Luckily, there is a ready and easy fix to this deadly algae problem.

Tallahassee, FL – (September 15) Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) first warned about the dangers of toxic algae outbreaks in a 2000 scientific report – eleven years ago. Life threatening algae blooms and fish kills from sewer, manure and fertilizer pollution still persist. The toxic algae problem in Chesapeake Bay was resolved with advanced wastewater treatment systems thatcut pollution at a cost of only $2.50 per household per month.

David Guest, Managing Attorney for Earthjustice’s Tallahassee office, has incourtrooms around Florida successfully tried environmental cases for the past 20 years which in one way or another were all about water.  Monica Reimer has been a staff attorney with the Tallahassee Office of Earthjustice since 2003. In 2002, her victory in an off-shore oil drilling case was reported as a landmark case in the National Law Journal. David or Monica is available for interviews September 19—October 7to give up-to-date answers, discuss actions that residents can take and can discuss any aspect of this issue including the three questions below.

Why was the EPA forced to step in?

Since 1998, Earthjustice has been using legal action to get the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to apply pressure on Florida’s DEP to set limits on this toxic pollution. The EPA’s action to set new pollution limits for Florida came in the summer of 2009 — a year after Earthjustice filed its 2008 suit in the Northern District of Florida on behalf of the Florida Wildlife Federation, St. John’s Riverkeeper, and other Florida groups. The suit challenged the decade-long delay by the state and federal government in setting limits for nutrient pollution.

The EPA entered into a settlement agreement and established new water pollution limits that were the same as the Florida state limits set by DEP based on the samenumeric criteria mandated under the Bush administration that set limits for phosphorus and nitrogen compounds which triggered deadly growths of algae in waterways throughout Florida. These limits by the Bush Administration came about as a result of Florida’s failure to meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act. During the comment period, the agency received 22,000 comments, with 20,000 in support of the new standards but polluters continue to fight compliance.

Now, after lobbyist and polluters have fought these established regulations, the Florida DEP is, again, in the process of setting new statewide standards for phosphorus and nitrogen pollution. Unfortunately, the rules that state regulators have proposed so far are highly inadequate to protect public health and clean up the waters. It is critical that the state’s polluters do not end up writing the DEP’s water-pollution rules. It is critical that our state regulators protect the public, not the polluters.

What are the health impacts from toxic algae that Floridians and tourists have experienced?

In 2008, over 1,000 miles of Florida’s rivers and streams, 350,000 acres of Florida’s lakes, and 900 square miles of its estuaries were contaminated by sewage, fertilizer or manure pollution. Toxic algae has caused respiratory problems, neurological damage, nausea, diarrhea, rashes, and even death for Floridians, their pets, and tourists with hundreds of emergency room visits each year and has also contaminated drinking water for thousands. The toxic algae pollution has become so frequent and serious that the Florida Department of Health now hands out educational materials that ask people: “Have You Been Slimed?” Callers to the state’s Aquatic Toxins Hotline (1-888-232-8635) hear a recording which warns: “It is very important that pets, livestock and small children are kept out of water suspected of having a blue green algae bloom since there have been many reported cases of animals dying after drinking highly contaminated water.”Residents should report any toxic algae outbreak in waters immediately to their County Health Departments and should not touch the water.

What are the economic impacts of algae outbreaks throughout Florida’s waterways?

Florida’s economy is driven largely by real estate and tourism. Waters with toxic algae put both of these sectors in jeopardy. Visitors from around the globe come to Florida for its clear, sandy-bottomed rivers, streams, lakes, springs, bays, beaches and for the beauty and revitalization that they experience, bringing $58 billion in tourism yearly. When visitors come here and see dead fish and “No Swimming” signs, they won’t come back, and that affects our state budget and jobs. When algae outbreaks occur, workers at hotels, charter and commercial fishing boats, beachfront concessions, restaurants, bars, and waterfront rentals all pay the price.

In 2005, one of the worst toxic algae outbreaks ever recorded happened at Southeast Florida’s St. Lucie River and estuary. The entire river was covered with bright green slime. It wasn’t safe to touch the water. Waterfront property values in the area suffered a permanent decline of a whopping $500 million after the outbreak.

In June of this year an algae outbreak in the Caloosahatchee River near Fort Myers turned the river bright green, smelled like raw sewage, and killed hundreds of fish. In August a large algae outbreak slimed Old Tampa Bay.  In earlier years, there were nauseating algae outbreaks on popular Florida tourist beaches like Sanibel Island and at fishing meccas like the St. Johns River near Jacksonville.

FLORIDIANS CAN TAKE ACTION

The way to make Florida’s waters clean again is to limit this pollution at its source, by upgrading old sewer plants, using modern manure management on agricultural operations and being smarter about applying fertilizer but powerful interests who profit from free disposal of pollutants in public waterways continue to fight new standards and argue that regulations would cost millions to the phosphate, property and agriculture industries.  They fail to mention the sickness and death that has resulted and the billions that water pollution has posed to fishing, tourism, waterfront real estate, and health related expenses.

Residents should report any toxic algae outbreak immediately to their County Health Departments and should not touch the water. If exposed they can call the state’ Aquatic Toxins Hotline (1-888-232-8635).

At www.earthjustice.org, click on Take Action in the top heading, and find Let’s Keep Florida’s Waters Clean, to easily forward a letter to the EPA, your Senators, and your Representative.

David Guest is the Managing Attorney of Earthjustice’s Tallahassee office. In 1978, he graduated from the University of Chicago Law School where he was a member of the law review. He has a B.Sc. in Government and Economics from Florida State University. In courtrooms around Florida David has tried environmental cases for the past 20 years which were all about water. Before development, half of Florida was under water during the wet season and its 1,500 miles of coastline were teeming with life. But its beauty invited its consumption. Millions of acres were drained and converted into agricultural, industrial, and urban developments. As a result, rivers and lakes are being polluted and closed off to the public, groundwaters are being rapidly depleted by uncontrolled withdrawals from aquifers, and the lives that depend on water are threatened.

Earthjustice is a non-profit public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the magnificent places, natural resources, and wildlife of this earth, and to defending the right of all people to a healthy environment.

David Guest or Monica Reimer is available for interviews from September 19—October 7.

Please call Antonette Badami, Caplan Communications, 303.997.4037 orAntonette16@aol.com.

With new predictions for an above-average 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, the American Red Cross is adding technology to the many ways it helps people to get prepared.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that 12-18 named storms, 6-10 hurricanes and 3-6 major hurricanes will occur this year. The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1, and families can take steps now to create a family emergency plan.

To make that planning easier, the Red Cross has developed a free iPhone app that gives the location of all open Red Cross shelters. The app not only maps the location of a shelter, but also shows current capacity and population. To download the app, users can visit the Apple store and search “American Red Cross shelters.” For those without an iPhone, the same shelter information also appears on the Red Cross website and can be accessed by visiting www.redcross.org and clicking on “Find a Shelter.” Both are refreshed with updated information every 30 minutes.

In addition, the Red Cross Safe and Well website now allows users to update their Facebook and Twitter status when they register on the site. Safe and Well is a secure way to let your loved ones know where you are going during a hurricane evacuation or that you are “okay” in the aftermath of a disaster. If users choose to do so, they can easily let their entire network of friends and family know they are safe in one step.

“This is an ideal time to get a disaster supply kit ready, make an evacuation plan with your family, and get information on what to do during a hurricane,” said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president of Red Cross Disaster Services. “It’s also the right time to learn how to locate a shelter or use Safe and Well, and new technology is making it even easier to do that.”

Along with working to prepare people in the U.S., the American Red Cross is working to prepare vulnerable populations in Haiti with training in early warning systems and emergency first aid, as well as other measures, as hurricane season approaches for that country, which is still dealing with the 2010 earthquake that left so many homeless.

More broadly, the global Red Cross network has been working with the Haitian Red Cross to help Haitians better prepare for and respond to disasters. For example, an estimated 5.5 million text messages about ways to prepare for disasters have been sent to Haitians.

American Red Cross disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction programs have helped Haitians in about 40 camps prepare for heavy rains and hurricanes, and this program will expand in the months to come. Some of the activities held in these camps include emergency first aid courses, training in early warning systems (bullhorns and whistles), projects such as digging ditches and sandbagging hillsides, preparation of evacuation routes, and workshops to teach children about disaster preparedness.

In addition, Haitian Red Cross branches across the country have been strengthened with extra training for staff and new office and communications equipment. More than 1,600 people have been trained by the Red Cross in vulnerability and capacity assessment or community-based disaster management. The Red Cross has also built a Disaster Operations Center in Hinche and pre-positioned relief supplies for 25,000 families to be used during future disasters in Haiti. The American Red Cross has also helped to supply additional tarps to vulnerable Haitians whose shelters may be damaged or destroyed, and have staff on standby to provide emergency response in coordination with members of the global Red Cross network.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.pbtcredcross.org.

The general public is invited to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s office in downtown Vero Beach on Saturday, April 16 for a free “open house” from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. to mark the 41st anniversary of Earth Day in conjunction with Hibiscus Festival activities.

The free open house will include kids’ activities, wildlife displays, presentations by local biologists and an exhibit of illegal wildlife products seized by law enforcement officials. “Earth Day is actually April 22, but we wanted to host this event on a date we could share with our friends on the Treasure Coast, who will already be celebrating at the Hibiscus Festival. This is an opportunity to enjoy the festival, then meet our biologists and learn about endangered species, habitat conservation programs, Everglades restoration and more,” said Ken Warren, open house co-coordinator. “This will be an educational activity for the entire family.”

The office, which also have a booth at the festival, is at 1339 20th Street across from the Post Office. The Service has operated a station in Indian River County since 1954, when it was known as the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. For more information, contact Ken Warren at ken_warren@fws.gov. The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

The annual Earth Day is a national event designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. Founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, the first Earth Day was held as a symposium April 22, 1970 and has been celebrated on that date ever since.

“A Florida woman said her missing dog was found after a group of dolphins drew a neighbor’s attention to the canine treading water.

This is a heartwarming story of a frantic family who spent hours searching for their beloved pooch, a group of dolphins who drew attention to the struggling animal, a kind neighbor who pulled the canine from the water and a courageous dog who was in the water struggling to survive for God only knows how long.

This incident should be made into a movie, and the theatre owner should hand out a box of Kleenex to everyone. It would be a film that would appeal to the whole family, including the dog. (Maybe not the family cat)

Let’s hope that Turbo never again escapes from his home, and that the dolphins will never be captured by an evil Sea World type amusement park.

Follow Robert Paul Reyes on Twitter: http://twitter.com/robertpaulreyes

The animals were found along the beach of Sebastian Inlet State Park in Melbourne Beach, FL, on Friday.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials believe the fish died because of the lack of oxygen.

‘Just because there’s such a large school of them, they use up the oxygen really quickly, and because they are coming closer to shore, there’s not as high of a water turnover rate and sometimes when you’re in an area with not as much tidal flow,” said Kelli O’Donnell, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.’” Read More

Photo by Steve Johnson, Vero Beach, Florida

The New Year started on an ominous note, with hundreds of dead birds falling on the town of Beebe, Arkansas. This oddity was immediately followed by thousands of dead fish found in the Arkansas River, and in the weeks and months since there have been reports of mass death of fish, birds, crabs, and other animals all over the world.

In recent weeks the amazing events in Yemen, and Egypt have grabbed the headlines, but the phenomenon of mass death of animals continues unabated.

Photo by Steve Johnson, Vero Beach, Florida

It’s now the turn of the good folks in Melbourne Beach, FL to wonder what the heck is going on. Officials say that some fish are prone to die from lack of oxygen when they swim close to the shore in large numbers. Sorry, for the pun, but that explanation sounds fishy to me.

Cougar Cameron Diaz feeding Alex Rodriguez popcorn, Joan Rivers appearing in a commercial in leather hot pants and a low-cut top, American Idol without Simon Cowell, dead fish in the rivers, and dead birds dropping from the sky.

These are the Biblical signs of the End Times! I have my trusty bong, let the end times roll!

Follow Robert Paul Reyes on Twitter: http://twitter.com/robertpaulreyes

With your help, we can make sure that bears are protected across the state and that they survive and flourish for years to come. Please take action now.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is currently considering adopting a new black bear management plan. This plan offers a lot of positive steps to full black bear recovery, but has some sections that could harm Florida black bears.

The FWC is seeking comments on the draft bear management plan which includes habitat protection and public outreach.

A major part of the plan involves addressing the unique needs of the bear in different geographic regions of the state. Bear management units with citizen assistance committees (Black Bear Assistance Groups) will advise the FWC and help the public to understand how to live responsibly with black bear needs.

Recognizing the need for more public outreach and education will the public and bears alike. Establishing state and local programs will further help to keep bears out of neighborhoods so that there are fewer human-bear interactions.

Black bear management needs to be based on scientific studies and addressing public concerns but not eliminate bears because of human “social carrying capacity.”

Unfortunately, the scientific basis of the proposed plan is undermined by letting the public’s tolerance for bears and the number of bear conflict reports drive the FWC decision on how many bears there should be in the state.

A grave concern with the proposal is that it also opens the door for black bear hunting. The Florida black bear is still recovering across the state, and acts as an important umbrella species whose protection benefits numerous other species. Hunting, does not solve human-bear conflicts, but threatens the future of bears across the state.

With your help we can protect Florida black bears and wildlife across the state.

For the wild ones,

Laurie Macdonald
Florida Director
Defenders of Wildlife

The tropical system, which is currently bringing strong winds and rough seas north of Puerto Rico, could become better organized in the next 48 hours, as it moves into an area more favorable for tropical development.

People in Southern Florida and the Bahamas should be on alert for a tropical storm to form this weekend and be ready to make preparations.

AccuWeather.com meteorologists are focusing on two potential scenarios.

The first depicts the storm developing, crossing Florida early in the weekend and entering the eastern Gulf of Mexico as a weaker system.

Impacts over the oil spill site in the central Gulf would be less than were caused by Hurricane Alex, which moved through the southern Gulf of Mexico in late June.

The second scenario depicts the system moving through the Florida Keys late in the week, developing into a stronger tropical storm or hurricane. If this were to happen, impacts to the spill site will be increased.

Regardless of either scenario, Florida will be impacted first before any effects reach the Gulf.

“The weather map on Saturday could be a summer classic,” said Bastardi. “A hot shot into the mid-Atlantic and a tropical system affecting Florida or the Gulf.”

If you have questions or want to speak to a meteorologist, contact:

Roberti@AccuWeather.com

Today, I need your help to prevent another offshore oil disaster, one that could be right off our Florida shoreline. Please use the information below to contact your Florida state senator and state representative and tell them to put a constitutional amendment banning drilling in Florida waters on the November ballot:

Your State Representative Debbie Mayfield – (850) 488-0952 or (772) 778-5077

Florida House of Representatives Switchboard: (850) 488-1157

Your State Senator Mike Haridopolos – (850) 487-5056 or (321) 752-3131

 Find Contact Information fort Your State Senator

You can make a big difference today! Just deliver this simple message:

My name is XXXXX and I’m calling from Vero Beach because I’m deeply concerned about the effects of offshore drilling on Florida’s wildlife, communities and tourist economy. During the special legislative session next week, I urge you to support a constitutional amendment banning drilling in Florida waters on the November ballot. Because offshore drilling poses such a significant threat to marine wildlife, the environment, fisheries, tourism, and enjoyment value of our coasts, it is critical for Florida to make the prohibition against drilling ironclad, and Floridians should have the right to vote on this very important decision.

Please report your call. Our advocates in the state capitol will be tracking the opposition to offshore drilling closely and following up with state representatives and senators to ensure that your voice is heard. Having seen firsthand the magnitude of the damage from the BP Gulf oil disaster, Governor Charlie Crist has called a special session of the Florida Legislature on Tuesday, July 20th – Friday, July 23rd… and we need your help to make the most of this opportunity to protect our coasts and wildlife. At stake are some of the Sunshine State’s most beautiful beaches and some of our most spectacular wildlife – animals like endangered Kemp’s ridley and threatened loggerhead sea turtles, whales, dolphins, giant blue fin tuna and rare shorebirds.

Currently, Florida has a moratorium on drilling our coasts, but that ban could be overturned in any legislative session – which almost happened just last year, putting our coasts and economy at devastating risk. It is now tragically clear that cleanup technologies have not kept pace with drilling techniques, and that endangers Florida’s coast and tourist economy, so I need your help to ensure that our coasts, communities and, especially, our wildlife remain protected from this toxic threat. Please contact your state senators and state representative now and speak out for permanent protection.

For the Wild Ones,

Laurie Macdonald Director,

Florida Program Defenders of Wildlife

Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Partly cloudy, with a high near 92. East southeast wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. East southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Saturday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly cloudy, with a high near 92. East southeast wind between 5 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76. East southeast wind around 10 mph.

Sunday: Isolated showers and thunderstorms after noon. Partly cloudy, with a high near 90. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. East wind between 5 and 10 mph.

The Coast Guard is now helping Brevard County clean it up. They consider the tar balls part of an oil spill that they are tasked with investigating. Whether it’s related to the Gulf disaster or not, the Coast Guard was out making sure the beaches are clean for the time being.”

http://www.wftv.com/countybycounty/24173421/detail.html

I was born in San Francisco, and I consider the City by the Bay the most location anywhere in the world. But I most admit that Florida’s pristine white sand beaches are superior to the ones in San Francisco.

I’ve been to Florida a couple of times, and I love walking on the beach picking up sea shells, admiring the bikini-clad ladies, and wading in the warm water.

It’s a shame that tar balls have started washing ashore in Brevard County, the words “tar ball” and “Florida beaches” should never be used in the same sentence.

The source of the tar balls in still unknown, but must likely you can place the blame on BP. Floridians and every other American who cares about the environment should consider boycotting BP. If any BP honcho comes to Florida he should be pelted with tar balls. Not really, I don’t condone violence, I’m just so outraged by BP’s carelessness.

Follow Robert Paul Reyes on Twitter: http://twitter.com/robertpaulreyes