Environment
December 13, 2023
EcoSummit an enduring success
I hope you had the opportunity to attend the 2023 EcoSummit in Sarasota this past week. In case you missed it, I wanted to share some of the excellent presentations that were given and provide you wi…
November 7, 2023
More than $3.5 million approved for manatees, red tide research
WASHINGTON – Federal funding is coming to Florida to support two environmental initiatives critical to the state – the protection of manatees and harmful algal bloom research.
A press release from C…
October 31, 2023
Nesting News
Turtle nests laid: 531 (Record: 544 in 2019)
False crawls: 490 (Record: 831 in 2010)
Hatched nests: 466 (Previous record: 447 in 2018)
Hatchlings: 37,081 (Previous record: 35,788 in 2018)
S…
October 25, 2023
Volunteers replace sea oats
HOLMES BEACH – More than 40 volunteers planted 1,000 sea oats on Saturday, replacing those that were lost during Hurricane Idalia’s high tides.
Sea oats were lost when Anna Maria Island was hit with…
October 18, 2023
First wastewater pond closed at Piney Point
PALMETTO – The environmentally unstable Piney Point phosphate processing site is moving towards closure with the completion of work on the first of four wastewater collection ponds, according to the…
October 10, 2023
County commissioners vote to reduce wetland buffers
BRADENTON – Manatee County commissioners reduced wetland buffers in a 5-1 vote on Oct. 5, defaulting to the less restrictive state of Florida minimums from more restrictive county standards.
Buffers…
October 3, 2023
County commissioners to vote on wetland buffers
On Sept. 26, Suncoast Waterkeeper hosted a panel discussion of the “Value of Wetlands” that was attended by over 150 concerned citizens. During the discussion, scientists including Tampa Bay Estuary…
October 3, 2023
Coast Guard suspends investigation into oil spill
PALMETTO – Following testing of multiple potential sources, and with no responsible party identified, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its investigation on Sept. 26 into the source of an oil spill at S…
September 19, 2023
Investigation continues into SeaPort Manatee oil spill
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Hurricane Idalia’s storm surge eroded the Island’s renourished beaches, but the full extent of the damage and when it will be repaired is not yet known.
“It could be months befor…
September 12, 2023
Oil spill investigation, cleanup continues at SeaPort Manatee
PALMETTO – The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) continues to investigate the source of an Aug. 31 oil spill at SeaPort Manatee.
As of Sept. 8, the Coast Guard reported about 19,000 gallons of an oil/water mi…













