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Finding Florida's panthers
Kevin Lollar/ News-Press/ Mar 9
Florida panthers are an endangered species, and Big Cypress researchers monitor 11 radio-collared cats in the preserve south of Interstate 75.
Bill would rescind county controls over limestone mining
Greg Martin/ Charlotte Sun-Herald/ Mar 8
The county's December zoning code, for the first time, prohibited mines within 1 mile of the Gulf of Mexico, Intracoastal waterways, Charlotte Harbor or the Peace River west of Interstate 75. It also states that mining activities should not negatively impact other special resources, specifically including the Peace and Myakka rivers and Shell, Prairie and Alligator creeks.
Florida swamp walks reveal wild orchids
CNN/ Jennifer Kay/ Mar 5
IN THE FAKAHATCHEE STRAND, Florida (AP) -- We're barely out of our cars before the chorus starts: "I just want to see a ghost orchid!"
Contractor fined for disturbing prehistoric site in Picayune Strand
Eric Staats/ Naples Daily News/ Feb 28
A contractor has agreed to pay an $11,000 fine after crews disturbed an archaeological site during an environmental restoration project in rural Collier County.
Estero Bay makes Florida Forever A-list
Ryan Hiraki/ News-Press/ Feb 27
Estero Bay and sensitive Lee County wetlands Tuesday made a list of 21 projects targeted for conservation, before a cash shortage potentially ends a state land purchase program in two years.
Collier debate brews over town, panthers
Mary Wozniak/ News-Press/ Feb 24
A classic confrontation between the pressure for more development in Southwest Florida and the protection of the endangered Florida panther is brewing in the corridors of power in Collier County.
Panthers at heart of off-road dispute
Carol J Williams/ LA Times/ Feb 17
BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE, FLA. -- It has taken sweat, serendipity and five hours for Matthew Schwartz to find a single paw print of a Florida panther stamped in the swamp muck.
Health, water officials share facts about Marco sewer program
Joan Colfer, Jon Inglehart, and Clarence Tears/ Naples Daily News/ Jan 19
The Marco Island Septic Tank Replacement Program questions and answers:
Stormwater improvement gets boost from SFWMD
Leslie Williams/ Naples Daily News/ Jan 28
Latest $200,000 grant goes toward $600,000 in work
SFWMD appears on cusp of granting variance
Leslie Williams/ Naples Daily News/ Feb 12
Return to twice-weekly watering possible in April
Water district OKs twice-a-week watering for Marco
Daniel Winningham/ Marco Sun Times/ Feb 14
A governing board of the South Florida Water Management District approved a watering variance for Marco Island Thursday that means residents will be able to water twice a week beginning April 15.
Conservancy seeks support for I-75 culvert fight
Charlie Whitehead/ Naples Daily News/ Feb 9
A “Support the Conservancy” letter making the rounds in Estero is about legal standing more than legal funding, a Conservancy of Southwest Florida leader says.
Estero Bay report making waves among agencies
Charlie Whitehead/ Naples Daily News/ Feb 10
A report on wetlands destruction in the Estero Bay watershed is sending ripples through regulatory agencies.
Touring by foot and paddle
Susan Cocking/ Miami Herald/ Feb 10
''Big Cypress has the most unique hiking in the lower 48 because of the swamp slogging, then dwarf cypress forest, then you have a trail overlaying this unique environment,'' Molloy said. ``It should be more renowned and appreciated.''
Caloosahatchee River under microscope
Kevin Lollar/ News-Press/ Feb 8
For the past few years, area residents, environmentalists, elected officials and the media have spread the word about the evils of land-based nutrients in the Caloosahatchee River and estuary.
Naples council spoils plans to add islands to bay
Eric Staats/ Naples Daily News/ Jan 22
But council members don’t dismiss idea completely, as Naples’ natural resources manager agreed to look further into putting the islands in the southern part of Naples Bay
Estero Bay watershed lost 6.5 percent of wetlands in a year
Charlie Whitehead/ Naples Daily News/ Jan 26
A new Estero Bay watershed study shows a dismal environmental future if the way development permits are reviewed isn’t changed.
Southern Estates restoration stalls as budget decisions loom
Eric Staats/ Naples Daily News/ Jan 27
A project to restore natural water flows through Southern Golden Gate Estates is in for a slow year in 2008 as money to pay for it dries up.
Collier keeps ATV ban on county roads in place
Eric Staats/ Naples Daily News/ Jan 15
Panthers face hazards before adulthood
Andrea Stetson/ Naples Daily News/ Jan 12
It was a great year in 2007 for the Florida panther, despite a record breaking number of road-kill deaths.
$1.2M awarded for stormwater improvement projects in Collier
Naples Daily News/ Jan 10
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board and the Big Cypress Basin (BCB) Board recently authorized $1.2 million for two Collier County water improvement projects benefiting Dollar, Rookery and Naples bays.
Those here know Naples Bay cleanup must not slow down now
Naples Daily News editorial/ Jan 7
There is little sense of urgency to clean up Naples Bay. Rather than keeping up the progress and getting a plan in place as early as this year, the city of Naples ought to be given until 2013 to get serious.
New state report: Naples Bay cleanup can be delayed 5 years
Eric Staats/ Naples Daily News/ Jan 5
Florida environmental regulators might not require any cleanup of Naples Bay until 2013, a new preliminary report shows.
AAUW members learn ‘nature knew best’ when it comes to water management
Kelly Farrell/ Naples Daily News/ Jan 5
Hecker also said that South Florida is cut off from fresh water entering from the North.
We need new approach to fertilizer
News-Press editorial/ Jan 3
It's always easier to demand change from others than to change our own way of doing things.
Fertilizer limits feed debate
Kevin Lollar/ News-Press/ Jan 2
After years of nutrient-related algal blooms in Lee County waterways, the county is working on a fertilizer ordinance that doesn't sit well with many in the landscaping industry.
Authorities searching for rogue Everglades trailblazers
Eric Staats/ Naples Daily News/ Jan 1
The discovery of suspected illegal airboat paths north of Everglades City has authorities looking for the rogue trailblazers.
Naturalists predict more drought in ’08
Kevin Lollar/ News-Press/ Jan 1
Rain, or lack thereof, should be a big environmental story in 2008.
Floridians, panthers keep bumping into one another
Nick Walter/ Bradenton Herald/ Dec 24
According to a Florida Fish and Wildlife news release, there has been an increase in human contact with Florida panthers.
A fluid situation in the Cape
Denise Scott/ News-Press/ Dec 28
Nearly 39,000 Cape Coral residents on the city’s dual water system face a new way of lawn watering if a variance on water restrictions is approved.
Water limits call for changes
Ryan Hiraki/ News-Press/ Dec 28
Adapting to a drought draining Lee County's water supply means adjusting the timing of sprinklers, looking at creative conservation methods and preparing for stricter enforcement.
Swamp Tour A Slip Back In Time
Thomas Becnel/ Tampa Bay Online/ Dec 27
Stormwater Upgrades Will Help Keep Naples Bay Clean
Environment News Service/ Dec 26
The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board has authorized $1.5 million for a city of Naples stormwater improvement project benefiting Naples Bay. The district funds are part of the total $7.7 million effort.
Southwest Florida restoration study: Five years late, costs $5 million more
Jeremy Cox/ Naples Daily News/ Dec 25
A map of the ecological restoration needs of Southwest Florida won’t emerge until the end of 2009, nearly five years past its original due date, a South Florida Water Management District official said.
SW Fla. programs fared well in Congress this year
News-Press/ Dec 24
WASHINGTON - Water restoration, transportation and environmental programs throughout Southwest Florida scored victories in Congress this year. The biggest win, however, went to the Everglades, which finally got the green light for restoration programs after a seven-year delay.
Conservation groups sue over reopening of Big Cypress trails
Eric Staats/ Naples Daily News/ Dec 21
A dispute over off-road vehicle trails in the Big Cypress National Preserve took a turn back to court Friday.
Groups sue over Big Cypress trails
Sun Sentinel/ Dec 22
National Parks Conservation Association Says Big Cypress National Preserve Is Threatened By Damaging Off-Road Vehicle Use
Common Dreams/ Dec 21
After years of restoration, Park Service opens up sensitive lands and Florida panther habitat to more off-road vehicle use – conservationists take the agency to court
1.5 million awarded to Naples for stormwater improvement project
Naples Daily News/ Dec 21
New water-control device in Golden Gate will aid Naples Bay
Kelly Farrell/ Naples Daily News/ Dec 14
The Golden Gate canal no longer will “drown” the brackish waters of Naples Bay with floods of fresh water.
Report shows increase in human contact with Fla. panthers
Naples Daily News/ Dec 6
Winter kayak in the Everglades: Wildlife, mangroves, no mosquitos
William Kronholm/ Ft Wayne Journal Gazette/ Dec 9
So we bought repellant for a quick trip to view the swamp and its wildlife there last winter. But on a perfect day spent kayaking through the mangroves of Big Cypress National Preserve, we didn't even bother applying it.
Late director remembered at Conservancy symposium
Eric Staats/ Naples Daily News/ Dec 6
Mark Benedict’s photo was hard to miss Thursday at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida -- naturally.
In the Know Lee County: Well users subject to same water restrictions as rest of region
Karie Partington/ Naples Daily News/ Dec 6
Abandoned wells cost Lee County daily
Ryan Lengerich/ News-Press/Dec 1
Every day, half-century-old abandoned wells in Lee County waste or contaminate as much water as it would take for every person in the county to shower.
Sensitive southeast land off-limits to growth
Ryan Lengerich/ News-Press/ Dec 6
No new zoning or growth plan applications will be considered in 83,000 acres of environmentally sensitive land in southeast Lee County.
DR/GR area vital to Lee’s future
News-Press editorial/ Dec 6
Lee County has drawn a line in the gravel in a sprawling water resource area in south county, halting new mining, zoning and growth-plan changes until a vital and long-overdue study of the area can be completed.
Pearls Before Pigs
Calvin Godfrey/ Miami New Times/ Dec 6
A haywire hunting trip in the Everglades for an elusive oinker.
Marco to request variance from beefed up water restrictions
Leslie Williams/ Naples Daily News/ Dec 4
Officials hope to draw from 1 billion gallons in stored water to avoid Phase III restrictions
At home in the wild
Chad Gillis/ Naples Daily News/ Nov 28Jeff Ripple steps over a basketball-sized clump of prairie grass, splashes a weathered brown and black hiking boot down and quickly jumps backward to avoid whatever he just spooked — something that’s now streaking through the shallow waters.
Let off-roaders into Big Cypress
News-Press opinion/ Nov 27Swamp buggies are a tradition in the Big Cypress National Preserve. With proper regulation, they belong there.
Range of efforts necessary to protect Florida panther
Paul Souza guest commentary/ Naples Daily News/ Nov 24The Daily News’ recent three-part series on the Florida panther brought much-needed attention to the plight of this endangered species. The series rightly underscored a fundamental theme: recovering the panther is one of the most significant conservation challenges in the United States today. Major threats include habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation; the reduced genetic diversity that regularly plagues small populations; the potential for disease outbreaks such as feline leukemia; and vehicular collisions on South Florida’s road network.
ORVs cause dust-up in Big Cypress
Kevin Lollar/ News-Press/ Nov 22BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE — From 350 feet above the Bear Island Unit of this preserve, ruts from decades of off-road vehicle use looked like healing wounds on brown hide.
Expect long, dry winter
John Haughy/ Sun Herald/ Nov 13The authority can now extract water as long as the river is flowing faster than 90 cubic feet per second; the previous bar was 130 cfs, Coates said.
Peace River Panel Goal Is to Lessen Damage
Tom Palmer/ The Ledger/ Nov 11BARTOW Polk County Commission Chairman Bob English and Winter Haven environmentalist Marian Ryan are among those who will serve on a proposed 25-member Peace River Basin Management Advisory Committee.
Squeezing minimum flows on Peace River
Tom Palmer/ The Ledger/ Nov 8Today they are 140 cubic feet per second, most of it composed of the 110 cfs at the river gauge. This is above the 90 cfs that allows the reservoir pumps to continue to withdraw and store 10 percent of the river flow.
Peace River water is on the verge of being too low to use for drinking
Kate Spinner/ Herald Tribune/ Nov 10Drinking water supplies remain precariously low for the tens of thousands of Southwest Floridians relying on the Peace River to keep their faucets flowing.
Planned Collier ATV park hits another snag
Eric Staats/ Naples Daily News/ Nov 1A wildlife survey last month found a nest of a crested caracara, a threatened falcon-like bird, triggering a closer look by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and possible restrictions on where all-terrain vehicles would be allowed to ride at the park.
Without significant rainfall, next brush fire season sure to be more intense
Ryan Mills/ Naples Daily News/ Nov 3Flames danced from tree to tree as wildfires raged over 400,000 acres, burning down forests and consuming urban areas.
Big Cypress
