From the Department of Environmental Protection:
tallahassee – In order to continue to provide high quality visitor services and affordable nature-based recreation, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida Park Service will implement a modest fee increase beginning Wednesday, July 1, 2009, in conjunction with the state’s fiscal calendar.
“Florida’s award-winning state parks provide inexpensive, high [...]
Do you want to venture into unfamiliar territory Saturday to chance seeing something new? Then try Florida’s wildlife management areas, which are underexplored troves of trail-laced waterways, woods, marshes and scrub.
Besides footpaths, they have overlooks, where visitors can glimpse wildlife; and there are boat launches, so people can paddle the many creeks, rivers and lakes [...]
A loggerhead sea turtle survived a life-threatening situation, thanks to the quick work of officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). On Monday, May 25, Lt. Rob Laubenberger and Officer Dale Twist responded to a call of a sea turtle trapped in an intake pump at the Florida Power and Light [...]
By Patricia Behnke
Watch the coral reefs for effects of climate change
Images of red and purple coral with darting blue and orange fish dance in my imagination when I think of Florida’s coral reefs. My dreams turn to nightmares, however, when I study the forecasts for the precious and important habitat.
“The coral reefs are the sentinel [...]
By Bob Wattendorf, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
We Floridians take our fishing seriously. The proof lies in the actions anglers take to ensure a bright fishing future. Between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, 695 active Florida anglers took a pledge to introduce fishing each year to at least one person who had not [...]
FWC - The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced the successful launch of the new gopher tortoise permitting system. The new system went online in late April, and by the end of May, the FWC had issued more than 100 permits using the paperless system.
“We made several permit types available online in [...]
TALLAHASSEE — Florida has marked another milestone in its comprehensive strategy to address waterbody restorations around the state. Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Michael W. Sole has signed three orders identifying waterbodies for water quality improvement goals. The waters identified for restoration include waters in the Group 5, Group 1, and Group 2 [...]
EVERGLADES AND FRANCIS S. TAYLOR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA – Governor Charlie Crist toured the Florida Everglades with United States Senator Bill Nelson and United States Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on May 28 to discuss Florida’s natural resources. Governor Crist highlighted Florida’s commitment to the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), the 50/50 state [...]
NAPLES – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is partnering with Collier County and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to complete a hydrologic project on Shell Island Road in order to restore tidal flushing in the Research Reserve’s mangrove forest.
Shell Island Road is located about 2.5 miles [...]
Officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) rescued a distressed juvenile bald eagle from Ten Mile Creek Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Center in St. Lucie County in late April.
On April 30, FWC Lt. Doug Rogerson and Officer Kyle Patterson went to the reservoir, which is closed to the public, after receiving a [...]