N. Cook
04-05-2006, 03:35 PM
Our folks' in Tallahassee (ASAF) Lane Stephens reports that HB265 (no net loss in hunting lands) legislation is in committee. This bill requires a complete inventory of lands open to hunting and requires any loss to development or other causes be replaced, in the same general area if possible. This is a great bill for keeping the hunting tradition alive in Florida.
Obviously, there are opponents.
First, please email Rep. Don Brown your thanks for his strong support of the bill: Donald.brown@myfloridahouse.gov
Second....suprisingly one of the major speakers against the bill was the St. John River Water Management District (WMD lands are in the inventory). There may be resistance by the WMD's and I will try to speak on it tommorow at the SFWMD WRAC meeting.....cut them off at the pass!
Meanwhile all hunters need to respond to the SJRWMD:
Dear XXXX,
I was suprised and disappointed to hear that the SJRWMD spoke in Tallahassee against HB 265 which would protect the hunting heritage on public owned land. The SJRWMD manages extensive rural land suitable for hunting and all of it should be open to hunting for the owners.....the taxpayers of Florida. The bill protects the rights of the public to access their land and helps prevent the erosion of hunting land acreage. Why would the District be against that goal?
Obviosly, the bill helps prevent development of now rural land owned by the various state agencies. That should be a goal compatible with the District's mandate to preserve and protect the SJR watershed and the quality and sufficient supply of water to the public. Land now in public hands should not fall to the development bulldozers and any that may be loss should be replaced with quality rural land nearby.
I hope the District will reconsider the opposition to this bill. Water management districts receive enough bad press for actions detrimental to the Florida enviroment, this issue need not be another example.
Sincerely,
Joe Public
Send the letter to the SJRWMD Governing Board. 4049 Reid St., Palatka, FL 32177. You can email: Ed Garland, SJRWMD Public Affairs, egarland@sjrwmd.com (ask that your comments be passed to all Board Members) or write to:
Governing Board Members: Ometrias D. Long, David G. Graham, R. Clay Albright, Duane Ottenstroer, W. Michael Branch, John G. Sowinski, William Kerr, Ann T. Moore, Susan N. Hughes
Obviously, there are opponents.
First, please email Rep. Don Brown your thanks for his strong support of the bill: Donald.brown@myfloridahouse.gov
Second....suprisingly one of the major speakers against the bill was the St. John River Water Management District (WMD lands are in the inventory). There may be resistance by the WMD's and I will try to speak on it tommorow at the SFWMD WRAC meeting.....cut them off at the pass!
Meanwhile all hunters need to respond to the SJRWMD:
Dear XXXX,
I was suprised and disappointed to hear that the SJRWMD spoke in Tallahassee against HB 265 which would protect the hunting heritage on public owned land. The SJRWMD manages extensive rural land suitable for hunting and all of it should be open to hunting for the owners.....the taxpayers of Florida. The bill protects the rights of the public to access their land and helps prevent the erosion of hunting land acreage. Why would the District be against that goal?
Obviosly, the bill helps prevent development of now rural land owned by the various state agencies. That should be a goal compatible with the District's mandate to preserve and protect the SJR watershed and the quality and sufficient supply of water to the public. Land now in public hands should not fall to the development bulldozers and any that may be loss should be replaced with quality rural land nearby.
I hope the District will reconsider the opposition to this bill. Water management districts receive enough bad press for actions detrimental to the Florida enviroment, this issue need not be another example.
Sincerely,
Joe Public
Send the letter to the SJRWMD Governing Board. 4049 Reid St., Palatka, FL 32177. You can email: Ed Garland, SJRWMD Public Affairs, egarland@sjrwmd.com (ask that your comments be passed to all Board Members) or write to:
Governing Board Members: Ometrias D. Long, David G. Graham, R. Clay Albright, Duane Ottenstroer, W. Michael Branch, John G. Sowinski, William Kerr, Ann T. Moore, Susan N. Hughes