Flamingo Commercial Services Plan Approved

This is from the NPS website concerning the rehabilitation of the Flamingo area within the park. Flamingo Commercial Services Plan Approved

Date: August 7, 2008 Contact: Linda Friar, 305-242-7714 Contact: Fred Herling, 305-242-7704 The National Park Service (NPS) has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Flamingo Commercial Services Plan (CSP) project. Southeast Regional Director David Vela approved the FONSI based on the environmental assessment (EA) recommended by Everglades National Park Superintendent Dan B. Kimball. With the environmental assessment and associated compliance completed, the park can now focus on the rebuilding effort described in the plan. Strong public involvement played an important role in developing the Flamingo CSP. The approved FONSI is based on Alternative D, identified as the Preferred Alternative, when it was released for public review and comment between April 14, and May 15, 2008. Superintendent Kimball is pleased with the outcome of the planning process and the cooperative spirit in which it was developed. "I’m eager to now focus on bringing the plan to reality since I have heard frequently from so many of you what a special place Flamingo is, how much you care about it, and how important it is to the community and those that care about Everglades National Park. I’m committed to the challenge of reestablishing Flamingo, once again, as a premier destination and ‘gateway’ to Florida Bay, the park’s backcountry and the Wilderness Waterway". Key features of the Final Plan The Final Plan provides for an enhanced mix of commercial services for land- and water-based accommodations, education and recreation activities. The Plan emphasizes eco-friendly development concepts and sustainable design features that take into account Flamingo’s location in a high hazard flood zone. The mix of overnight lodging and facilities described in Alternative D reflects these critical issues and the unique market conditions at Flamingo. The Plan calls for a single, elevated lodge/restaurant; elevated cottages; houseboats; eco-tents; additional services in the marina area; two backcountry chickees in Florida Bay; a new amphitheater; and new park and concessioner housing and maintenance facilities to efficiently support the operations. The Plan also includes the RV campground remaining at T Loop with electrical hookups added; a new boat transfer service at the Buttonwood Canal plug; a wider array of guided tours, programs and livery services; provides for a modest environmentally-friendly pool at the lodge; and continues access to Eco Pond. During peak season a Flamingo circulator shuttle would transport visitors to key destinations and a "Yellow Bike" system would provide overnight guests with enhanced access to the marina, lodging and other visitor services, while reducing the frequency of private vehicle use. The new site design will allow the Flamingo area to function more efficiently for visitors, the concessioner and the park, while enhancing pedestrian and bicycle access throughout the area with new trails and pathways. With redevelopment focused on a reduced building footprint, approximately 50 acres would be restored to natural conditions. In addition to enhancing long-popular recreational activities (boating, fishing, paddling, hiking, backcountry exploration, wildlife viewing and photography), Flamingo will become a more prominent educational venue for telling the important stories of Flamingo and the Everglades: Flamingo’s colorful natural and cultural history, the long-term goals and challenges for Everglades restoration, and offering learning opportunities regarding issues like climate change, sea level rise and sustainable development. The Plan’s financial analysis provides guidance on the numbers and sizes of these facilities, while emphasizing flexibility so that the park and future partners and concessioners can be provide needed facilities and services in a manner that offers a strong, viable business opportunity. For more information about the plan or to obtain a copy of the FONSI, visit the Everglades National Park website: www.nps.gov/ever and under "quicklinks" go to the Flamingo Commercial Serviced Plan, or contact Fred Herling, Project Manager at 305-242-7704 or e-mail us. -NPS-

Woman catches lake creature with 'legs'

A woman fishing in an Ocoee lake caught a fish-like creature with "legs". The woman's photos show what appears to be a fish with two front legs and no scales. The woman said she was "freaked out a little bit" after pulling the creature to a pier. I know you are thinking "Here we go again another invasive species" but actually this is a species native to the southeastern states. It`s actually a Lesser Siren which is species of aquatic salamander. And I have to admit that although I know quite a bit about what you will find in the waters of Florida this one was new to me. It looks a bit a like the invasive Snakehead but the Siren has front legs instead of fins and although the Snakehead can live for a while out of water it is not an amphibian. There was talk of the Snakehead being a major problem and having seen how voracious they are I am suprised they have not been as of yet. Maybe they ate all of the Sirens up and that`s why I never saw one yet.

The Fox Guarding The Henhouse

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The U.S Environmental Protection Agency has turned a "blind eye" to Florida's Everglades cleanup efforts, while the state is violating its own commitment to restore the vast ecosystem, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.
I always wondered how the EPA was going to be able to meet it`s own cleanup deadline. But I guess they never really knew either because they kept pushing it back. This is interesting maybe I can do the same thing with my taxes, paying my bills, or just about anything else. But what can they do anyway the real problem is agricultural runoff from the north that makes its way southward as it flows through the river of grass and other disruptions in the sheetflow. Even the buyout of Big Sugar wont cure everything and I dont think the other land owners will be as willing to sell out. The idea of filter marshes is a good one but it still is just a band aid on the real problem. And the new reservoirs being built seems like history repeating itself all over again. Take this quote "30 million tons of earth will be dug from flat land and surrounded by a 26-foot high, 21-mile long levee, making it larger than any other reservoir not connected to a natural source, according to state officials". To me that means 30 million tons of rock and soil thats going to be used for construction projects, which is one of the ways those involved stand to make a fortune. And with an area that large being obliterated or at least changed forever means loss of habitat for the wildlife already in peril.

I didn`t like that Ficus Hedge anyway

Here`s the newest invasive to make the rounds, Singhiella simplex better known as the fig whitefly or should I say not known at all. Oh I can see it now first we release some foreign bug to control it, then something else to keep the solution to the original problem from decimating something else. Then we give up and move on to the newest and more exciting plague that can only be killed by.....cash, cold hard cash. And that reminds me, have I ranted about the Florida Citrus Canker Eradication Program yet ?.

Time to pick a new state tree ?

Unknown disease killing off Florida's sabal palms
So just a few hours ago I published a post about invasive species and then I find this. Florida`s state tree is being threatened by some kind of disease that has researchers stumped. Designated by the florida legislature as the state tree in 1953 these palms go back millions of years and have provided food and shelter for animals and humans alike. There are 3 sabals in my front yard but I`m not worried, if they die then I can just watch as melalueca and brazilian pepper take over. And that will make great habitat for iguanas, spider monkeys and roof rats.

Floridas illegal alien problem

I was driving down the street where I live here in south florida and counted 15 iguanas. All were in the same area on the grassy shoulder of the road like they are every morning. They come out in the morning to get sun and sometimes will return in the afternoon. The only problem is they are not native and they are everywhere. They will eat your flower beds up and leave a mess on your seawall. Why they only recently have been become out of control kind of surprises me. The problem with invasive non native species in south florida is that if you let it go it will thrive. Iguanas are not the only problem, right now in the everglades burmese pythons are abundant and big. Pythons are carnivores and will definitely throw things out of whack in the everglades which is why they are actively studying and erradicating them. The iguanas on the other hand although a definite problem will be harder to control because they are already everywhere and some people dont want to see them go. I have also heard about monitor lizards on the west coast by Naples and the list of invasives never ends. Theres Melaleuca, Australian Pine, Brazilian Pepper,Old World climbing fern, Japanese climbing fern, and Kudzu. As for non native fish we have Snakeheads, Walking Catfish, and Mayan Cichlids, and now the latest is the poisonous Lionfish in saltwater that has been spotted on the reefs. For mammals there`s Nutria, Feral Hogs, Roof Rats, Squirrel Monkeys and more. I can go on and on but I would still not even scratch the surface. There was even one case of Iguanas falling from the trees during a cold snap.
Considering man introduced most of these species I find it interesting that we actually took the steps neccesary so long ago to protect the wilderness areas we have left. But that being said letting your guard down for a second has and will prove disastrous.

Some of the best Everglades Books

Here are some of the best non fiction everglades books that I have found. Although there are many more these are my personal favorites. You can find most of these by using the Amazon link that I have on the right side of this page and it will take you straight to books pertaining to the everglades, from there you can refine the search. If some of these are not found on Amazon you can find them by doing a Google search or even Ebay. The first is A Dredgeman of Cape Sable. Its about dredging the Homestead canal that runs through the Everglades National Park as told by the one of the men that actually did it. The next is A Guide to the Wilderness Waterway of the Everglades National Park. The Wilderness Waterway is 99 mile canoe trail through the park from Everglades City on the west coast of Florida to Flamingo at the southern tip of Florida. It has maps as well as landmarks and advice on planning this journey. Anyone
attempting to try this should be aware of severity of this trek as there is no cellphone service for most of way, dry ground is limited and the park service chickees where you can pitch a tent need to be reserved. You will also need a backcountry permit and enough food and fresh drinking water as there is none to be found anywhere. Keeping with the canoeing and kayaking theme is Fishing the Everglades - A Complete Guide for the Small Boater this book was made with the non motorized craft in mind and gives great advice on where to fish and how to do it. Also covered are essentials you should bring and a lot of good information can be found in this book even for the non fisherman. At last check this book was out of print and sometimes expensive but I have found it selling on Ebay for no more than it originally cost. The next is Gladesman and its another classic, it is
about living in the park during the early 1900`s. Stories about poaching, smuggling and moonshiner`s are all in here as well as good pictures of how they lived. There have been places in the park I have been that I thought I was the first one there, not only will this book prove me wrong but there`s also pictures to prove it. The Everglades National Park has to be one of the few places that is actually becoming more wild. The park service has actually razed many dwellings and structures over the years to revert back to being wild. Which is why you will see pictures of cars back in places you cant even walk to anymore or houses and camps that used to be home to many people during the early years before and up to the creation of the park. Some structures can still be found but will not be there for long because they are not maintained. The next four books are all by Charlton
Tebeau and focus on human habitation in the park and the everglades in general and are all worth reading.The Story of the Chokoloskee Bay Country has information as told by Ted Smallwood an early settler of the town of Chokoloskee. And finally Orchids and other airplants of the Everglades National Park by Frank C. Craighead is very good especially if you have an interest in orchids but still a good read none the less. There is also a
trio of books by award winning author Peter Matthiessen that take place in the everglades and revolve around E.J. Watson a shady character and early settler around Chokoloskee. I also see that now he morphed the three books into on with extra material and characters called Shadow Country. These books are all novels and with Shadow Country bringing it all together at 912 pages I will have to check that one out.

Screw the Everglades Build a city and when it doesnt work out screw the taxpayers

This is a great article that shows exactly why you should not rush development. Shove it down the peoples throats tell them its good for them, make some shady deals. Use tax money to furnish it and tell them its going to be an economic explosion for the area. Then when it all goes wrong make them pay for it again, and when they demand to trim the fat cut services everyone needs. Or tell them we need to increase the taxes to pay for it all. Oh and in the middle of all it all give yourself a raise because after all how can you afford to get by any more on what the people pay you ?. It`s a good thing you made a lot of lucrative side deals along the way otherwise you would have to live like the rest of us on a hope and a prayer.

Virtual Treasure Trove

If you are interested in the history of the Everglades I highly recommend the Everglades Digital Library . Use the search or the browse features and keep going through them. The old photo`s are amazing. There are also some books I can recommend and will in a later post but for now you can use the Amazon search here and it will take you straight to most of them. I do have a couple of out of print books that are great and I will scan the covers and post them as well.

Slow down and enjoy the scenery

Here is something else you will be glad you know. If you are entering the Park notice those speed limit signs ?, the rangers are serious. If you speed and get pulled over you will be asked whether or not you have ever been given a warning for speeding in a national park. And if you have you will get a ticket and I guarantee if you are going over the speed limit it almost a sure bet you will be pulled over. Usually they are mobile and not parked on the side of the road but there are plenty of places to hide. Dont get me wrong if something were to happen to you they would be the only one that could help you . But getting a ticket on the way in tends to ruin the day and getting one on the way out will ruin whats left of the day.

Planning an Everglades Trip

I just was searching the web and struck me that many people are not aware of the many facets of "The Everglades". There are many different regions of the everglades from Homestead in South Miami Dade, to Naples on the west coast, to Lake Okeechobee and beyond. The term everglades is a broad one and to not understand the differences could mean a disappointing trip to say the least.
When I first started exploring the glades I wanted to see everything and that took me to a lot of different places some of which I liked more than others. That gave me a better idea of what I wanted to pursue and then I started concentrating on those areas. This was no problem for me because I am close by and have time to search. For me the mangrove swamps are the areas of the everglades that I like best and they fit in well with my hobbies. Now if you are a hiker this is not the place for you (at least for hiking) because there is almost no hard ground, a canoe or kayak is the only way. On the other hand The Big Cypress National Widlife Refuge is exactly the place for you. Here`s where it gets interesting, if you like to fish almost anywhere in the everglades is good but what you catch and the way you do it will vary. Fly fishing is my passion as is canoeing/kayaking and saltwater fly fishing is the majority of the fishing that I do. After a while I put it all together and saltwater backcountry kayak/canoe fly fishing is me and no place fits the bill more than the everglades. People that know me always ask "Where can I see an alligator?" or "Where can I go on an airboat ride ?". Although I see more alligators and crocodiles where I go telling anybody to go there would probably be a big let down for them. Most of those people are not going to get into canoe or kayak and paddle 20 miles through mangrove tunnels, spiders, mosquitos, just to see them and without knowing where they are going they will probably never make it back. So depending on what you are expecting to see and do you have to match it to the best place. I cant tell you how many people I have seen on the main park road in Everglades National Park that dont know where to go or what to do, and most of them are from Europe and put alot of time and money for their vacation. You have to get off the road and into the glades thats the only way. I catch and release more fish than the guy fishing from shore for food, I see more birds canoeing than the guy from Canada on a birding vacation to Mzarek Pond can even imagine and its all because I get off the road. You probably heard this before but the everglades is not like Yellowstone it is flat and sometimes you can see for miles. But take a boardwalk trek into mahogany hammock and you will see the largest mahogany tree in the western hemisphere, but from the main park road you cant even make it out. Its the same thing for me when I go to the northeastern states and dont know where to fish for striped bass or trout. Do your homework and I hope that you find what you are looking for.

Florida Boat Registration fees increased

Boat registration fees increase, with the additional $10 million going to pay for 66 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission law enforcement officers whose jobs would have been eliminated because of FWC budget cuts, plus some other FWC expenses. The cost to register a boat 16-25 feet increases to $28.75 from $18.50. Boats 26-39 feet cost $78.25, up from $50.50. Boats that do not have to be registered include any non-motor-powered vessel less than 16 feet in length, i.e. a sailboat, or a non-motor-powered canoe, kayak, racing shell or rowing scull of any length. I guess it wont be long before non motorized craft will have to register as well. First the gas increased then the launch ramp fees now the registration, enjoying the outdoors is getting expensive. And you can bet that the citations issued to boaters, fisherman, and outdoorsman will be on the rise as the budget cuts in Florida take there toll.

More on Big Sugar Buyout

Everglades done taking its lumps — U.S. Sugar selling to Florida

by Barbara Murray, July 17th, 2008, 7:00 am

If you rebuild it they will come

Looks like there finally may be plans to rebuild an eco friendly village at Flamingo. This means air conditioned rooms to stay at besides camping. Anyone who has ever been to Flamingo after dark in the warmer months knows how much this means.

Everglades Snail Kites are disappearing

How ironic that what was killing off the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow is what`s needed to save the Everglades Snail Kite. Because of severe drought conditions in the prime habitat of the Snail Kite the food on which it is named for is disappearing as well. But I would not put the blame squarely on the drought rather those who have caused it to begin with. Sadly the Everglades restoration may not come quick enough for the bird which bears it`s name.

Too much sugar ?

Possible Flaws in State Plan to Rescue the Everglades

By DAMIEN CAVE

Published: July 2, 2008

Skeptics of Florida’s proposed purchase of a large swath of the Everglades fear the oft-fertilized farmland could take at least a decade and billions of dollars to rehabilitate.

Florida Panther Deaths

I was crossing Alligator Alley recently and noticed that along State Road 29 south of I75 all the way to Tamiami Trail there were new sections of fence being erected. Clearly this was to keep wildlife off of the roadway especially the Florida Panther. The only problem was that there were so many gaps of unfinished sections of fencing. So if anything entered the roadway it would have to go back the same way or find a new gap which would mean basically being trapped on the road. Yeah there is a grassy shoulder but haven`t we all seen cats or squirrels that without warning dart across the road?. Anyway I decided to see what the roadkill statistics are. Hopefully the fence when completed will dramatically decrease the deaths, here is the link to the statistics