A global assessment led by Zeb Hogan reveals a devastating collapse in migratory freshwater fish populations. Nearly 100 percent of species listed under international treaties face extinction risks. Dams and overfishing break vital river connections across 250 international borders. Restoration requires keeping rivers free-flowing and protecting floodplains. These disappearing migrations threaten the essential food security and the diverse cultural traditions of millions of people worldwide.
conservation
Severe Drought Expands Across Flagler, Northern and Western Counties After 4 Months of Dry Weather
The St. Johns River Water Management District reports significant hydrologic declines following four months of minimal rainfall. All eighteen counties recorded below-average precipitation during February. These dry conditions caused groundwater levels in the Upper Floridan aquifer to drop into the eleventh percentile. Most of the state currently faces moderate to extreme drought. Residents should follow Phase I water shortage restrictions to preserve dwindling regional water supplies during this period.
County Votes 4-1 to Resolve Annexation Dispute Over Veranda Bay and Summertown, Ending Lawsuit Threat Against City
Flagler County has officially voted to settle its annexation dispute with Flagler Beach, ending the threat of a lawsuit. The 4-1 decision resolves ongoing conflicts over the Veranda Bay and Summertown developments, ensuring the developer pays transportation impact fees and grants the county a three-year window to purchase conservation land. The settlement clears the path for Flagler Beach to finalize the annexations this week.
Palm Coast Wins 1st Place in National Mayor’s Challenge as Residents Pledge to Save 33 Million Gallons of Water
Palm Coast won first place in the 8th Annual Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation for cities its size, with 8,022 Palm Coast residents pledging to cut water use by 33 million gallons over the next year.
Among Slew of Legislative Rules, A Proposal To Limit Local Authority on Environment
From fracking to tree-trimming to using close to $900 million from a voter-approved conservation fund, Florida lawmakers are lining up their wishes ahead of the 2018 session.
Walmart And Other Big Energy Users Want Out of Florida’s Conservation Program, Claiming They Can Do Better
Opponents say such a one-sided proposal would shift costs to small businesses and residential customers and jeopardize the viability of the 35-year-old conservation program.
Palm Coast Mayor Netts Urges Residents To Join Water-Conservation Challenge
By participating in the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, Palm Coast residents can qualify to win a Prius and other eco-friendly prizes, and put the city on the map of greenest communities.
Hearing Voters’ Demand for Conservation, Florida Senate Begins Money Game
Since the amendment was approved, concerns have been expressed about issues such as how lawmakers will define land-preservation or water-conservation projects, how the state will determine which of its “impaired” water bodies is most critical and how to approach the reduction of stormwater runoff and agriculture fertilizer use.
As FPL’s Smart Meters Convert 50,000 Flagler Homes, County Takes Dim View of Opponents
Florida Power & Light will roll out 50,000 smart meters in Flagler homes and small businesses over six months beginning this summer. The Flagler County Commission supports an opt-out measure for customers, some of whom thing the smart meters are invasive and dangerous, but FPL already provides a temporary opt-out.
“Colors of the Sea,” A New Cannizzaro Show, Opening at Ocean Publishing July 14
Rick Cannizzaro, Ocean Publishing’s commissioned artist, exhibits paintings of loggerhead turtles while the publishing house showcases a new book on the Southeast National Marine Sanctuaries and Jean-Michel Cousteau.
Flagler Beach’s Turtle Savior Honored by Daughters of the American Revolution
Lori Ottlein has been involved in land turtle rescue, sea turtle protection and rehabilitation for almost 15 years. She received a national conservation award for her work with the turtles from Daughters of the American Revolution.
Cool Project, Cooler Reception: Palm Coast’s Desalination Aims Leaves Others Unmoved
Slower than before, but still expensively, Palm Coast continues to push desalination as its only alternative water source in the future.
Conservation in Contempt: How Palm Coast Opened the Way to Urbanizing Bulow Creek
Under the guise of having to rezone land it recently annexed, the Palm Coast City Council enabled the highest-density zoning possible in the sensitive Bulow Creek watershed.
Fury and Fallacies Hook Red Snapper Fishing Ban
The indefinite extension of the ban on commercial or recreational fishing for red snapper off Florida’s coast will hurt boaters. But so would overfishing and crashing fish populations.
Primer: What Is the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act?
A brief explanation and history of the federal law governing marine fisheries management in United States federal waters.
Bunnell Bails from Billion-$ Desalination Band
Bunnell joins Flagler County, and possibly Flagler Beach soon, in dropping out of the $1 billion project.