North St. Johns River Recreation Meeting, 9/20

[N. Cook]

The meeting will be held 6 to 9 pm at the Austin Cary Memorial Forest Conference Room, 10625 NE Waldo Rd., Gainesville on Tuesday Sept. 20.

Agenda includes:

Land management update-North RAC region

Recreation Update

Newman Lake Conservation Area overview

Public Comments

Good opportunity for those members who hunt the marshes, and north parts of the St. John to comment and to develop relationships with the SJRWMD staff.

[Steve W]

I already have it on my calendar and plan to attend.

[Wilbur]

I haven't done the meeting thing yet... I think it's time. I'll do my best to be there. :icon_salu

[northfla_hunter]

steve, you leaving from jax and heading down there? i might be interested in car pooling if so. i think i should be able to make it since its an evening meeting.

[Steve W]

I was wondering if this is a good time to bring up all the green goo we have had in the river the past few weeks.

Are these the people to address this issue?

[uncle D]

Steve,

At the 'St Johns" summit the issue was pointed out, discussed, blah,blah...

The farms south in Palatka and the new suburbs being built on both 17 and 13 contribute.

Boycott fertilizer companies, but as long as the appointed and elected officials promote uncontrolled growth and the allowence of "Frankenfruits and veggies" then I see more problems.

It's hard to stop progress. If ya try to stop the use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides that are bad for the environment, ya get called a tree hugger.

As I have said before, hunters need to get over the "bunny humpers" as wrong headed and start looking at the problems thru greener glasses.

Duke

Sorry, ..................................just a rant.

[Lawrence]

I think I would rather have farms then sprawling retirement communities.

I will admit, it is tought to pick your poison on that one.

[N. Cook]

Ahhhhh .....Lawrence....you have hit on a subject that makes my name mud with some of the enviro's (not all) here as I do not knee jerk attact the sugar barons and farmers down here for the phosphate problem......better their green space farms that use only as much fertilizer as is needed (they do not waste money on excess chemicals) than to have thousands of houses with their overly generous applications of chemicals to keep the yards green and weeds and bugs out. Just keep on making it harder for the farmer, big or small and he will be glad to sell out for a few hundred million to a developer!

What do you think is a bigger problem for the environment.....1000 acres of sugar or 2000 houses in Wellington, Weston, Palm Bay or any other suburb sitting on what was farm and ranch land?

[uncle D]

"Pick your poison"

Maybe the question is how much can the land stand.

In the thirties we plowed the dirt to dust, thru out the years we have dredged and drained swamps but we are repeating that now according to our duck magazines.

We are having toxic blooms, watersheds are being paved over. Our govt. leaders pass laws that allow futher destruction of wild spaces.

Human are supreme beings to the point that we are hurting ourselves.

Where's the balance?

...........still on a rant. Forgive me.

Duke

[Steve W]

I cannot attend.

My wife has to work that night and I have to take care of kids.

Homework, football practice, etc.

Northfla and Wilbur are you one of you definitely attending?

[Wilbur]

Meeting was attended! :icon_salu Karen and I were able to make it up and were glad we did. Not much to report on for duck hunting at this meeting but the one in November will be of importance to those who hunt Emerelda Marsh. There will be discussion on cost of keeping and maintaining the pump systems to control water depth or returning the marsh to Lake Griffins level. This could have a very negative impact on duck hunting. I was also able to find out about where the "spoils" are being pumped from the canal dredging in Lake Griffin, they are being pumped into area 7 in the Norheast corner of the marsh. I made several contacts and recieved names of a few people with Lake County Water Authority to contact. All in all it went well and these folks seem intent on listening to, and working with all interested people. Next project; lets see if we can get Sunnyhill Restoration Area opened for hunting.

[jtlillia]

Thanks For Attending

Joe

[Steve W]

Thanks Wilbur.

[fpspecialk]

This, being my first meeting... I had no clue what to expect! It was however, very ineresting. I'm really looking forward to the 'Central' meeting, because it will mean a lot more to hear about the areas that I'm more familiar with. That meeting is scheduled for Nov. 2nd. We signed up to receive e-mails from SJRWMD, & will keep everyone up to date on the location & time when it becomes available.
The thing that surprised & impressed me the most, was the report on Land Acquisitions. I was not aware of the amounts of land purchased & being returned to its natural state! Was really great to hear about that as opposed to the land being stripped & developed!

[N. Cook]

Thanks Wilbur and Karen for representing UW-F. We will be requesting Regional REports for the Nov. Newsletter soon. Please include this first meeting....the Newsletter initial deadline for articles is Oct. 20, so you could send an addendum after the early Nov. meeting and I will try to edit it in.

Great work...and you will find it more and more fun as you get to know the players and the issues.