Environment

An appeal to the 5th District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach has been filed regarding a consumptive use permit that was issued by the St. Johns River Water Management District. The appeal is being reviewed because certain parties claim the permit was not analyzed correctly and that it could be detrimental to the environment.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson met with UF researchers to discuss the impact that rising seas will have on North Florida and to look for ways to make the public aware. He questioned whether a natural disaster would have to occur before people grasp the severity of the threat.

Bradford County residents are struggling to travel due to rain from tropical system Erika. Sandbags are not helping, and motorists have found themselves stuck in mud holes that seem impossible to escape.

A petition launched by an environmentalist to stop possible cattle grazing and tree growing in Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park has more than 10,000 signatures. The environmentalist, Shirley Lasseter, started the petition in response to a proposal by the DEP secretary to allow such for-profit uses to help pay for the parks.

State parks were identified by former interim secretary of the DEP Jon Steverson in a draft strategic plan as test cases for allowing commercial businesses to graze cattle, timber and hunt in the parks. Gov. Rick Scott appointed Steverson as DEP secretary today.

The Alachua County Environmental Protection Department has found unsafe levels of bacteria in Hogtown Creek waters.

The FWC is conducting surveys to discover trends in species of fish being caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Local fishermen agree that monitoring the fish is important, but some question the method of data collection.

The Cabot-Koppers wood treatment plant became an EPA Superfund site in 1983 after dioxins contaminated the soil and underground aquifer. Now that cleanup of residential property was completed in November, the residents look toward the future.

A recent study by a University of Florida graduate researches the effects of prescribed fires on the elfin frosted butterfly. The species requires fire to survive, but is also prone to damage from excessive burning.

Longleaf pine is being reintroduced into the United States ecosystem. If the restoration plan is successful, this type of pine would benefit the environment and the economy.