As many of you know, the 2020 Florida Legislative session is now under way. START is focused on the important water quality bills described below. To express your support or concerns about these bills, contact us at collen@start1.org for a list of the Legislators who are working on them. The following water quality bills are [...]
In response to the Sun Coast Water Keepers suit for violating the terms of the Clean Water Act and the large public turnout at the June 5th Water Summit, it was very encouraging to see the Sarasota County Public Utilities Department’s Water Quality Improvement Plan that was revealed at the June 19 Budget Workshop. The [...]
As forecasted in last month’s E-Newsletter, Ocean Habitats, Inc. installed ten under-dock mini reefs at the Mar Vista Restaurant on Longboat Key on May 31st. The installation was made possible via a very generous $3,400 Impact Day Grant from Lucky’s Market in Sarasota. The luncheon demonstration event was initiated by START to introduce mini reefs [...]
START is pleased to report that the Sarasota Bay Watch’s clam seeding program near the Pier in Bradenton Beach has just been completed with the installation of another 93,000 clams. The seeding was sponsored by the City’s Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA) with a major assist from Gold Coast Eagle Distributing via the use of their [...]
The Ocean Conservancy recently released a report laying out what it will take to bring Florida’s coasts back from the brink. Ocean Conservancy is a nonprofit environmental advocacy group based in Washington, D.C.. The organization helps formulate ocean policy at the federal and state government levels based on peer reviewed science. Through several program areas, [...]
If you visit the website of 1000 Friends of Florida, a not for profit, smart growth advocacy organizations founded in 1986, you will see that their Mission promotes vibrant, sustainable, walkable, livable communities which provide residents with affordable housing choices and transportation alternatives. They work to protect natural lands that cleanse and store fresh water [...]
Every year for 33 years scientists have monitored the size of the Gulf of Mexico dead zone which forms every spring. Last year’s dead zone was approximately 8,185 square miles, making it the largest the Gulf had seen since mapping began in 1985. This year NOAA scientists are forecasting this summer’s Gulf of Mexico dead [...]
