PCS WMA Problems

[BlindHog]

I have have hunted at PCS WMA the last 3 yrs and have observed questionable at best cooperation by the PCS operations people with hunters. I admit I know nothing about phosphate mining, etc. but theyt appear to do little to help duckhunters, and a good deal that is harmfull.

The main problem is water level management. I just read about more uncooperative actions taken recently by PCS operations people. Two wks ago they drained a pond (Pond #4) that had 5000 teal on it based on a preseason scouting report dated 9/16/03. PCS has also failed to fill Pond #6 despite claiming they would. There was plenty of water, but in the n the wrong ponds last year.

Does anyone at UWF know anything about the PCS situation? I have heard the relationship between FWC and PCS was strained in recent times. Is there any way of getting info from FWC on what they are doing to 'manage' the PCS folks? This WMA outproduces many if not all in Fla and has a wide range of species. It is a shame that its not kept up to its potential through cooperation from the PCS Co. If ever a cooperative DU/UWF/FWC, etc. effort was needed its here.

[D Duck]

Steve... here's one you probably know more about than anyone.

[Steve W]

PCS does not fill ponds, if they are mining from a pond the water gets there by gravity from the plant. There is no pumping into the ponds. They may add some water to the circulating water if necessary, but they do not pump water from the ground into the ponds.

The water levels in ponds where mining is taking place is on a 10 day schedule. It goes up and down based on their production schedule.

Pond 4 is supposed to be reclaimed by PCS for conversion back to it's original state(woodlands) as they are done mining it.

In March 2002 I attended a meeting with PCS, FWC and concerned hunters. There were about 8 hunters present.

After this meeting I intended to get DU MARSH to help with saving POND 4 and in fact attended the MARSH meeting in April 2002 to present the issue to them. The committee was very receptive and supportive of the project.

However, the schedule that PCS was under had them start the reclamation before I could get all the govt beauracrats involved. PCS started reclamation September 2002.

Also, keep in mind that PCS does is not paid by the state to let us hunt their property and that the real purpose of the ponds is to mine phosphate.

[duckmanJR]

Unfortunately, Like other places here in florida...The waterfowl hunting is just a by-product of what the land owner/managers are doing. And while it doesn't hurt to request certain things from the land owners..they have the ultimate authority.
Demands or strongly worded statements should be avoided..a carefully constructed letter might be more beneficial in the long run.

[BlindHog]

Realize that PCS exists to mine and make money and that we are lucky they allow us in at all. My point is that if they could do a few things with water levels without hurting their own self-interests,it would be quite neighborly of them. I realize my post sounded neither neighborly nor appreciative. My mistake.

I was responding to some info I saw today on a private website run by the FWC check station attendant at PCS. His name is Phil Giglio. He states PCS has reversed its decision to reclaim/dry out Pond 4 due to changes in the demand for phosphate. Dont know if this would mean anything to the project Steve W was envisioning with DU MARSH or not, but see what you think at www. alltel.net/steward~1. Of course you cant believe everything you see in the Internet...

[BlindHog]

Correction, that weblink for PCS info is

http://home.alltel.net/steward1/

[Steve W]

All that PCS is willing to do on the water level issue is give us a schedule of when the water will be up and down.

I thought that Phil was going to get this and post it on that site.

Phil was at that meeting too.

Anyway, Phil posted that it was off and then on again.

I will try to call the PCS biologist in the next few days to find out what is going on.

[BlindHog]

Steve W. - I'm confused. I read Phil's page again and I see the water biologist Castiov quoting the PCS official about plans to pump water into 4. You stated they dont pump water into ponds. Do they pump water between ponds or not?

Anyway Castiov makes it seem like there may be a longer term improvement after a shortage this yr of water in #4 and #6. (Poor this yr, good yrs in '04-05 and '05-06.) Would like to know if this is still what he thinks.

[Steve W]

I understand why you are confused.

We were told in the meeting that for purposes of mining, PCS does not pump water, but that the water and mud is moved by gravity.

However, they probably would if needed for quick results or something like starting up a pond.