Loxahatchee Group Florida Chapter
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Conservation Activities
By: Elaine Usherson, Nada MacKinney

The conservation committee has been very active since the last Turtle Tracks issue, investigating, gathering facts and taking action on key environmental concerns in our area. Thanks to excellent efforts by many volunteers, Lox is "out there" and pushing an environmentally wise agenda. Sabrina Carle, Lisa Hanley, Dave Campbell and others are collaborating to stop an ill-advised "land swap" in Jonathan Dickinson State Park. The plan is ambiguous and convoluted, but in short, it amounts to the park transferring 23 acres of state park land, some of which is home to endangered species, to Martin County. The county intends to convert it into a storm water retention pond for nearby houses.
The "swap" is a grab of state park lands zoned for conservation, then rezoning them for residential needs. Lox volunteers are forcing this issue into the light.

Ed Tedtmann, Alan Parmalee, Alaine Ginocchio and others are focusing on the State Route 7 extension issue. It's recently become known that the county is considering a proposal to build the road extension through land purchased via a lands-preservation bond issue. This proposal ignores the fact that citizens authorized use of their tax dollars to purchase *and preserve* natural, environmentally important lands -- not to purchase environmentally valuable land that would later be used for road construction. Lox Group volunteers are hot on this trail.

Dave Campbell, Charles Hunt, Nada MacKinney and others are investigating a proposal to relieve traffic congestion in Port St. Lucie. The proposal calls for an east-west bridge and connector road from West Virginia Avenue, directly through protected land purchased through the Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) program. While the need for traffic relief is real, there could scarcely be a worse place to put a bridge and connector road. This is not the same issue as the Walton Road ("Ban the Span") bridge, but both situations are linked in that they affect the fragile, highly valuable Indian River Lagoon. Lox volunteers are coordinating with other environmental groups in that area to form a cohesive approach to this issue.

John Koch has been attending South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) meetings and learning a great deal. He succinctly summarizes the meetings to keep the membership abreast of the goings-on and to give us a "heads-up" when something important comes up on the agenda. He posts these updates on the Forum. Hats off to the really superb volunteer activity!

Maybe you'd like to join other like-minded folks who are making a difference. Call Elaine Usherson, Nada MacKinney or John Koch if you're interested (visit Contact Us for more info).

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Earth Day

NatureScaping, an Earth Day Celebration, will be held at John D. MacArthur Beach State Park on Sat., April 21, 10am to 4 pm. Loxahatchee Sierra Club will sponsor a booth.

There will be lots of environmentally friendly activities such as plant, butterfly, bat and nature photography clinics and walks. Items for sale will include: native plants, bat and bird boxes, nature books, wildlife art, and products that promote sustainable living and food. Kayaking demonstrations, Busch Wildlife live animals, and nature authors will hold book signings. The Earth Force student program will display their environmental activism projects and sponsor a beach clean up.

There will be food concessionaires or bring a picnic. Enjoy the day, learn something new, support Earth friendly concerns! Sign up to staff the Sierra Club booth for two hours. (We need a shade umbrella for our table ö help!) Contact John or Kay Gates 561-742-9219 or johnkay@mindspring.com. John D. MacArthur Beach State Park is
located on Singer Island on Rt. A1A in North Palm Beach, 561-624-6952.

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Canoe Outing

By Ron Haines, Outing Leader

Twelve of us were all set to hit the canoe trail loop at the Wildlife Refuge before word came: The trail was closed because of high water. So we paddled south on the rim canal and then turned around with the wind and floated back to the boat ramp. The fun was still there, lots of alligators and bird life to watch, good company to chat with, and a whole
morning without the urban hum in our ears. Thanks to Bob Stevens, Barbara Curtis, Carroll Drake, John and Kay Gates, Alaine Ginocchio, Edward Artau, and Steven Ahearn and party for making it a
very pleasant outing.

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Hontoon Outing

Gloria Hidalgo and her 3-year-old son Gage brought an unexpected surprise to the Hontoon Island outing ö a small, tail-less kitten that they found at a gas station in Deland. Everyone pitched in to keep Spot One happy and fed during the weekend. The lucky kitten is now enjoying its new home in Fort Pierce.

Hontoon is a great camping site ö a private island preserve with no RVâs.
Everyone explored the island, the St. Johnâs River, and Blue Springs at
their own pace. One participant said the Blue Springs pontoon boat ride was the best bird watching she had ever experienced in over 35 years of
observing Florida's birds and wildlife. Santiago and Flavia Cervantes
orchestrated an excellent Mexican dinner. Of course, the weather was
excellent, just as it is on every Loxahatchee Outing. If you are new to camping, donât hesitate to join one of our Outings. Our experienced leaders will show you the ropes.

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Guest Speakers

April 17, 2001

John Hargis Marine Research Director

John is managing several grants to create artificial reefs in the Lake Worth Lagoon, and studies of aquatic marine environment Associated with the reefs.

May15, 2001

Jonathan Ullman

Associate regional Field Rep Sierra Club will speak on Sierra Club activism.

June 19, 2001

Ann Vanek Co-Chair for the Sierra Club Energy Committee. Ann has been re-elected to the Board of the Florida Wildlife Federation, member of the Board of Directors of Citizens for A Rational Energy Policy (CERP). Ann will speak on the proposed Florida Power Deregulation, and the resulting proposal to build over 40 Merchant Power Plants in Florida.

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State to Allow Drinking Water Pollution

There is a state bill pending that would weaken the laws protecting our precious supply of drinking water. Senate Bill 854/House Bill 705 allows for the increased contamination of underground sources of drinking water through the use of Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) wells by exempting them from compliance with several state and federal drinking water standards. ASR is an under-tested, unproven technology that involves injecting potentially polluted water into a ground water aquifer for later retrieval. The bill guts the standard for total coliform, a key indicator for disease-causing pathogens. ASR is the same dangerous, unproven technology that accounts for almost one quarter of the cost of the $7.8 billion Everglades plan. Call your state legislator and tell him or her to oppose SB854/HB705.

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Homestead Airport

The Homestead Airport issue is not going away.Please contact our governor Jeb Bush to urge him to "publicly support the Air Force decision for a mixed use development of the air base". The Homestead
city commission has voted in favor of the Air Force mixed use development, but the city of Miami is suing the Air Force pushing for a commercial use of the base, which would be so detrimental to the
Everglades environment. Greed and private interests can not destroy the National Everglades Park! Call Jeb Bush at (850) 488-4441, fax a letter (850)487-0801, e-mail: jeb@jeb.org.

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Mail Appeal

THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU- A great "Thank you" to all of you who participated in the writing, proofreading, and mailing of our March appeal. It was a big job and a real team effort! It went out on the 20th, and we are awaiting for responses.

- Maryvonne Devensky

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For Outings and Other Activities, Please Visit Events

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Turtle Tracks is published bi-monthly by Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group, 619 SW 2nd Avenue, Boynton Beach, FL 33426. The purpose of this newsletter is to inform members about environmental issues and events. Members subscribe through their annual dues. nonmember subscriptions are available for $12 per year.

Newsletter submissions are welcome. The deadline is the third Tuesday of each month. Email articles to Mike Baird (phone 561/965-7237 mornings only, email gsdad@bellsouth.net), or deliver typed or IBM format 3.5" disc copy to general membership meeting.