ALBANY, Georgia — Attendees at a rivers conference say they are cooperating over water use now that litigation among Alabama, Florida and Georgia has ended. And many of those attendees said the cooperation never stopped — but it was given a boost in the absence of lawsuits. “I happen to believe that [cooperation] is at […]
After litigation — cooperation? Read More »
BRISTOL, Florida — The six Florida counties along the Apalachicola River say they support shipping on the waterway, but most oppose returning to “full scale” river dredging. The counties have adopted resolutions since September, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers launched a dredging analysis after receiving $3 million from Congress in 2024 for the work.
Florida counties support “balanced” plan for Apalachicola River dredging Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE Floridaenvironments.com ST. TERESA, Fla. — Florida State University’s Betsy Mansfield said that while researching the social effects of the loss of oyster harvesting in Apalachicola Bay she discovered a deep sadness and mourning that fishery closure brought to local residents. Mansfield conducted in-depth interviews with 28 area residents after Florida closed the
A U. S. Army Corps of Engineers proposal released Wednesday would provide about 15 percent less water from the Chattahoochee River for Georgia cities than the state requested in 2013 but substantially more water than they are using now. The federal agency says the effect on Apalachicola Bay, where oysters populations have been suffering, would be
Corps of Engineers would give Georgia more water but less than requested Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM The strong El Nino now underway is expected to bring heavy rains to the southeast in the upcoming winter but some drier weeks until then, Florida state climatologist David Zierden said Tuesday. El Nino refers to a climate pattern associated with high air pressure in the western Pacific Ocean and low
Strong El Nino could bring winter rains to southeast Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM M. C. Davis, a Walton County developer who became a world-renowned conservationist, died on July 11 after a long bout with lung cancer. He was 70. Davis purchased 50,000 acres in South Walton County to create a massive environmental restoration project he called Nokuse Plantation (pronounced No-GO-see). He also built the
E. O. Wilson says death of M. C. Davis a “huge loss” for conservation Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM MIDWAY — The Northwest Florida Water Management District is in line to receive more than $10 million in springs protection funding from the state budget and could get as much as $21.5 million, the district’s governing board was told Thursday. The eight possible springs projects include $6.4 million for 1,077 acres
Northwest Florida could get $21 million for springs protection Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTS.COM A court official has denied a motion by Georgia to dismiss a U. S. Supreme Court lawsuit by Florida seeking to cap Georgia’s water use. Florida in 2013 asked the Supreme Court to intervene following the crash of the oyster population in Apalachicola Bay. Alabama, Florida and Georgia have battled
Supreme Court official denies Georgia’s motion to dismiss case Read More »
Florida Gov. Rick Scott met Tuesday with Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal as part of a continuing round of private meetings to discuss water issues. Alabama, Florida and Georgia have been fighting in court over water since 1990. In 2013, Florida asked the U. S. Supreme Court to cap Georgia’s water use at 1992 levels to protect water
Gov. Rick Scott, Georgia Gov. Deal meet privately on water dispute Read More »
EASTPOINT — After a morning spent working with seafood harvesters on Apalachicola Bay, U. S. Rep. Gwen Graham said Tuesday she is introducing legislation to require federal reservoir managers to consider the bay’s freshwater needs. Alabama, Florida and Georgia have been battling in federal court for 25 years over water from the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers,
Graham legislation would require feds to consider Apalachicola Bay water needs Read More »
