N. Cook
09-13-2007, 04:04 PM
I attended the FWC Commission meeting in St. Petersburg yesterday....it was a long meeting dominated by the Save the Manatee crowd who sent up dozens of speakers in a continuing effort to keep the manatee from being made "threatened" instead of "endangered". The vote was put off at Gov. Crists request. Very little about duck hunting....the statewide canada goose season was approved....and several WMAs will have full migratory bird seasons. This was one of the topics I spoke on as part of our continuing work to have full migratory bird seasons on as many WMAs as we can get. I was able to specifically mention Allaphata WMA where we did not get the season we were promised and how we were not happy about the situation and may be able to come back in December with new words for the Consent Degree item. (these items all go into effect in 2008)
Also, the eagle is set for delisting as "threatened" and will need only a 330 feet zone as per the Federal act protecting them...This should help the STA 2 situation for next year.
It was nice to meet member Phil Eicher who attended, and we had a good discussion during lunch on hunting the Tampa Bay area. Several UW-F members where there representing other organizations.
Nick Wiley had asked that I come and stand and support the Deer Management Committee's work and a number of that group did so.
The meeting was important as I was able to get quality face time for UW-F with the newly appointed FWC commissioners .....they all seem to be folks we can work with.
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The SFWMD Gov. Board meeting was dominated by the recent news that the Ten Mile Creek Reservoir is faulty and cannot be filled to capacity...this puts all the reservioir designs into question....a giant headache for the District and the USACE.
The District is frantically searching for ways to store any current rain water for the agriculture interests south of the lake and not losing it down the canals "to tide" during these low lake levels.....the idea that WCA 1 (LOX. NWR) could be drained to help with "water supply" sent me up to the mike in opposition...and Rolf, the current temporary manager of the Refuge, just happen to be in the audience also objected. The idea of flooding the Holey Land and Rotenberger WMAs and holding any forthcoming water there also was proposed. Albert Byran of the ECC spoke against that as it would be destructive to the animals in the area.
Again, face time in front of the new SFWMD Gov. Board members is important. I was able to slip in the tremendous response to the STA duck hunt permits....with "7000 opportunites" gone in minutes.....and a "great PR story for recreation on the SFWMD lands".
The District is tied up with really important issues from the drought and we need to realize our "issues" will not be high on their list....My major concern now is that there is not enough water to keep the STAs hydrated as they should be.....in fact some entire STA cells may need to be let dry out if we do not get a break in the drought soon....Not a good thought.
Also, the eagle is set for delisting as "threatened" and will need only a 330 feet zone as per the Federal act protecting them...This should help the STA 2 situation for next year.
It was nice to meet member Phil Eicher who attended, and we had a good discussion during lunch on hunting the Tampa Bay area. Several UW-F members where there representing other organizations.
Nick Wiley had asked that I come and stand and support the Deer Management Committee's work and a number of that group did so.
The meeting was important as I was able to get quality face time for UW-F with the newly appointed FWC commissioners .....they all seem to be folks we can work with.
.................................................. ................................................
The SFWMD Gov. Board meeting was dominated by the recent news that the Ten Mile Creek Reservoir is faulty and cannot be filled to capacity...this puts all the reservioir designs into question....a giant headache for the District and the USACE.
The District is frantically searching for ways to store any current rain water for the agriculture interests south of the lake and not losing it down the canals "to tide" during these low lake levels.....the idea that WCA 1 (LOX. NWR) could be drained to help with "water supply" sent me up to the mike in opposition...and Rolf, the current temporary manager of the Refuge, just happen to be in the audience also objected. The idea of flooding the Holey Land and Rotenberger WMAs and holding any forthcoming water there also was proposed. Albert Byran of the ECC spoke against that as it would be destructive to the animals in the area.
Again, face time in front of the new SFWMD Gov. Board members is important. I was able to slip in the tremendous response to the STA duck hunt permits....with "7000 opportunites" gone in minutes.....and a "great PR story for recreation on the SFWMD lands".
The District is tied up with really important issues from the drought and we need to realize our "issues" will not be high on their list....My major concern now is that there is not enough water to keep the STAs hydrated as they should be.....in fact some entire STA cells may need to be let dry out if we do not get a break in the drought soon....Not a good thought.