Misc

Florida counties support “balanced” plan for Apalachicola River dredging

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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.

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The closure Apalachicola Bay oyster harvesting caused mourning for a lost community identity

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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

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Cabinet approves search for DEP secretary and first oyster leases near Pensacola

1 Comment / Misc /

By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM The Florida Cabinet will conduct a nationwide search for the Department of Environmental Protection secretary following the Senate’s refusal to confirm appointments during the 2015 legislative session. Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet on Tuesday voted to reappoin DEP Secretary Jon Steverson and Rick Swearingen as director of the Florida Department

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Court official in FL v. GA water case issues confidentiality order

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By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAPOLITICS.COM An official appointed by the U.S. Supreme Court to oversee a lawsuit filed by Florida against Georgia over water use on Monday issued an order providing for confidential talks among the states. Ralph I. Lancaster, a Maine attorney who’s special master in the case, in a conference call also called the

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Graham irks environmentalists with vote for Keystone XL pipeline

5 Comments / Energy, Misc /

By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS After taking office this week, “The North Florida Way” for U. S. Rep. Gwen Graham on Friday meant joining with Republicans on Friday in support of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. Graham, D-Tallahassee, unseated Republican Rep. Steve Southerland of Panama City in November. She said in her campaign she would bring the “North Florida

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Vinyard announces he’s leaving DEP, interim replacement named

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By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. told Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday that he is leaving the department on Dec. 1. Vinyard, who has lived in Tallahassee while commuting to his Jacksonville home on weekends since being appointed in 2011, was expected to leave following Scott’s re-election

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Supreme Court appoints special master in GA v. FL water dispute

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The U. S. Supreme Court has appointed Maine lawyer Robert I. Lancaster to oversee a water dispute between Florida and Georgia. The Supreme Court earlier this month gave Florida permission to sue Georgia over water from the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system. Florida Gov. Rick Scott blames Georgia for lack of freshwater flow that harms Apalachicola Bay

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Scott, conservation lands amendment win in Florida election

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By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM A Florida election with environmental overtones saw Gov. Rick Scott re-elected Tuesday over Democrat Charlie Crist and a state constitutional amendment for conservation passing by a wide margin. Scott, who won election in 2010 with tea party backing and vetoed conservation lands spending in his first year of office, led by

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With Apalachicola Bay oysters continuing to suffer, state further tightens harvesting

1 Comment / Misc, Water, Wildlife /

By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM APALACHICOLA — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is sharply reducing the number of oysters that can be taken from Apalachicola Bay because the oyster population there remains low. And some seafood workers are warning that oysters soon could be wiped out in a key harvesting area. State officials in

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