N. Cook
04-19-2008, 09:28 AM
Newton Cook, Capt. Chris Chesley, and Jeff Allen met with Bob Ballard, Deputy Secretary Land and Recreation, Fl. Dept. of Environmental Protection in Tallahassee Thursday. Other attendees included Craig LeShack, Ducks Unlimited Director of Conservation Programs and FDEP staff, including Jeff Schardt the manager of vegetation control in Florida.
Two subjects were on the agenda.....the Curry Island scheme that would utililize a Non Profit 501 (c) 3 corporation to restore the property (about 4000acres) and establish a "for fee" public hunting facility. This would be a "pilot" program. UW-F is supporting the "pilot" as a potential way to help preserve hunting for the general public as part of the Future of Hunting in Florida association. Bob Ballard and the DEP staff are assisting with the many hurdles in the way of any project requiring substantial private funding and regulatory hurdles.
The second subject was the need to change the dynamics of the current aquatic plant controy program. Currently too much herbicide is being applied too often in attempts to control exotic vegetation in the fresh water systems. A suggestion from UW-F was made and will be reviewed. There is strong resistance within the FDEP staff to any change. However, the seed has been planted. (pardon the pun!) The plant control staff was obviously a bit shocked that UW-F had reached all the way to the top floor of the FDEP building and had them "hauled" into a meeting with the brass.
One good note.....the tight state budget will allow only minimal spraying next year.
I do want to say, Jeff Schardt and his staff have a difficult job to do with stakeholders pulling them in different directions and they have been much more cooperative the last year or two when considering spraying in regards to timing for the duck migrations. The FWC is also beginning to come around with a bit more back bone on the issue. We are dealing with good people and can expect some progress on the issue.
Two subjects were on the agenda.....the Curry Island scheme that would utililize a Non Profit 501 (c) 3 corporation to restore the property (about 4000acres) and establish a "for fee" public hunting facility. This would be a "pilot" program. UW-F is supporting the "pilot" as a potential way to help preserve hunting for the general public as part of the Future of Hunting in Florida association. Bob Ballard and the DEP staff are assisting with the many hurdles in the way of any project requiring substantial private funding and regulatory hurdles.
The second subject was the need to change the dynamics of the current aquatic plant controy program. Currently too much herbicide is being applied too often in attempts to control exotic vegetation in the fresh water systems. A suggestion from UW-F was made and will be reviewed. There is strong resistance within the FDEP staff to any change. However, the seed has been planted. (pardon the pun!) The plant control staff was obviously a bit shocked that UW-F had reached all the way to the top floor of the FDEP building and had them "hauled" into a meeting with the brass.
One good note.....the tight state budget will allow only minimal spraying next year.
I do want to say, Jeff Schardt and his staff have a difficult job to do with stakeholders pulling them in different directions and they have been much more cooperative the last year or two when considering spraying in regards to timing for the duck migrations. The FWC is also beginning to come around with a bit more back bone on the issue. We are dealing with good people and can expect some progress on the issue.