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Meeting: "Protect Florida Beaches" Oil Drilling Discussion comes to Rockledge
Examine the proposals for expanding oil and natural gas exploration and drilling off of Florida's Beaches at Brevard County Turtle Coast Sierra Club Meeting, 7:00pm Thurs., Nov. 19,
Friendship Fellowship Unitarian Center, Rockledge
Oil platform blowout in the Adriatic Sea. Photo: Internet image, source uncertain; www.simonranson.com
Program features Amy Tidd, full-time community activist and leader of the Turtle Coast Sierra Club Conservation Email Warriors. Amy is a member of a statewide coalition that includes Sierra Club and Audubon, working to protect Florida's beaches and natural resources. For many years, Floridians and their elected representatives worked in unison to protect Florida's beaches from exploitation by the oil industry. Floridians understand that tourism is a $65 billion/year industry and major source of tax revenue, and that protecting tourism results in protected natural resources and greater prosperity and quality of life for all. Incoming Senate President Mike Haridopolos supports a bill to expand drilling, however. Concerned citizens statewide are learning more about the oil industry and banding together to protect our beaches against speculative special interests.
My First Paddle on Crane Creek: Outing Report
by Mary Sphar
Trip leaders Dan and Leslie Maloney paddle the quiet waters of Crane Creek. Top of the City of Melbourne's Grant Street Wastewater Treatment Plant is visible in upper left. Photo by Doug Sphar.
The weather was perfect, and the water on Crane Creek was so quiet for most of our trip that we could see our reflections. On October 24, Turtle Coast Sierra Club paddlers put in at Front Street Park in Downtown Melbourne's Harbor area. Almost immediately, we passed a rookery where ospreys and other birds were perched. I was unsure what to expect in this urban setting, but was pleasantly surprised to experience a mix of developed and undeveloped shoreline, much of which was quite picturesque. The creek became narrow with overhanging trees as we neared our Florida Tech (university campus) destination. On the way back to the park, we enjoyed seeing a manatee, two dolphins, a turtle, and various birds. Many thanks to outings leaders Dan and Leslie Maloney for leading our wonderful Crane Creek paddle!
Despite the prevalence of Brazilian pepper and other urban invasive plant species, the banks of Crane Creek still provide some picturesque scenery. Photo by Doug Sphar.
Outing: Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary Canoe and Kayak Trip
Sun., Nov. 8, 2009
To reserve, please email Vince Lamb or call 321-258-5168.
Paddler at Ulumay. Photo by Vince Lamb.
Participate in a canoe and kayak trip in the Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary on Merritt Island at 9:00am. Trip should last about three hours. Beginning paddlers welcome. Outing limited to 25 participants. Brevard County has preserved this wildlife sanctuary and mosquito impoundment. We will paddle interior canals and should find lots to see - many species of migrating birds visit Ulumay, including ospreys, pelicans and wading birds present year round. We will stop at least once to explore one or more islands. You can expect to see all three species of native mangroves and buttonwoods and learn how they protect the land. David Biega and Jack Lembeck, president and vice-president of the Friends of Ulumay, plan to join us and share their Ulumay experiences. Vince Lamb of Turtle Coast Sierra Club will serve as outing leader. Launch site directions will be provided upon reservation, subject to capacity limitations. Bring beverages, snacks, sunscreen and insect repellants for your needs. No charge for people who bring their kayaks or canoes. Directions to the launch site will be provided when reservations are received.
To reserve rental kayaks, please mail check for $25 (per person) payable to Space Coast Kayaks, Inc. to Vince Lamb, 11590 Dragon Point Drive, Merritt Island, FL 32952. Jim Durocher of Space Coast Kayaks will assist.
Outing: Helen and Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary Hike in Rockledge
Sun., Dec. 6, 2009
To reserve, please call Deborah Longman-Marien at 321-305-4344. Deborah will provide meeting time and directions.
Visit a unique Florida landscape with the Turtle Coast Sierra Club. Smack dab in the middle of Rockledge, is the Helen and Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary, part of the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands program. Since 1990, Brevard County has purchased for conservation and passive recreation, lands that represent important biodiversity of the local environment. The Cruickshank Sanctuary is a 160 acre pocket of Florida oak scrub, an ecosystem found only in Florida and fast disappearing. Learn how proper management of the land has restored the landscape to its previous condition and the impact this restoration has had on the return of the Florida Scrub Jay.
This small island of Florida scrub in the suburban area is home to very special animals and plants endemic to Florida, found nowhere else in the world! Residents we hope to see include the personable and family-oriented Florida Scrub Jays and Gopher Tortoises as well as many unusual plants. So if you enjoy finding out about what makes Florida special, a leisurely walk on sandy paths and fine fall weather, please join us for a couple of hours. Bring water, hat and sunscreen, binoculars. There is no charge for the outing.
Tell DEP How to Recycle 75%
Action Deadline: Jan. 1, 2010
by Dwight Adams
The 2008 legislature charged the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to submit recommendations to the Legislature by January 1, 2010 on how to achieve 75% recycling of municipal solid waste (MSW) by 2020.
DEP’s preliminary recommendations, posted at www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/recyclinggoal75/, are not adequate to reach 75%, even if the rate is artificially inflated by counting incinerated MSW as recycling. Revised recommendations that you can influence will be posted before a November 5, 2009 hearing in Tallahassee.
Mandatory recycling in the commercial sector must be followed with a timetable for source separation of all recyclables by all waste generators, to include multi-unit housing within two years, and single-family housing within four years. We already ban disposal of batteries, tires, motor oil, fluorescent bulbs, etc. It’s the only way to keep these materials out of landfills and incinerators—think voluntary speed limits. Yes, enforcement with fines for violations will be necessary.
DEP recognizes the importance of organics recycling to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from methane generation in landfills that is 25 times more harmful than CO2. The DEP recommendation to capture landfill gas is a backend solution that should be replaced by one that keeps organics out of landfills in the first place.
15%-25% of MSW is organics; consisting of food, food-soiled paper, and other items suitable for biodegradation by anaerobic digestion (AD) or composting. AD of organic MSW would produce about 500 MW of power statewide, enough for 400,000 homes. Compost is valuable for landscaping, mulching, and as a planting medium in environmental horticulture.
Disposal of organics by grocery stores and the food industry should be banned beginning in 2015 to give jurisdictions time to establish biological treatment facilities. Collection of organics is the essential feature of all recycling programs throughout the country that achieve high recycling rates—75% cannot be reached without it.
Counties will need State assistance to build the infrastructure to handle 75% recycling provided through a $2/ton surcharge on landfilled waste and unredeemed deposits on beverage containers.
What you can do:
- Contact Mike Sole, DEP Secretary, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., M.S. 49, Tallahassee, FL 32399, and tell him DEP’s preliminary recommendations must be strengthened.
- Write a letter to your newspaper.
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NOV/DEC 2009
OUR MEETINGS AND OUTINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Turtle Coast Meetings
7:00pm, Thurs., Nov. 19, Brevard County
Speaker and program details at left.
Join us at 6:30pm for social time and networking.
5:00pm, Sat., Dec. 12, Holiday Potluck Party at the Marine Resources Council Lagoon House on U.S. 1 in Palm Bay.
No meetings in November or December in Indian River County
Turtle Coast Outings
Nov. 8, Ulumay Canoe/Kayak.
See full details at left.
Dec. 6, Cruickshank Sanctuary Hike in Rockledge.
See full details at left.
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED, must be made with the outings leader to obtain time and place of meeting and to notify participants in the event that the trip must be cancelled. LIABILITY WAIVER: To participate in an outing, you must sign a liability waiver. FLORIDA SELLER OF TRAVEL REF# ST 37115
In this Issue
Crane Creek Outing Report
Tell DEP How to Recycle 75%
Announcements
Indian River SUSTAINABILITY MEETING
Nov. 16, 2009
1:00pm at the Unitarian Church at southeast corner of 16th St and 27th Ave. Hosted by Nancy Stiefel and Susan Winters, Co-Chairs of the church's Green Sanctuary Committee, who will discuss efforts to achieve, over a multi-year period, accreditation as a Green Sanctuary. Their focus has been on energy and resource conservation and education/advocacy.
RSVP appreciated by email to Judy Orcutt.
Invitations have been sent to area churches and we encourage you to invite your family and friends active in local churches. Big buildings are big energy users so we can all help one another with tips for energy efficiency.
SAVE THE DATE:
Dec. 12, 2009
Solstice Party!
The Sierra Annual Solstice Party will be held in conjuction with the Partnership for a Sustainable Future's Chistmas Party, hosted by the Marine Resource Council at the Lagoon House. 5:00pm, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009. Potluck. More info: contact Maureen Rupe
2010 Calendars
Calendars are available for sale at Turtle Coast meetings, so bring your checkbook. Profits from our sales of the calendars help our local Turtle Coast Group. We need sales people, so call Suzanne (321-984-0604) if you can help.
Beautiful Wilderness Wall Calendars feature 13 full-color images by outstanding nature photographers and sell for a discounted price of $12., sales tax included. Popular desk engagement calendars feature 57 full-color photos and sell for the discounted price of $13., tax included. Calendars make great holiday gifts and are already boxed for shipping. Both are spiral bound so that they lie flat on the desk or hang nicely.
SCHOLARSHIPS Available for National Service Outings
Application Deadline: March 10, 2010
Turtle Coast Sierra Club is providing two $625 National Sierra Club Service Trip Outing scholarships for motivated and environmentally aware young adult residents (age 18-30) in Brevard or Indian River Counties. Full-time college students will be considered residents. Applicants must be active with demonstrated interest in environmental issues, in good physical condition for hiking and working, a member of Sierra Club (you can join after notification of award), and give a presentation at a Turtle Coast meeting after completion of outing. The $625 award covers trip fee and some transportation costs (these vary with locale and mode of transport). Applications available online. Questions? Contact Suzanne Valencia.
Lead a Trip to Central America
Are you a Sierra Club Outings Leader? Latin American Adventures principal Elston Raimundo Chavarria is seeking outing leaders to form groups for a birding tour in Panama and a trip to the Nicaragua UNESCO Biosphere Rio San Juan preserve. Both tours are ten days and occur November to April. Call Elston at 954-662-1539 for more detail.
Waste Minimization Campaign
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has posted draft recommendations on achieving 75% recycling by 2020 at their website. Sierra Club Florida's Waste Minimization Committee has comments and recommendations. Contact Dwight Adams, committee chair, or Linda Demler, team member.
The Florida Sierra Club Waste Minimization Committee wishes you a happy holiday season. Please remember to bring your own bags every time you shop as your gift to the Earth. Be an environmental trendsetter -- the more places you use your own bag and the more people who see, the more it will inspire others to do the same!
The Sierra Club
Explore, enjoy and protect the planet.
Membership and Change of Address
For membership inquiries and address changes, contact Sierra Club Member Services, P.O. Box 52968, Boulder, CO 80328-2968; send old and new addresses and a Sierra label; phone (415) 977-5653; e-mail address.changes@sierraclub.org
Turtle Coast Sierra Club
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
CHAIR: “Sachi” Sachidanandan 321-242-8311
VICE CHAIR: Bud Long
SECRETARY: Mary Sphar
TREASURER: Doug Sphar
Judy Orcutt
Dick Wainer
Maureen Rupe
Daniel Marien
Vince Lamb
COMMITTEES AND CHAIRS
CONSERVATION COMMITTEE:
Judy Orcutt, Maureen Rupe, Mary Sphar, Amy Tidd, Suzanne Valencia
EMAIL WARRIORS: Amy Tidd
ENERGY: Daniel Marien
FACILITY COORDINATOR: Open
FORESTS: Jenny McVicker
HOSPITALITY COORDINATOR: Open
MEMBERSHIP: Dick Wainer and Doug Sphar
NOMINATIONS: Bud Long
OUTINGS CHAIR AND LEADERS:
Suzanne Valencia (Chair), Kristen Beck, Vince Lamb, Debra Longman-Marien, Dan and Leslie Maloney, Terri Wright
POLITICAL: Bud Long
PROGRAMS: Suzanne Valencia
PUBLICITY (BREVARD): Terri Wright
PUBLICITY (INDIAN RIVER): Lynn Walsh
SPRAWL ISSUE: Doug Sphar
Newsletter and website updates: turtlecoast@earthlink.net
Newsletter published monthly except June, July and December
by the Sierra Club Turtle Coast Group, PO
Box 1107, Melbourne FL 32902. This newsletter
is intended to educate and inform local members
and interested nonmembers about activities and
pending environmental issues critical to Brevard
and Indian River Counties. Subscriptions are
included with Sierra Club memberships.
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