Larry Childers, chief of the Communications and Information Division, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, responded after deadline to comments by Mitch Reid of the Alabama Rivers Alliance: What is Alabama’s role in the lawsuit filed in the Supreme Court Oct. 1, 2013 by Florida against Georgia to request a water-sharing plan? CHILDERS: Alabama […]
Alabama responds to River Alliance comments Read More »
State officials are recommending denial of a requested water use permit for a cattle ranch in Marion County whose application in 2011 prompted a political campaign on behalf of Florida’s springs. The St. Johns River Water Management District staff says the application by Sleepy Creek Lands for 1.12 million in new pumping, combined with exiting
District staff urges denial of controversial ranch water request Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM EUFAULA, Ala. — The Chattahoochee River is a single stream flowing towards Florida. But there were two very different activities going on this week that showed the contrasting ways in which people and institutions can deal with a water issue. Along the banks of Lake Eufaula, created by a dam across
One river system — with varying efforts to save it Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM Several Florida organizations on Tuesday sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi asking her to withdraw from a challenge to a Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan. Bondi came under fire in February after Florida joined 20 other states in filing a legal brief supporting an appeal filed by the American Farm
Groups want Florida out of Chesapeake Bay water challenge Read More »
By BRUCE RITCHIE FLORIDAENVIRONMENTS.COM I wrote a piece on the status of major environmental bills at the midpoint in the legislative session on April 4. But I didn’t get around to posting it. And that’s OK, because most of it had changed just seven days later. 1. SPRINGS LEGISLATION Sen. Charlie Dean said on April
Bills are dying — is springs legislation next? Read More »
By Bruce Ritchie FloridaEnvironments.com Cynthia Barnett, author of “Mirage” and “Blue Revolution”, is coming to Tallahassee on Feb. 28 to give a presentation on developing a water ethic. When she said she wanted me to help let people know, I couldn’t refuse. She has been my friend for more than 24 years and she introduced
Author, friend who promotes ‘water ethic’ to speak in Tallahassee Read More »
By Bruce Ritchie Floridaenvironments.com I didn’t see Connie Bersok at the Tallahassee airport art reception last April, but she sure saw me. And she made a beeline out of there. I know only because she told Florida Department of Environmental Protection investigators that during a recorded interview under oath on June 1. Bersok is a
Is saying hi to a reporter taboo for government employees? Read More »
Two Florida photographers, John Moran and Alan Youngblood, say they have seen the harm being done to Florida’s springs — and it is real. The rest of us can’t wait any longer to see for ourselves and decide whether to speak out. Moran, a former Gainesville Sun photographer, spoke on June 23 at a workshop
See for yourself what’s happening to Florida springs — now Read More »
There was another Supreme Court ruling this week that was important to a few million people, if not the world. Besides deciding on the Affordable Care Act, the Supreme Court announced Monday it was not taking up an appeals court decision on the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system, according to The Florida Current. Alabama, Florida and Georgia
Supreme Court decision affects Apalachicola River and Gulf of Mexico Read More »
BY BRUCE RITCHIE There’s new opposition to bills that would repeal a state septic tank inspection requirement: A Tallahassee official told senators this week that the bill could make it more difficult to restore Wakulla Springs. The Legislature in 2010 adopted a statewide septic tank inspection requirement that supporters said would protect springs and groundwater.
Septic tanks bill will hurt Wakulla Springs, Tallahassee official says Read More »
