Hurricane Ian left a wake of debris in a wide swath of waterways across the state. One particularly hard-hit area on the Suncoast was Lemon Bay at the southern end of the watershed monitored by Suncoast Waterkeeper. That’s why board members and volunteers from Suncoast Waterkeeper teamed up with Suncoast Aqua Ventures, Sarasota Bay Watch, Lemon Bay Conservancy and the Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Program on Dec. 11 to conduct a waterway cleanup in the canals of Ainger Creek, a major tributary of Lemon Bay. Holiday Estates, one of the many communities devastated by the storm, was built on a series of these canals that drain into Lemon Bay.
“We love the volunteers that supported this community and our local waters. Together we made a real difference,” said Abbey Tyrna, executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper and the organizer of the event. “While we didn’t collect all the debris, our efforts to remove debris from our waterways was a positive one.”
I was particularly struck by the spirit of determination and camaraderie displayed by community members that day as I explored the area. Five weeks after the storm tore through their neighborhood, energy and determination were on full display as boats drug debris, including whole roofs, to ramps where others cut the debris into manageable pieces and placed it on massive piles. The immense amount of debris left from Ian throughout southwest Florida has been the subject of national headlines. There are many areas of the state where debris removal might take years, a poignant reminder why the mission of Suncoast Waterkeeper is so urgent. But from the canals of Ainger Creek, volunteers from Suncoast Waterkeeper and partners were able to help remove over 50 cubic yards of debris that day with kayaks and jon boats. Whatever could not be picked up was geotagged and will be sent to Charlotte County government for future removal by professionals.
“The number of people who showed up to help (over 50) touched our hearts. Hurricane Ian has taken so much from this community. It is wonderful to know that people care,” said Carol Powell, president of Holiday Estates Corporation.
If you would like to join in the effort to keep Suncoast waters sustainable for this and future generations, you can join Suncoast Waterkeeper, donate and have your contribution matched by the Louis and Gloria Flanzer Philanthropic Trust. Watch a video of the cleanup online.
Brunch for a cause with Suncoast Waterkeeper at the group’s annual Brunch for the Bay fundraiser.
This year’s brunch will be held at the Bradenton Yacht Club on Saturday, Oct. 15 from noon to 3 p.m. Monies raised from the event will go to help fund Suncoast Waterkeeper’s (SCWK) mission to protect and restore the Florida Suncoast’s waterways through enforcement, fieldwork, advocacy and environmental education.
The group uses the funds raised to advance water quality enforcement actions and campaigns like their Eyes on the Suncoast and Sick of Sewage campaigns. SCWK has been effective in educating the public about man-made pollutants (stormwater and sewage) and enforcement with legal challenges to municipalities on Sarasota Bay and surrounding waters. Their investigation of Sarasota County’s sewage system revealed a shocking pattern of longstanding, systematic infrastructure failures and disregard for public health and water quality.
To consolidate its sewage system, the county had decommissioned two tertiary, or advanced wastewater treatment (AWT) plants, to better centralize their operations. However, the remaining plants that Sarasota County leaders increasingly relied upon employed only secondary treatment, leaving billions of gallons of highly nitrogenated wastewater as a byproduct.
At the same time, demand for the reclaimed irrigation water from the county was disappearing as developers, in managing nitrogen in their stormwater runoff, turned to less polluted options, such as well water or highly treated reclaimed water from the city of Sarasota.
Most recently, SCWK filed a successful challenge requiring the city of Bradenton to fix its wastewater system to prevent the continued release of millions of gallons of partially treated wastewater to the Manatee River.
Reports from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program point to the section of Sarasota Bay covered by the Sarasota action as one bright spot in an otherwise troubled bay.
You can help support the group’s efforts and learn about their ongoing campaigns in the Suncoast region by attending the fundraising event. This year SCWK is celebrating 50 years of the Clean Water Act by looking back at the group’s successes under the law and looking ahead at some immediate challenges.
The Clean Water Act allows Suncoast Waterkeeper’s members to bring citizens suits against polluters which benefits all of the citizens and businesses that depend on a healthy bay.
At the event, participants will meet the group’s new Executive Director, Abbey Tyrna. Justin Bloom, founder of Suncoast Waterkeeper, will discuss the importance of these cases in restoring the bay and SCWK’s plans to continue to advocate for the enforcement of pollution laws.
Also speaking at the event is Ph.D. candidate Nick Castillo, representing the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust. His talk is entitled, “Does the Clean Water Act protect you from prescription drugs?” Castillo will educate participants on how prescription drugs make their way into Florida waters and eventually into the fish many of us eat.
There has been a lot of news about plastics in our water recently, but we’re just starting to see coverage about the threat of the so-called “forever chemicals,” like PFAS and PFOS. University of Florida Assistant Professor Dr. John Bowden will be in attendance to discuss his research on the subject. Bowden was recently hired by the Holmes Beach Clean Water Ad-hoc Committee and tested tap water on Anna Maria Island that is served by the Manatee County water utility. Meetings are open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend and hear what was discovered in your drinking water and what it might mean for your health.
Anglers can learn how the group’s efforts are supporting an environment conducive to healthy fisheries, now and for future generations.
Please purchase your tickets today for the annual Brunch for the Bay by visiting the SCWK website.
The Bradenton Yacht Club is located at 4307 13th St. W. on Snead Island.
MANATEE COUNTY – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has issued a warning letter regarding the mangrove trimming conducted earlier this year along the Aqua development shoreline.
FDEP Southwest District Director Kelley Boatwright issued the warning letter to Medallion Home representative Rob Bosarge on Aug. 31. Aqua developer and Medallion Home CEO and president Carlos Beruff was among those who also received a copy of Boatwright’s letter.
Featuring numerous single-family and multi-family structures, the Aqua development, formerly known as Long Bar Pointe, is currently under construction in unincorporated Manatee County, between El Conquistador Parkway and Sarasota Bay. According to the May 3 FDEP inspection report, Coastline Tree Services conducted the mangrove trimming and debris removal activities.
The mangrove trimming that took place earlier this year creates a better view of Sarasota Bay for those who will occupy Aqua’s multi-family structures. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Boatwright’s letter references the inspection that took place on June 17 as part of an investigation prompted by three complaints FDEP received from concerned citizens.
“The Florida Department of Environmental Protection conducted a compliance inspection at your site on June 17. During this inspection, possible violations of chapters 403 and 373, Florida Statutes, and chapters 62-330, Florida Administrative Code, were observed. During the inspection, department personnel noted the following:
All trimmings over 3 feet long or over 3 inches in diameter were not properly removed and disposed of offsite.
Remaining trimmings were not evenly distributed.
A portion of mangroves appeared to be reduced more than 25% of foliage annually.
Adequate pre and post photo documentation of the trimming event was not provided.
A visit to the Aqua shoreline in mid-August revealed these large mangrove remains were left behind. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
“On July 12, department personnel notified you that potential violations existed at the site and you were requested to take corrective actions within 30 days. On Aug. 25, a follow-up site visit was conducted and violations did not appear to be adequately addressed. To date, the potential violations have not been resolved,” Boatwright stated in his letter.
The violations could result in liability for damages and restoration and incur civil penalties, according to the letter.
“Please respond in writing within 10 days of receipt of this warning letter. The department is interested in receiving any facts you may have that will assist in determining whether any violations have occurred. Please be advised that this warning letter is part of an agency investigation, preliminary to agency action in accordance with section 120.57(5) Florida Statutes. We look forward to your cooperation in completing the investigation and resolving this matter,” Boatwright stated in closing.
Waterkeepers watching
On Aug. 19, the Suncoast Waterkeeper organization emailed a letter to FDEP compliance coordinator Derrick Hudson, Boatwright, several other FDEP staff members and state legislators Jim Boyd and Will Robinson Jr.
This mangrove trimming debris remained in place as of mid-August. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
The Waterkeeper letter thanked FDEP for following up on the complaints, but added, “It appears the investigation has resulted in some remedial action for which we are pleased, however current conditions at the site reveal significant debris remaining and further evidence of permit violations.
“A recent visual observation from the water revealed that only the small portion of the mangrove forest contained within the inspection report was cleaned up. However, the extent of the trimming damage was much more extensive suggesting that the investigatory measures taken by DEP have not been adequate to achieve compliance,” the Suncoast Waterkeeper letter said.
Suncoast Waterkeeper’s new Executive Director Abbey Tyrna brings an impressive record of accomplishments to the organization.
Tyrna received her doctorate in geography from Pennsylvania State University in 2015, where she researched the effects of development on wetlands. Tyrna earned a master’s degree in wetland science and management in 2008 from Louisiana State University and has a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental studies from Florida State University. She has taught at Penn State University and State College of Florida.
Suncoast Waterkeeper Executive Director Abbey Tyrna takes a water sample from one of the area’s creeks. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
She has honed her leadership skills serving as secretary of the Florida Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals while co-creating and chairing the Society of Wetland Scientists’ Wetlands of Distinction initiative. She has been a member of the UF/IFAS Extension and Sarasota County Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. In addition, she is a technical advisor for the Natural Assets Advisory Committee with the Palmer Ranch Community Association in Sarasota.
Before joining Suncoast Waterkeeper, Tyrna worked with Sarasota County government and the University of Florida to help bring scientific knowledge and expertise to the public as a water resources agent for UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability.
“The board of Suncoast Waterkeeper is proud to welcome someone with Tyrna’s experience and credentials,” founder Justin Bloom said. “The board and I look forward to taking this organization to the next level under the direction of someone with the dedication, energy and expertise of Abbey Tyrna.”
Raised in Cape Coral on Florida’s west coast, Tyrna realized the importance of clean water, ponds, creeks and coastal estuaries as a child.
“In seventh grade, I got to walk through Six Mile Cypress in Fort Myers,” she said. “I was in water up to my chest and I couldn’t have been happier. Even though it was 30-plus years ago, I still remember the serenity of the swamp and the feel of the water. I knew the swamp was special and learned it was connected to our limited groundwater resources. From that day on, I devoted my education to learning about wetlands and protecting Florida waters.”
She believes working with Suncoast Waterkeeper is a natural extension of that work.
“At Suncoast Waterkeeper, I plan to expand our waterway monitoring efforts and staff capacity to engage the community and influence decision-makers to protect our waters,” Tyrna said of her future plans with the organization. “I will be intentional in my effort to seek out diverse voices and points of view. In doing so, I hope to lead Suncoast Waterkeeper to realize its vision of clean water for all.”
Tyrna lives in Sarasota County with her husband, two kids and their dog.
She likes to kayak and paddleboard with her kids and intends to explore every creek and bay on the Suncoast.
MANATEE COUNTY – The Suncoast Waterkeeper organization remains concerned about the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) response and oversight of the mangrove trimming that occurred earlier this year at the Aqua development.
Currently being developed with numerous single-family and multi-family structures, the Aqua development, previously known as Long Bar Pointe, is located in unincorporated Manatee County between El Conquistador Parkway and Sarasota Bay, lined in places with state-protected mangroves.
The mangrove trimming that occurred earlier this year created a better view of the bay from the multi-family residential buildings being constructed on the Aqua property. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
On Aug. 19, Suncoast Waterkeeper founder and Vice-Chair Justin Bloom emailed a letter to FDEP environmental specialist and compliance coordinator Derrick Hudson and several other FDEP staff members, including FDEP Southwest District Director Kelly Boatwright and FDEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton. Bloom also sent the letter to state legislators Jim Boyd and Will Robinson Jr.
The letter’s subject matter was “Long Bar/Aqua Mangrove trimming violations,” and was signed by Bloom, Suncoast Waterkeeper Chair (and The Sun’s outdoors columnist) Rusty Chinnis and Executive Director Abbey Tyrna.
“Thank you for following up on the numerous citizens’ complaints relating to mangrove trimming permit violations at Long Bar Point (Aqua),” the letter began. “It appears the investigation has resulted in some remedial action for which we are pleased, however current conditions at the site reveal significant debris remaining and further evidence of permit violations.
“A recent visual observation from the water revealed that only the small portion of the mangrove forest that corresponded with the GPS coordinates contained within the inspection report were cleaned up. However, the extent of the trimming damage was much more extensive suggesting that the investigatory measures taken by DEP have not been adequate to achieve compliance,” the letter states.
Significant amounts of mangrove trimming debris remain along the Aqua development shoreline. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
“Furthermore, from what we have seen, there has been no compliance assistance offer, no warning letter, no notice of violation or other enforcement action taken. This is concerning to us. We believe that but for our advocacy, the DEP would have dropped the matter long ago without finding any violations. We want to see DEP play this matter out according to your own rules and regulations,” the letter states.
The Waterkeeper letter included a link to several photographs Chinnis took on Aug. 17 of the trimming debris that remains along the Aqua shoreline.
Trimming concerns
In February, FDEP received two complaints that questioned whether the mangrove trimming that occurred along the Aqua shoreline was conducted in compliance with state laws and regulations. FDEP received a third complaint in April.
In May, FDEP released an investigation report that included a site inspection overview stating that Hudson and FDEP staff member Pamala Vazquez made their first site visit to the Aqua property on April 26, accompanied by Medallion Home/Long Bar Pointe/Aqua representatives Rob Bosarge and Chris Chavez.
Hudson conducted a second site visit on May 3, accompanied by Chavez and Dave Fister, the arborist who owns the Fort Myers-based Coastline Tree Service company that recently trimmed the Aqua mangroves.
The compliance status determination listed in Hudson’s report references “minor non-compliance.” Regarding a return to compliance, Hudson’s report says, “It is recommended the permittee provide the pre and post trim photos required by the permit within 30 days of receipt of this letter. Please ensure during the next trim event, photographs are submitted 14 days prior and 14 days following the activity. Please contact department staff to schedule a joint site inspection within 30 days following the trim event.”
When contacted by The Sun on May 17 regarding the inspection report, FDEP Press Secretary Alexandra Kuchta said, “The mangroves appeared to be healthy and trimmed within the permit limits. Trimming did not result in more than 25% of the foliage being removed and trimming did not induce tree mortality. However, no pre or post photographs or pre or post trimming notifications were provided to the department, which are required by the mangrove trimming plan.”
Additional correspondence
On June 23, Hudson sent an email to Fister, which he also copied to Chaves, Bosarge and Medallion Home founder, CEO and president Carlos Beruff.
Hudson’s email contained an aerial map that identified where the mangrove trimmings took place and several pages of inspection photos and photo descriptions that referenced “oversized trimming,” “aggressive trimming,” “spot of significant trimming litter left,” “trimming location below authorized height,” “location of possible tree topping” and “tree removal.”
In his July 1 response to Hudson, arborist Fister wrote, “On June 29th we conducted a site visit to the mangrove fringe at Long Bar Pointe. We did observe that not all trimming debris greater than 3 feet (in length) or 3 inches (in diameter) was completely removed from the fringe. We will be responsible to clean that debris from the fringe. It is our desire to allow this to take place during the next trimming event.”
Fister also suggested some of the trimming debris cited in the FDEP photos may have been the result of previous trimming efforts.
On July 12, Hudson sent an email to Chavez and Bosarge that included the following FDEP-requested actions: Within 30 days (by Aug. 12) remove the trimmings longer than 3 feet long and/or larger than 3 inches in diameter, remove the ‘hot spot’ trimmings and large piles of authorized trimmings, provide pre and post photos of the work conducted and investigate and provide photos of map location #5.
Overall enforcement concerns
The Suncoast Waterkeeper letter also addressed FDEP’s overall enforcement efforts.
“We have witnessed a disturbing pattern of mangrove trimming violations and a lack of DEP enforcement, particularly in Manatee County. Manatee County still has significant mangrove coverage, (but) permitted and unpermitted mangrove trimming and removal is taking a disturbing toll on these precious environmental resources. We believe that property owners and contractors perceive that DEP is not providing oversight and that there will be little or no consequence removal. The environmental degradation that results is significant,” the letter states.
The Aqua/Long Bar Point shoreline looked like this before the mangroves were trimmed. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
In closing, the letter encouraged FDEP officials to take appropriate actions to protect the remaining mangroves along Sarasota Bay and to also protect the integrity of the environmental laws and regulations that pertain to mangrove trimming.
Red tide. They’re probably the two words that nobody on or near Florida’s west coast wants to hear and I can understand why, sort of.
Someone who owns a resort hotel, has a restaurant on or near the beach or runs a business that takes people fishing or sightseeing depends on clean, healthy water for their livelihood. It’s easy for the average person to see that these businesses are negatively affected by red tide or even the mere mention of it.
What’s less obvious is that poor water quality affects everyone, from fishing guides to developers, realtors and builders, right down to the plumber sweating pipes in Lakewood Ranch. Humans seem to focus only on the things that directly impact us in the present, finding it easier to “kick the can down the road.” I suggest looking your children and grandchildren in the eye and asking yourself, “What part am I taking in creating and protecting the world they will inherit?”
We only must look back at the last five years for two haunting cases in point, starting with the harmful red tide algae bloom that devastated coastal waters from Naples to St. Petersburg and rendered Sarasota Bay a virtual wasteland. The result? In the last five years, Sarasota Bay lost most of the seagrass than had regrown in the past 20 years plus, if not more.
As if we needed another example, the disastrous release of over 200 million gallons of polluted process water from the legacy phosphate facility at Piney Point in late March 2021 led to the worst algae bloom in Upper Tampa Bay since the 1970s, killing thousands of tons of sea life. Piney Point is the perfect example of kicking the can down the road and running out of road.
Resident anglers have seen firsthand the decrease in water quality and the resulting loss of habitat, seagrass and its negative effect on local fisheries. Unfortunately, anglers and residents who recently relocated here see “the new normal.” Is it possible that we might consider what we’re leaving for future generations instead of how it affects self-interest in the here and now? This is not a new problem and I’m sure there were others saying the same thing when we first arrived here. But this is now and the time to act is slipping away.
If you want to see how the officials we elect represent us in enacting rules and regulations to protect our natural resources, consult the League of Conservation Voters.
The LCV is non-partisan and tracks the voting records of members of the Senate and Congress on environmental issues in its National Environmental Scorecard. This is a clear indication of how those tasked with representing our interests actually vote. Who we elect is critical to facing this problem. Politics is more divisive now than I can remember, but it’s critical that we elect politicians who represent our interests, not those with no vision who are concerned with division.
In the end, we all suffer the consequences. Vote, and consider joining and working with advocates like Suncoast Waterkeeper, Vote Water and Sarasota Bay Watch, groups working to educate the public, get them involved and hold politicians and municipalities accountable for their votes and action or inaction.
The time to act is the only time there ever is, right now. It won’t happen overnight, but it’s critical we begin now.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead, anthropologist (1901-1978)
In the 1890s, the first leg of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway was created to transport produce from Sarasota to the Tampa Bay market. The project skirted two large mangrove islands called the Otter Keys and would generate the spoil that would be the basis of the uplands we now call the Sister Keys.
At one point, a disgruntled owner bulldozed many of the mangroves because he wasn’t allowed to build on the islands. During World War II, the flats surrounding the islands were used by bombers for target practice and craters still exist as deep blue holes on the grass flats. In the 1960s, the islands were owned by a group of investors that intended to create a tropical resort they dubbed Shangri Isles. The development would have transformed the keys with a marina, 18-hole championship golf course, luxury homes, a hotel and an airport. Fortunately, economics dictated a different course for the islands and the plants and animals that called them home.
Over the next two decades, the islands would remain essentially the same except for seeds and flotsam brought there by birds, wind and tides. In the late 80s, the islands went on sale again, this time advertised as a “tropical paradise” where 80 acres could be developed. This was during a period of regional growth when a spurt of development came to the area and Tidy Island on the east shore of Sarasota Bay sprouted homes at the expense of the native habitat. An adjacent island, Jewfish Key, was also undergoing development and blue septic tanks that would be buried for future homes dotted the shore on platted lots.
This activity caused a group of citizens to ask the question, “Wouldn’t it be nice to have at least one island in the bay that didn’t have a house on it?” In 1989, those progressive citizens created the Sister Keys Conservancy and lobbied for two years to raise money and awareness to buy and protect the islands.
A logo was created, an anthem was composed and area environmental groups, including the Longboat Key Garden Club, Mote Marine Laboratory, The Sierra Club, The Trust for Public Lands and Florida Audubon, were enlisted to further the cause. The group lobbied politicians and hosted fundraisers, a Music in the Park series, bake sales and speaking engagements to spread the word.
Despite all of their efforts, the funds to purchase the islands seemed out of range until the Town of Longboat Key voted to fund the purchase on July 10, 1992. In October of that year, the Sister Keys Conservancy’s co-founders traveled to Washington D.C. where they were presented with the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Award for their efforts.
The islands were protected with a covenant in the deed that requires any changes to the status of the islands (renewed for 20 years this year) to be sanctioned by Florida Audubon and remained essentially unchanged until 2006. At that point, the town was approached by the developers of Perico Island, who needed mitigation credits for some dredging they were proposing. When the town leaders agreed, the islands were transformed by a project that removed all invasive plants, replaced them with native species and created an almost two-acre wetland.
In 2010, Sarasota Bay Watch adopted the Sister Keys and committed to helping keep the islands free of trash and the inevitable regrowth of invasive plants. Annual trash and invasive cleanups have been done every April since the completion of the mitigation with the help of the Longboat Key Public Works Department, Longboat Key residents, the Longboat Key Garden Club and Suncoast Waterkeeper, which now partners with these groups periodically as well as annually.
The Sister Keys of today are an extraordinary example of what can be done to protect and enhance the Sarasota Bay ecosystem and a remarkable future vision of the restorative power of nature.
My pliers were in one hand and a fly was in the other as I prepared to cut the leader and change flies. Pausing, I looked up to check with Capt. Kevin Wessel before committing.
“Tarpon coming at 11 o’clock,” he said. When I asked if I had time to change the fly, he shook his head “no.”
Stepping up to the bow, I saw the fish about 50 feet away and made a cast, leading them about 10 feet. After pausing to let the fly sink, I put the cork handle under my arm and started stripping with both hands to bring the fly to “life.” Three strips later and the line came tight as the second tarpon in the string broke ranks to inhale the worm pattern. I set the hook with a quick, sharp strip strike and moved the rod to my hands as fly line leaped from the deck, wrapping around my left hand in the process. Luckily, I was able to shake it free just as the fish bolted away from the boat.
Capt. Kevin Wessel, an accomplished photographer, captured this awesome image of a leaping tarpon. – Capt. Kevin Wessel | Submitted
This was a big, hot fish and his first run took all my fly line and about 150 yards of backing. The run was interrupted only briefly as the tarpon made a spectacular head shaking jump just feet from Mike Adno, a friend who was fishing to the north of us. After the jump, the fish went around Adno’s anchor line and made a hard left, heading west. Fortunately, he was able to disconnect and release the line as I slackened my drag to prevent a possible break-off.
Looking back at Wessel I suggested we chase the fish as I noticed that half of my backing had disappeared from the reel with no sign of the run ending. Quickly releasing the anchor, he started the motor and we followed as I furiously reeled in backing. When I had the fly line back on the reel, I started to work the tarpon, swinging the rod right, then left, applying maximum pressure trying to throw the fish off balance.
This trip was turning out to be very rewarding on many levels. My friend Andy Grosso had won the trip in a raffle at the Compound Boardshop in Sarasota during the annual Fly-Fishing Film Tour event. Hosted by The Mangrove Coast Fly Fishers, the funds raised went to the environmental group Suncoast Waterkeeper.
After about 20 minutes and several jumps, I had the leader in the guides (considered a catch) for the fourth time when I applied additional pressure, parting the 16-pound class tippet (the weakest link). After high fives, I cracked a celebratory beer and Grosso – who had jumped and broken off a tarpon earlier – stepped to the bow. Moments later, a distant rain cloud obscured the late afternoon sun, making spotting fish impossible until they were right under the boat. It was after 6 p.m., so we decided to call it a day.
Although it’s always hard to leave tarpon when they’re feeding, we had experienced a great day of fishing. Capt. Wessel had correctly guessed, based on over two decades of experience, that it would be an afternoon bite, coinciding with a strong outgoing tide. We had started at 1 p.m. and found schools of fish everywhere in super clear water. It was beautiful to behold and good target practice, but it wasn’t until the tide was in full retreat that the fish began feeding.
In five hours, we had thrown at hundreds of tarpon, jumped two, landed one, and had multiple looks, leans and follows. Capt. Kevin Wessel can be reached for charters by calling 941-915-9514. Check out his website and book online.
Suncoast Waterkeeper and partner environmental groups Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, Manasota-88 and Our Children’s Earth Foundation have once again given local anglers cause for some badly-needed optimism. This past week the settlement of a Clean Water Act lawsuit against the city of Bradenton was announced.
Suncoast Waterkeeper initiated the lawsuit last year in response to repeated sewage spills into the Manatee River and local waterways. Local guides like Captain Justin Moore suspected that those releases may have exacerbated the historic lyngbya we’ve experienced over the past three years.
“Bradenton’s wastewater system and water infrastructure were woefully outdated as they are in too many communities throughout Florida,” said the Suncoast Waterkeeper board’s environmental attorney, member and founder Justin Bloom. “The historic lack of investment in infrastructure harms the health of our communities and waterways. This settlement guarantees that the city of Bradenton will make much-needed upgrades in their wastewater and sewage treatment system.”
The groups documented that the city had spilled over 160 million gallons of partially treated sewage into the Manatee River, bypassing the city’s treatment plant over the past five years. During that time frame, the city discharged millions more gallons of reclaimed and raw sewage from its aging sewage system, which is plagued by structural deficiencies.
“Citizen suits are critical for addressing pollution problems that would otherwise be ignored,” said Annie Beaman of Our Children’s Earth. “In Bradenton (and many other Florida cities), government officials have been kicking the can down the road for too long. Clean water is a priority and, in coming to the table to settle, the city of Bradenton has demonstrated that it is willing to prioritize water quality. If we invest in clean water now, we will avoid much higher costs to people and the environment in the future.”
The settlement sets firm deadlines for improvements to the city’s sewage treatment plant, including increasing pumping and treatment capacity and upgrading disinfection capabilities. The city will also have to address issues in the collection system, including assessing the condition of pipes, finding leaks and ensuring the availability of backup power. Along with all these changes will be an update to the city’s capacity, management, operation and maintenance programs for its sewage collection system.
“The public has a right to know what is flowing into our waterways and how municipalities are managing their wastewater systems,” said Glenn Compton of ManaSota-88. “Reporting has been lacking. This settlement lays out protocols for how the city needs to report spills and diversions and also requires the development of a website that will provide the public with up-to-date information on water quality and incidents.”
Bradenton also will be required to invest at least $220,000 in projects to improve local waters and/or estuarine habitats.
“The city’s approach to the lawsuit was collaborative and highly productive,” said Justin Tramble, executive director of Tampa Bay Waterkeeper. “The parties worked together to understand the issues and negotiate solutions, resulting in the detailed work requirements reflected in the settlement. The city is clearly committed to focusing on fixing its sewage infrastructure issues as soon as possible.”
The Bradenton settlement is a part of an ongoing effort by environmental advocacy groups to protect waterways through legal action. The successful Clean Water Act cases the Waterkeeper groups, led by Bloom, have initiated against St. Petersburg, Gulfport and Largo have been one of the few bright spots for Florida’s environment.
SCWK’s work with Sarasota County, where a settlement was negotiated without filing suit, looms large. Once again, the parties were able to focus their time, energy and resources on resolving the claims and fixing the failed sewage system, rather than litigating. Like many municipalities in Florida, the county’s collection system needed upgrades and repairs.
The most significant failure, which was the focus of that case, was the reclaimed water system from the county’s largest sewage treatment plant. For nearly a decade, the effluent from the plant flowed over the storage pond into Phillippi Creek and into Sarasota Bay, bringing nearly a billion gallons of wastewater with high concentrations of nitrogen into an estuary that was seeing increased algae blooms and seagrass losses associated with excess nutrients. The spills were hidden from the public and other stakeholders that were working hard to improve water quality in Sarasota Bay. This case was resolved with a commitment, under a federal court order with oversight and monitoring, to upgrade the collection system and stop the spills. Sarasota County recently broke ground on $215 million in upgrades as a result of this case and to date, there have been no new spills from the storage pond.
The waterkeeper groups and their partners’ work has made a difference in water quality and helped the fishery resource as well. As good as these wins were for anglers, much remains to be done. Join in this effective movement online.
MANATEE COUNTY – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is investigating complaints about mangrove trimming along the Aqua development’s shoreline.
Formerly known as Long Bar Pointe and Aqua by the Bay, the Aqua property is located in unincorporated Manatee County between El Conquistador Parkway and Sarasota Bay.
The Aqua property is owned by Carlos Beruff’s Cargor Partners VIII/Long Bar Pointe LLLP and is being developed by Beruff’s Medallion Home development company.
The Aqua community is being developed along El Conquistador Parkway. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
On April 19, FDEP Press Secretary Alexandra Kuchta provided The Sun with the following email response regarding the mangrove trimming complaints the agency received.
“The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is investigating reports of mangrove trimming waterward of Aqua by The Bay. For context, these mangroves are managed by Long Bar Pointe, LLLP. Long Bar Pointe is a permitted mitigation bank and has an approved mangrove trimming plan. Since the property is privately owned, permission for site access is required prior to inspecting the property and DEP has been working to obtain this. At this time, our investigation is active and ongoing.”
Suncoast Waterkeeper founder and board member Justin Bloom is among those monitoring the investigation.
“I’ve reviewed the file on the state’s Oculus site. There have been several complaints of unpermitted mangrove trimming,” Bloom said.
Bloom has also been in contact with FDEP attorney Kirk White.
When contacted Sunday afternoon, Bloom said, “I learned late Friday afternoon from Kirk that they finally have an agreement to obtain access to the property and they’re going to be doing an onsite investigation on Tuesday. I’m glad to see DEP is finally getting onsite. I hope they do a thorough investigation; and if there are violations, I hope they adequately enforce them.”
FDEP letter
Kuchta’s email response included a copy of a letter FDEP Submerged Lands and Environmental Resources Coordination Program Administrator Timothy Rach sent to a Mr. Hoffman (first name not provided) on Oct. 2, 2019.
“The FMTP shall not allow any mangrove trimming below a height of 12 feet, as measured from the substrate, shall not allow for more than 30% of the total onsite mangrove acreage to be trimmed and shall not result in fragmentation of the remaining intact mangrove swamp into more than four individual fragments,” the letter states.
FDEP correspondence
Kuchta also shared a link to the online Oculus portal that provides access to additional documents and email exchanges pertaining to Aqua’s mangrove trimming authorizations and activities.
On Feb. 22, FDEP Southwest District Compliance Coordinator Derrick Hudson emailed Medallion Home Vice President of Land Operations Robb Bosarge and notified him that FDEP received an email from a citizen concerned about the mangrove trimming at the Aqua property.
Hudson’s email noted the Long Bar Pointe mitigation bank permit requires the property owner or his representatives to provide FDEP with 48 hours advance notice before any mangrove trimming occurs. The permit also requires photographs to be taken and submitted to FDEP 14 days before the trimming activity begins and subsequent photographs taken and submitted within 14 days after the trimming activity occurs. The permit also requires a site visit by FDEP staff within 30 days of the trimming.
“Please provide the status and any additional information associated with this season’s trimming activity. In addition, we would like to schedule a site visit to assess the area,” Hudson said in his email to Bosarge.
The FDEP records posted online do not include an email response from Bosarge.
On March 8, Hudson emailed FDEP attorney Kirk White.
“We received a complaint regarding possible unauthorized mangrove trimming in the Long Bar Pointe mitigation bank. Is there any way you could reach out to their attorney and open communication and/or see if they have appropriate contact information for a representative?” Hudson’s email said.
On March 9, Hudson emailed White again.
“I would like to conduct a site visit. Typically during this time of year, the mitigation bank conducts authorized mangrove trimming. However, I did not receive commencement notification as required by the permit,” Hudson wrote.
On March 11, White emailed attorney Doug Manson.
“Southwest District got a complaint about unauthorized mangrove trimming at the Long Bar Pointe mitigation bank. Derrick has tried to contact Mike Campbell and Rob Borsarge to arrange a visit but has not heard back. Any chance you could provide the OK for Derrick to get out at some point in the near future and check things out?” White’s email said.
In his March 11 response, Manson said, “I am glad to help facilitate a site visit with Derrick.”
That site visit was not arranged until late last week.
On April 18, Hudson emailed a complaint timeline to FDEP Environmental Resources Program staff member Hannah Westervelt. According to the timeline, FDEP received an email from a concerned citizen on Feb. 15, an online complaint from Manatee County resident Karen Willey on Feb. 22 and an anonymous complaint on April 4.
“The emails reveal a couple things,” Bloom said. “Most significantly, it appears that there’s a violation of their mangrove mitigation bank permit. That permit requires that they notify DEP prior to commencement of any trimming. Not only are they supposed to notify DEP, but they’re supposed to provide photos indicating existing conditions prior to trimming so they can compare what was there before trimming and what’s there after. It looks like they didn’t do that; and it looks like there’s been some very dramatic trimming, beyond what would be permitted in a mangrove mitigation bank permit or the general permit which would cover the mangroves at Long Bar Pointe (Aqua). I think there are likely to be violations of how and where they trimmed and then there’s the procedural violation which it seems like DEP has acknowledged in their email chain.”
Aqua attorney’s response
Edward Vogler II has long served as an attorney for Beruff and he represented Beruff and the development team during the lengthy Long Bar Pointe/Aqua by the Bay permitting process that dates back more than a decade.
Several multi-unit residential structures are being built on the Aqua property. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Vogler was contacted by The Sun on Friday.
“The landowner/developer is aware of the complaints and has been in contact with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and welcomes any type of investigation or inspection. All the work done in connection with mangrove trimming is done by certified mangrove trimming experts under the supervision of environmental consultants. They have the tools and the technology and they understand and follow the trimming rules and criteria. All work is done pursuant to proper permits. We welcome the investigation and I think it will be confirmed that everything was done properly,” Vogler said.
“There are general permits that allow mangrove trimming under certain conditions and circumstances and there are specific permits required for given circumstances. That property also has a permitted mitigation bank in which various other types of permits and authorizations were afforded to the property. I’m very confident that any trimming was done under one or more permits,” Vogler said.
He also referenced the previously trimmed mangroves along a portion of the adjacent shoreline of Legends Bay by Medallion Home.
The mangroves at the adjacent Legends Bay by Medallion Home community are maintained at a height similar to the recently-trimmed Aqua mangroves. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Those mangroves are trimmed every year and multiple complaints have been made about that. People get upset when they see mangroves trimmed but that’s an authorized practice in the state of Florida and it’s routinely done. Those mangroves over there have been cut for 15 years,” Vogler said.
Regarding FDEP’s requests to inspect the Aqua mangroves, Vogler said, “I’m not aware of any request being denied or delayed.”
Citizens’ concerns
Suncoast Waterkeeper Chairman and The Sun’s Outdoors Editor Rusty Chinnis is concerned about Aqua’s mangrove trimming.
On April 15, Chinnis said, “I was out fishing one day and noticed it so I called FDEP. The lady I talked to, Abigail McAleer, said someone reported it back in February but FDEP couldn’t go on the property without getting permission from the owners. I’m not accusing anybody of anything but it looks suspicious and it needs to be investigated.”
The FDEP graphic highlights some of Florida’s mangrove trimming regulations. – FDEP | Submitted
Chinnis referenced FDEP’s mangrove trimming guidelines and best management practices. According to that 2016 document, trimming mangroves that are over 24 feet tall requires a FDEP permit; and when trimming a mangrove tree that’s over 16 feet tall, no more than 25% of the tree can be removed per year.
“That first cutting they did looks like it’s about 50%,” Chinnis said.
The taller mangroves on the left were not trimmed. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
According to the FDEP trimming guidelines, a first trimming violation may result in the property owner being required to restore the area. For subsequent violations, property owners and the person performing the illegal trimming can be fined up to $100 for each mangrove illegally trimmed and up to $250 for each mangrove illegally altered.
“I’m not against development. I was a building contractor for 35 years, but I’m also a fisherman and I appreciate the importance of the natural environment to the ecology and the economy,” Chinnis said.
The FDEP guidelines note mangroves stabilize the coastline, protect water quality, reduce coastal flooding, provide habitat for fish, protect young fish from predators, protect wildlife species, serve as bird nesting areas and contribute $7.6 billion annually to the economy while creating 109,000 jobs in Florida.
Karen Willey is the conservation chair for the Florida Native Plant Society’s Serenoa Chapter. In February she filed a complaint with FDEP after seeing an Aqua advertisement that Medallion Home ran in the Washington Post.
“From the photographs in the ad, it appeared the mangroves had been trimmed and it looked questionable. I went to the FDEP website, filled out a complaint form and included a link to the ad. They called within a few days saying the mangroves appeared to be trimmed but they really couldn’t tell. They said they would be following up,” Willey said.
“This came up in February. Why is it the middle of April and they’ve done nothing? This is a serious issue. Mangroves are so important and we need to do everything we can to protect them. They should not be giving trimming permits on pristine mangrove forests like this. I think the time has come where we need to say no more mangrove trimming. Since the 1940s we have lost more than 50% of our mangroves on Sarasota Bay and we cannot afford to lose more,” Willey said.
On April 20, The Sun took a boat tour of the Aqua shoreline. A large swath of shoreline mangroves had been trimmed in front of the four-story, multi-unit residential buildings being built toward the northwest end of the Aqua property. The trimmed mangroves now provide a clear view of the bay for many of those residential units. The trimmed mangroves appear to be between 8 and 10 feet tall and the remaining untrimmed mangroves on the Aqua property appear to be between 20 and 30 feet tall.
These mangroves were trimmed along the southeastern end of the Aqua property where numerous single-family homes are being built. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Another large swath of mangroves was trimmed to the same height in front of the single-family homes being built at the southeast end of the Aqua property. The trimmed mangroves along the Aqua shoreline are about the same height as the trimmed mangroves along the Legends Bay shoreline.
FDEP’s slow response
Bloom is also concerned about FDEP’s slow response time.
“It’s been several weeks. The first complaint was nearly a week before Karen Willey’s complaint. Someone made it to FDEP’s Southern District out of Fort Myers and it was relayed to the Southwest District in Temple Terrace that governs mangrove trimming in this area,” Bloom said.
“DEP took a very long time to respond to the situation and the email chains show what appears to be excessive caution and delay in responding to citizens’ complaints. Now we’re in a situation where it looks like the deed is done. With their failure to notify DEP and provide photographs of preexisting conditions, I think it’s going to really complicate any investigation because there’s going to be a lack of evidence of how they trimmed,” Bloom said.
“DEP seemed to be absent and it begs the question as to whether DEP is up to the task of adequately regulating and enforcing mangrove trimming in Manatee County; and whether Manatee County should pick up the slack. Every coastal county surrounding Manatee County has their own mangrove program. Sarasota County has been running a mangrove program for the last three years, I think, and Hillsborough and Pinellas counties have longstanding mangrove programs.
“Manatee County’s been the holdout and I think they need to take a hard look at paying attention to and protecting the existing natural environmental infrastructure which includes the mangroves, dunes and seagrasses that are rapidly disappearing. Sarasota County has lost almost all of their natural shoreline. Manatee County still has a lot, but we’ve just lost a significant amount at Long Bar Pointe (Aqua). What’s happening at Long Bar Pointe should focus the attention of the Manatee County Commission to recognize the need to pay more attention to our dwindling mangrove populations,” Bloom said.
“I will be bird-dogging DEP and try to be as up to date as possible on the investigation by reviewing their records and watching to ensure there’s a thorough investigation and appropriate enforcement. We don’t know what the violations have been, but the maximum fines for violations seem wholly inadequate considering the value that mangroves have to our estuary and our community,” Bloom said.
Suncoast Waterkeeper teamed up with Sarasota Bay Watch this past weekend when they conducted the 2022 Annual Sister Keys Cleanup.
The event was a collaboration with the Town of Longboat Key and the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant. Close to 40 volunteers worked for four hours on the island and around the mangrove fringes collecting trash and recyclable items.
The Sister Keys were originally slated for development in the early ’60s as the Shangri Isle Club and were once again threatened in 1989 when they went on sale for $1 million. That spurred a group of citizens to form the Sister Keys Conservancy in an attempt to buy and preserve the islands as a nature preserve. The Town purchased the islands in 1994 with a stipulation that the keys would never be developed.
The islands underwent a million-dollar mitigation in 2007 that removed all invasive species, planted native flora and created a 2-acre wetland. Today mature mangroves dominate the waterways and are rich with crustaceans, minnows, juvenile finfish and wading birds. Native species planted on uplands created from the dredging of the Intracoastal Waterway in the late 1800s have matured, making the islands one of the best examples of a thriving native marine environment in coastal Florida. The cleanup is part of a continuing two-prong ongoing effort to clean the islands of trash and the resurgence of invasive species.
The Longboat Key Marine division patrolled the Intracoastal Waterway to slow boaters as volunteers embarked for the island and brought bags of trash and recycling back to the edges of the ICW. Kayakers and those without a boat were ferried to the island by volunteer boaters.
Back at the Longboat Key Town Boat Ramp after the event, volunteers loaded the debris into a truck provided by the Town of Longboat Key Public Works. All plastics and cans were collected in separate green bags provided by SBW and recycled. The volunteers were treated to lunch by the Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant, a longtime supporter of the event.
SBW’s Ronda Ryan holds a letter in a bottle found by Benny Parrish on the Sister Keys. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
The Sister Keys Cleanup is just one of many projects that SBW is involved in. In 2021, SBW planted clams in the bay in an ongoing restoration effort. Other cleanups are conducted at various locations throughout the bay, as well as an annual monofilament cleanup and much more.
Suncoast Waterkeeper is a Sarasota-based advocacy non-profit committed to protecting and restoring the Florida Suncoast’s waterways through enforcement, field work, advocacy and environmental education for the benefit of the communities that rely upon these precious coastal resources. Their efforts have been responsible for major initiatives that hold municipalities responsible to mandates established in the landmark 1982 Clean Water Act. SCWK also conducts bi-monthly water testing of inland coastal waters.
As readers are no doubt aware, I love to write about all things fishing, including the need to actively work to protect the resources that support this special area. That’s why I work with and write about Suncoast Waterkeeper, the organization that I believe is the driving force in protecting water quality in Sarasota Bay and Anna Maria Sound.
The organization has experienced significant growth recently and is now seeking an executive director. A member of the International Waterkeeper Alliance, the group was formed in 2012 by attorney Justin Bloom. A graduate of New College in Sarasota, Bloom worked in New York City as Waterkeeper Alliance’s Eastern regional director before moving back to Sarasota and founding Suncoast Waterkeeper. The mission of Suncoast Waterkeeper is to protect and restore the Florida Suncoast’s waterways through enforcement, field work, advocacy and environmental education for the benefit of the communities that rely upon these precious coastal resources. The group’s stated priority is to work with local municipalities to ensure that appropriate laws are being followed, and to take corrective action when they are not. Their work is supported by science, statutes and environmental ethics.
This is a terrific opportunity to lead an organization with a committed board that has a proven track record of success and has seen exponential growth over the past few years. While the organization’s focus is on the coastal waterways of Sarasota and Manatee counties, it has negotiated major settlements with Sarasota County, St. Petersburg and Largo. These settlements have led to millions of dollars of investment in upgrading outdated wastewater treatment facilities that have and will have a major impact on preventing nutrient loading to Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay. The organization is highly respected in the community as a leader in protecting the resources that are the economic engine of the region.
Suncoast Waterkeeper is located in an area that is rich in philanthropy, at the center of three National Estuaries, and is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States. This position provides direct access to some of the area’s most influential decision-makers.
Suncoast Waterkeeper’s executive director will lead the organization’s daily activities while developing sustainable streams of revenue through fundraising. The director will have overall operational responsibility for Suncoast Waterkeeper’s programs and will work with Publitics, the organization’s public relations firm, to manage its social media presence and website management. The director will report directly to the board of directors. This is a remote/virtual workplace position to start and has the potential for an office location in the future.
The director will be expected to communicate a clear vision for Suncoast Waterkeeper, coordinate and implement ongoing strategic planning and direct fundraising and budgeting. A major focus will be on identifying, applying for and monitoring grant applications. The director will also oversee committees to strengthen membership, donations and sponsorship programs.
Strong communications skills will be necessary to effectively serve as the official spokesperson and to clearly articulate a compelling case for supporting the mission. The director will work with a variety of audiences, particularly city and county officials, community leaders and major donor prospects. The director will attend community, government and agency meetings to represent the organization. In addition, the director will advise and inform board members, recommend policy and provide clear and accurate reports for the board to effectively monitor the organization’s progress. The director also will be charged with establishing evaluation systems and organizational processes to monitor project and program outcomes and improve quality services.
Financial planning, compliance and management skills will be needed to work with the treasurer and accountant in preparing and presenting the annual budget with the board’s direction and guidance. The director will also monitor cash flow and provide regular, comprehensive reports to the board on revenues and expenditures. The director will oversee all necessary registrations and certifications to comply with state requirements for non-profits.
Qualifications require a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences and/or environmental studies or non-profit management. An advanced degree is a plus. Equivalent experience in environmental sciences and/or environmental studies or non-profit management will be considered. The director should also have a proven track record of 3-5 years in a leadership role, preferably in a non-profit. Public speaking and media experience will be a critical component.
Suncoast Waterkeeper is an equal opportunity employer. The organization celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, contractors, volunteers and members of our community. Salary and benefits are commensurate with experience.
Applicants should submit:
Cover letter
Resume/CV
Three references (references will only be contacted during the final round of interviews)
PALMETTO – Five environmental organizations notified Manatee County on Sept. 30 that they intend to sue the county over its plan to inject contaminated water from Piney Point into an underground well.
The groups previously sued Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Secretary Shawn Hamilton, Piney Point owner HRK Holdings LLC and the Manatee County Port Authority in June over the dumping of 215 million gallons of contaminated water into Tampa Bay in March and April from a storage pond on a compromised phosphogypsum stack at the closed fertilizer plant. FDEP approved the discharge to avoid the stack’s collapse and potential for flooding area homes and businesses.
The contaminated water spread throughout Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay, transporting nitrogen and phosphorus that spurred a red tide bloom in April that caused fish kills and respiratory irritation, according to the plaintiffs. Red tide remains in medium concentrations in Manatee County waters, as well as Sarasota County to the south and Pinellas County to the north, according to the latest Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report.
FDEP sued HRK on Aug. 5 asking the 12th Judicial Circuit Court for injunctive relief to prevent any more discharges of wastewater from Piney Point, claiming that HRK failed to safely operate the gyp stacks and protect surface and groundwater.
The state agency then issued a draft permit on Sept. 1 for Manatee County to build and test an underground injection well and a monitor well at 3105 Buckeye Road up to 3,300 feet deep to hold the wastewater. The monitor well to test drinking water would be up to 950 feet deep; the permit states that drinking water in the Floridan aquifer at the site is located at about 900 feet.
Injection well concerns
In its forthcoming case, plaintiffs say they oppose the county’s plan to inject the 271 million gallons of wastewater remaining in the gypsum stack pond into a deep well, claiming that “Piney Point’s radioactive waste would be injected underground into the fragile, porous karst geology that holds the groundwater supplies millions of Floridians depend on for drinking water.”
The Center for Biological Diversity, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, Suncoast Waterkeeper, ManaSota-88 and our Children’s Earth Foundation explained the reasons for their lawsuit in a press release.
“This risky, shortsighted plan would be a dangerous experiment and set a troubling precedent for how we handle failing phosphogypsum stacks,” said Jaclyn Lopez, Florida director at the Center for Biological Diversity.
“The phosphate industry and FDEP continue to fail to ensure safe disposal of the industry’s polluted waste,” said Justin Bloom, Suncoast Waterkeeper founder and board member.
“There are many problems associated with deep well injection; wells are subject to failure and there are too many unknown hazards with injecting phosphogypsum wastewater,” said Glenn Compton, chairman of ManaSota-88.
“Florida’s officials are gambling with our water quality and our children’s futures,” said Annie Beaman, co-executive director of the Our Children’s Earth Foundation.
“There are too many unknowns for this to be our way forward,” said Megan Eakins, board chair of Tampa Bay Waterkeeper. “We need more clarity about injection well risks, the composition of the waste stream, and alternatives to be sure that this is the best way to protect our vulnerable environment and communities from this toxic, radioactive waste.”
“It is both unlawful and unwise for Manatee County to inject Piney Point’s hazardous waste into the ground simply for the sake of expediency,” said Daniel Snyder, an attorney with the Law Offices of Charles M. Tebbutt, P.C., who is representing the groups. “For too long, Florida regulators have stood by while the situation at Piney Point deteriorated. Now, instead of directly cleaning up this environmental disaster and abating the endangerment it poses, regulators decide to sweep the problem under the geologic rug, putting Florida’s groundwater at risk of significant contamination.”
Public comments sought
A public meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, Oct. 6 from 4-7 p.m. at the Manatee County Central Library Auditorium, 1301 Barcarrota Blvd., Bradenton, to allow an opportunity for citizens to provide input on the draft permit for the well and ask questions and obtain information about the draft permit and permitting process.
Anyone unable to attend the meeting in person who wishes to provide public comments in writing can mail them to: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Aquifer Protection Program, 2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 3530, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400.
Island residents might not be familiar with the term harmful algae blooms (HAB), but the bouts of lyngbya and red tide that have plagued the area are all too common. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines the blooms as “simple photosynthetic organisms that live in the sea and freshwater that grow out of control while producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals and birds.”
On Friday, July 23, Suncoast Waterkeeper and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper held a public forum at the Bradenton Yacht Club to inform area residents of the threat these blooms pose and help them understand what causes them and what we need to do to address the problem.
Dead baitfish and a Goliath grouper killed by red tide collect at a barrier erected at an entrance to Robinson Preserve from Tampa Bay. – Submitted
The program began with an introduction by Suncoast Waterkeeper Chair Joe McClash and Founder Justin Bloom. The forum included presentations by Ed Sherwood, the executive director of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, and Dave Tomasko, the executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. Both Sherwood and Tomasko pointed to the intentional release of over 200 million gallons of waste “process” water from the Piney Point facility in Manatee County this spring as the likely cause of the devastating bloom that has killed millions of fish in upper Tampa Bay in the last month. This event was the first of its kind since 1971, when millions of gallons of partially treated sewage and wastewater were routinely being discharged into the bay.
Both Sherwood and Tomasko are seasoned scientists and also have intimate firsthand experience on local waters. Sherwood came up through the ranks at the TBEP to become its executive director in 2018 after serving as the program scientist since 2008. Sherwood is responsible for maintaining TBEP’s partnerships and continuing the bay’s science-based restoration and recovery strategies. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in marine biology from the University of West Florida and a Master of Science degree in marine fisheries and ecology from the University of Florida. Tomasko has more than 30 years of experience on local waters. He holds a doctorate in biology from the University of South Florida, a Master of Science degree in marine biology from the Florida Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Old Dominion University. Tomasko was also the first-ever SBEP program scientist.
A sold-out audience of more than 100 participants crowded the Yacht Club’s dining room, where they enjoyed coffee, tea and a continental breakfast during the event. Hundreds more joined via Google Meets and a Facebook Live broadcast. The presentation was also filmed by Carl Shelton of Manatee Educational Television and will be available to the public soon. Interested parties can view the Facebook Live broadcast at Suncoast Waterkeepers Facebook page.
Dr. Dave Tomasko is interviewed by news media after his presentation. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun
Each presentation included supporting graphics and data that emphasized the concerns of both scientists. While there are obviously nuances and the science is constantly unfolding, a few facts really drove home the seriousness of our water quality issues. The main takeaway for this reporter was the fact that between 1980 and 2017, water quality and seagrass coverage improved significantly in Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay. Since 2017, all those almost 40 years of gains have been lost and there are concerns that both bays could soon go the way of the Indian River Lagoon, once described as “one of the most biodiverse estuaries in the Northern Hemisphere.” That ecological treasure has collapsed and “since 2009, 58% of the seagrass in the lagoon system has disappeared, choked off from sunlight as a result of an over-saturation of nutrients in the water,” according to the St. Johns River Water Management District.
This catastrophic collapse has led to the unprecedented death of more than 841 manatees between Jan. 1 and July 2, breaking the previous record of 830 that died in 2013 because of an outbreak of toxic red tide. Dr. Tomasko explained that most of the deaths have been by drowning due to malnutrition from the lack of the seagrasses they depend on. Both scientists fear that we are perilously close to the same thing happening here if we don’t act fast. Despite the alarming statistics, Dr. Tomasko was optimistic that we could still turn this around. That will take the involvement of all stakeholders in the region from plumbers and electricians to developers, builders and – most importantly – our elected officials. While it’s easy to blame our leaders for our water quality ills, it’s important to remember that this is a shared responsibility. We the voters elected the politicians that are responsible for protecting these valuable resources. It’s critical that we do a better job vetting the leaders we choose. The future we leave for our children, grandchildren and all future generations depend on it.
I’ve been a resident of the Suncoast for 40 years. For 35 years of those years, I ran a contracting business and have seen firsthand the effects of harmful algae blooms on the environment and the economy. I have never been more concerned than I am today and fear we may be near a point of no return.
I believe that there is a real possibility that our coastal waters may be in the process of converting from a seagrass-based system with clean, vibrant waters to an algae-based system that supports very little life and creates milky green water.
This is an economic and environmental disaster in the making. We only have to look as far as The Indian River Lagoon on Florida’s east coast as a cautionary tale. Once one of the most vibrant ecosystems on Earth, manatees there are dying of starvation due to a lack of the seagrasses they graze on.
https://youtu.be/1kSCc_tddtc
I am no scientist, but I have been fishing and recreating on Sarasota Bay, Tampa Bay and Anna Maria Sound since I moved here in 1980, and can honestly say I fear for the future of our waters and the generations of future residents who will inherit the legacy of our inaction. I truly believe that this rises to the level of a “moral obligation.” I would encourage you to face this challenge. Let’s all work together to see that future generations have some of the same opportunities that we’ve had.
What can you do? Contact your elected officials (local and state) and demand action, write letters, attend commission meetings, join with groups like Suncoast Waterkeeper and Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, don’t fertilize during the rainy season, keep yard clippings from our waterways and encourage your neighbors and friends to speak out.
The sad truth is that if we are silent, we will reap the unfortunate rewards. I’m reminded of a quote by the American Cultural Anthropologist Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
The truth is that if we don’t, nobody will, and our children will inherit a world no one would wish for them. We can do this but only by acting, now, before it’s too late.
