow water, from Boca Grande to Long Key State Park, according to records from Jan. 30 to March 5 released to WLRN. By mid-February, records show, reports began flooding a state hotline, sometimes up to six a day.</p> <p> &hellip;</p> <p> Nearly all the dead sawfish have had necropsies performed by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission&rsquo;s sawfish research program based at its Charlotte Harbor field laboratory. Lead scientist Gregg Poulakis, who has referred questions to FWC media staff, has been investigating the fish for more than a decade.</p> <p> &ldquo;They&#39;re going to open them up and start looking into their internal organs,&rdquo; Grubbs said. &ldquo;You might look at their digestive tract. You might look at the liver, gallbladder and kidneys. Do they look normal? Maybe you&#39;ll take bile from the gallbladder. Those are your filtration organs so those are the ones that are going to filter any toxins.&rdquo;</p> WaterAtlas.orgMon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTTear reported at the Mosaic phosphate mine in Polk Countyhttps://chnep.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22853<h4> The tear in a gypstack is the latest in a series of environmental mishaps at the New Wales phosphate plant, near Mulberry.</h4> <p> A tear has been confirmed in a phosphate mine that straddles the Hillsborough-Polk county line.</p> <p> Mosaic first reported a possible tear in a gypsum stack at its New Wales mine to state environmental officials in October.</p> <p> In a letter dated Dec. 14, Mosaic officials confirmed they found a tear after a drop in water pressure was reported. Company officials said they have discovered a cavity below the gypsum stack and are working to repair the tear.</p> <p> It is unknown how much of the water in the gypsum stack -- which contains mostly rainwater -- seeped underground. But state officials said a nearby recovery well has been dug to keep the water from seeping underground.</p> <p> In 2016, one of the deepest sinkholes ever recorded in Florida opened beneath the New Wales Plant. More than 200 million gallons of polluted water spiraled into the underground aquifer. It took the company two years to seal the opening.</p> WaterAtlas.orgThu, 21 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMTFDEP invites public input on new water quality credit programhttps://chnep.wateratlas.usf.edu/news/newsviewall.asp?newsid=22859<p> Florida&rsquo;s Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is inviting the public to a rulemaking workshop Thursday [March 21st] to share feedback on a proposed water quality credit trading program.</p> <p> The program would allow government entities to buy &ldquo;enhancement credits&rdquo; to compensate for negative impacts to water quality from development projects. An &ldquo;enhancement credit&rdquo; represents a quantity of pollutant removed as a standard unit of measurement, <a href="http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&amp;Search_String=&amp;URL=0300-0399/0373/Sections/0373.4134.html#:~:text=%E2%80%94As%20used%20in%20this%20section,a%20quantity%20of%20pollutant%20removed." target="_blank" title="FS 373.4134 (2023)">per Florida Statute</a>.</p> <p> Florida&rsquo;s existing <a href="https://floridadep.gov/water/submerged-lands-environmental-resources-coordination/content/mitigation-and-mitigation-banking" target="_blank" title="FDEP program webpage">mitigation banking program</a> relies on similar credits intended to offset negative wetland impacts from development. But Gabrielle Milch of St. Johns Riverkeeper has concerns about both programs, saying they&#39;re designed to prioritize speedy development approvals when environmental health should come first and foremost.</p> <p> &ldquo;It&#39;s easier to keep pollution out of the water than it is to take it out of the water,&rdquo; Milch said, also adding &ldquo;it&#39;s a lot cheaper.&rdquo;</p> <p> Milch previously worked for the St. Johns River Water Management District, where she says her role included helping oversee and enforce development permitting regulations.</p> <p> Back then, in the 1980s, Milch says development permitting in Florida wasn&rsquo;t perfect. But she thinks it&rsquo;s worse today: &ldquo;more generalized and more streamlined,&rdquo; allowing for rapid, potentially unvetted development.&rdquo;</p> <p> FDEP&rsquo;s move to establish the new program follows state lawmakers&rsquo; unanimous approval of HB 965 in 2022, authorizing the creation of water quality enhancement areas (WQEAs), for which credits may be used to compensate for a lack of water quality treatment available onsite.</p> WaterAtlas.orgThu, 21 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT