Tampa Bay Sierra Club, Suncoast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society, Tampa Audubon
Host: Tampa Audubon
July 17
Socializing and dinner: 6:00 pm
Announcements: 7:00 pm
Program: 7:30 pm
Location: Tampa Garden Club, Bay Shore Blvd., Tampa
Bring a dish to share.
Program:Conservation of the Florida Everglades
Speaker: Paul Gray, Ph.D.
Science Coordinator, Audubon Florida
- Florida Everglades Restoration Program
Dr. Gray will outline the bird, land, and water management issues connected with restoration of the Florida Everglades including the Kissimmee River and Lake Okeechobee. He will describe the work of federal and state agencies, and conservation organizations including Audubon Florida working in concert with the US Army Corps of Engineers and South Florida Water Management District. We will hear where we are and what the future holds for our nation's largest wetland system.
A Crash Course in Spiders and Common Spiders of the Area
Wednesday, August 14
Socialize: 6:45 pm
Program: 7:00 pm
Location: Online
Shown: Red widow spider, native to Florida scrub habitats
Speaker: Madison Heisley
Bio: Madison is a graduate student at the University of Florida. She is a spider biologist at the Taylor Lab at the university. The lab mostly focuses on spider behavioral research. She has worked with spiders for over six years and assists with teaching the yearly Spider Biology course at the University. She also does many outreach events that help educate the general public or school groups about spiders and insects.
Dr. James Rogers talk on PFAS made an impression. Nancy Stevens, our Conservation Chair, has summarized that talk to all of us, and has given us some links to investigate further.
In June, James E. Rogers, Ph.D., Director, Product Safety Research and Testing at Consumer Reports, gave a presentation on PFAS, also known as Forever Chemicals, because they do not break down naturally in the environment.
You can get exposed to PFAS from food packaging, clothing, cosmetics, and water-resistant and nonstick coatings in products such as carpets and pans. PFAS can enter the environment from these sources and from fire-fighting foam used in airports and military bases, potentially contaminating the water supply, and livestock and food raised nearby.
The health risks of PFAS include Increased cholesterol level, changes in liver enzymes, increased risk of hypertension or pre-eclampsia in pregnant women, decreased infant birth weights and increased risk of kidney or testicular cancer.
PFAS includes over 10,000 different chemicals. Currently, only 6 are regulated by the EPA in tap water, and only about 40 are measured by available test labs. How do you reduce your exposure to PFAS? Dr Rogers suggests:
Search for retailers that have pledged to reduce/remove PFAS in their products,
Don’t assume products with environmentally-friendly claims are PFAS-free,
Look for PFAS-free labels in products like frying pans,
Transfer fast food out of its packaging when you can
Consumer Reports has done extensive research on PFAS in water supplies and bottled water. More information can be found at:
Enjoy the trails and discover the park's exercise opportunities.
Learn about this park and its relation to Pinellas county water. We are meeting at 8am to avoid the heat. See the lakes, and plants on the trail. This park has a large variety of activities and plants and animals.
Registration is required for all outings. Unless otherwise noted, outings are free though there may be site entry fees. Liability waivers are required, and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian. No pets.
ICO
Volunteer
This year we are working with the 5th. grade students at Academy Prep of Tampa, St Pete, Lakeland, Leto, and Riverview High Schools, in addition to the Young Men's Leadership Corp from Plant and Berkley High Schools.
If you are interested in becoming a leader or volunteering, please contact one of the leaders.
The Conservation Committee meets the 2nd Monday of every month at 6:30, typically by Google Meet. If you would like to receive meeting notices and agendas, please contactNancy Stevens.
LAND USE: Dover Energy Industrial Park: There are 2 proposals to change the Future Land Use definition of this land, which is defined to support energy production, to promote industrial and residential development before the energy production is built. This 1745 acres EIP includes 9.5 acres off Sydney Mine Sludge Ponds Superfund Site, which is still being monitored by the EPA for toxic chemicals to make sure nothing goes into sensitive areas. Right now, use of that land is restricted. CPA 23-15 – makes changes to the Future Land Use so that industrial development can be completed before the energy source is built. This went to BOCC in June. CPA 24-06 – makes changes to allow Residential Development , up to 4 per acre, in the portion of the property southwest of the railroad tracks. This will go to BOCC on Aug. 8.
WATER: SIX: Members of the water warriors got a tour of the David L Tippen Water Treatment Plant in March, and May 21. On the May visit we even got a tour of an empty underground water storage take – see the picture. We sent the City Staff questions we have about SIX, which is new proposed treatment for the plant and the City replied with detailed answers. For an overview of SIX, see: WNMF interview:https://www.wmnf.org/treating-tampa-bays-forever-chemicals-in-our-drinking-water/
Underground in the Clearwell, used for water storage, temporarily empty for repairs. John Ring from City of Tampa; Nancy Stevens, Rocky Milburn, Gary Gibbons from TB Sierra Club; Rory Jones and Sarah Burns from City of Tampa.
Environmental Equity
AIR and ENERGY - Spearheaded by the Conservation Committee Hillsborough Affordable Energy Coalition: Sierra Club Tampa Bay Group just signed on as an official member of the Hillsborough Affordable Energy Coalition (HAEC), which “aims to protect Tampa Bay communities from the escalating costs of electric utility bills and the climate and environmental impacts of continued burning of fossil fuels and act to alleviate the energy burden impacting our most vulnerable communities.”
TECO Rate Hikes: On June 13, we protested a proposed TECO rate hike. Sierra Club members joined dozens of Alliance members from Food and Water Watch, LULAC, Florida Rising and others, to attend a rally and speak to the Public Service Commission about our objections to the increase. This PSC meeting was moved here from Tallahassee due to advocacy by HAEC to have the Hillsborough County Commission send a letter to request the hearing be held here. Over 40 people spoke at the hearing and attended the rally, which was spearheaded by Walter Smith, Sierra Club Beyond Coal organizer.
Florida Chapter
Position Paper on Constitution Amendment 2
---- Proposed Right to Hunt and Fish
The principal and right to hunt and fish and has been the law of Florida (Section 379.104 F.S.), for generations. Florida law already recognizes that hunting and fishing and the taking of game are part of Florida’s cultural heritage and traditions; albeit, in concert with the conservation and protection of those species and their habitats through science-based, hunting and fishing regulations promulgated and updated as needed on an annual basis by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The proposed amendment includes two ill-conceived elements that conflict with FWC’s constitutional and statutorily mandated role to manage hunting and fishing and threatens the conservation of Florida’s fish and wildlife and their habitats.
First, it would dictate that hunting and fishing are the preferred ways of managing fish and wildlife. That is in total conflict with a hundred years of continually developing fish and wildlife science guiding the management of fish and wildlife and their aquatic and terrestrial habitats. If adopted, it could overturn and threaten sustainably managing and conserving fish and wildlife and their habitats in Florida. The amendment designates hunting as a preferred method of managing wildlife and appears to open hunting on city parks, county parks, State Parks, and wildlife sanctuaries. A constitutional amendment granting of the public right to hunt, appears to allow hunters to trespass on private property to exercise their constitutional right to hunt.
Second, the wording of the proposed amendment allowing “all traditional methods” of fishing and hunting to be used would open the door to allowing so-called traditional methods of taking game and fish that have long been banned in Florida as inhumane and “unfair sport”. Such formerly traditional methods included hunting manatees and other marine mammals with harpoons, hunting bears with dogs, and other now-banned methods of taking game. Traditional methods of taking fish, included the use of near-shore seine nets, now banned by Florida’s constitution because of their devastating impacts on benthic aquatic communities in Florida’s near-shore marine environment.
While not all the “formerly-allowed traditional methods” are listed here, the ambiguous wording of the proposed amendment could be the basis for opening the door for potential inhumane abuse of animals as well as the potential extirpation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in Florida.
For these reasons, the Florida Chapter of the Sierra Club is opposed to the ill-conceived and ambiguously worded proposed Right to Fish and Hunt constitutional amendment.
After review, analysis and discussion, the Chapter Conservation Committee unanimously voted to oppose the proposed Right to Hunt and Fish constitutional amendment (Amendment 2). The Committee agreed on the long-standing tradition of all Floridians being permitted to hunt and fish sustainably, that is compatible with the conservation and protection of Florida’s fish and wildlife and their habitats.
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Member Support: 415-977-5653
Needed Now
Membership Chair - See introductory section for position needs. Contact Rocky Milburn.
Graphic designer - will help create handouts for tabling events and posters. Contact Shirley Denton.
Social media - will assist our Social Media coordinator and may do things such as posting to Instagram, LinkedIn, MeetUp, Facebook. Contact Shirley Denton.
Outings leaders - will be trained to lead outings. This includes a 2-year certification (free) in basic first aid. Contact Ed Shindle.
ICO leaders will be trained to lead ICO trips. This includes a 2-year certification (free) in basic first aid. Contact Rocky Milburn.
Tabling volunteers. No experience required. Contact Emilie Joyce.
