SWFAEP Newsletter. Happy New Year From Your SWFAEP President. B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s. I n s i d e T h i s E d i t i o n

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1 SWFAEP Newsletter January 2017 B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s President Arielle Poulos Vice President Kristina Shope Treasurer Brianne McGuffie Secretary Tammy Lyday Membership Director Patricia Clune Newsletter Director Heather Phillips Board Member Chris Griffin I n s i d e T h i s E d i t i o n 2nd Annual SWFAEP Swamp Buggy Tour Recap SWFAEP SWAG 26th Annual SWFL Water Resources Conference Sponsorship Opportunities Other Events Career Opportunities In The News Happy New Year From Your SWFAEP President The 2016 year for the Southwest Chapter of the FAEP was a busy year. We hosted a variety of lunchtime seminars from Predator Birds with Stephen Bucciarelli to Identifying High Sulfur Coastal Soils by Going Back to the High School Prom with Richard Chin. Another learning opportunity was the Sedge Identification Workshop with Keith Bradley. Mingled in with our educational programs were a variety of social happy hours at various local hotspots throughout Sarasota, Lee and Collier Counties. The highlight of this year was the 2016 FAEP Annual Conference and Training Symposium, Conference on the Coast, held at the Hyatt Regency at Coconut Point this past September. The conference planning committee put in countless hours to secure speakers and presentations that covered a variety of topics in the fields of assessment and remediation, conservation, and emerging technology. There was also a regulating agency panel to answer questions about the permitting process, update on policies and rule interpretation, and how the agencies work together to regulate the use of the unique resources we have in Florida. The Conference brought over 130 attendees together as well as more than 35 presentations and 4 field trips. The Conference was fortunate to have Phil Flood, SFWMD Regional Representative, as a lunchtime keynote speaker to update attendees on the state of Lake Okeechobee and the restoration of wetlands surrounding the lake. The SWFAEP was very happy with the Conference and the turn out but definitely enjoyed the Christmas holiday as we welcome break after a whirlwind year! We look forward to putting together another year of exciting educational opportunities, fun field trips, and interesting networking socials and new places!! We are hoping to see all of you at one of our upcoming programs and are looking forward hearing from you all to help us to plan our best year yet! With that in mind, we invite you to please take the time to complete our 10 question membership feedback survey by clicking on the icon box below. We hope to use this survey to better serve the membership in 2017 by using your feedback to give you the types of events you are looking for in the new year. Sincerely, Arielle Poulos SWFAEP President

2 2nd Annual SWFEP Swamp Buggy Tour P A G E 2 SWFAEP kicked off December with its Second Annual Swamp Buggy Tour! This year we toured through the Big Cypress National Preserve. Following the swamp buggy ride, participants also had the opportunity to experience the festivities of the 6th Annual Swamp Heritage Festival. Some of these festivities included performances and presentations by local figures including photographer Clyde Butcher. Participants were also able to sample tasty cuisine provide by Camille Street Grill. It was a great day in the swamp and we hope to see some of you next year for the Third Annual Swamp Buggy Tour! S W F A E P N E W S L E T T E R

3 Stay In The Loop Keep up on the latest events by checking out the SWFAEP Website and join our group on Facebook to get notifications right to your newsfeed. You can also stay updated by joining our group on Linkedin. P A G E 3 SWFAEP SWAG: PRICE REDUCED! Now is the time to stock up on your SWFAEP SWAG! Show your SWFAEP pride and help support us by purchasing SWAG. T-shirts and koozies are available for purchase. T-shirt sizes range from small to extra large and are now only $12, koozies are now only $4. SWAG can be purchased through the SWFAEP website. Help Support SWFAEP by purchasing SWAG! These are not your average T-Shirts! The SWFAEP t-shirts and koozies are printed using the sublimation process. Unlike traditional ink-jet printing, sublimation guarantees a permanent image that will never fade, wash after wash! Did you know that starfish don t have blood like other animals? Instead of blood, sea water circulates through their body with the help of sieve plate. Wildlife Fun Fact! They also do not have a brain! What nervous system they do have winds throughout their arms and acts as a filter.

4 26th Annual Southwest Florida Water Resources Conference January 13, 2017 Florida Gulf Coast University, Cohen Center Ballroom Join us at the 26th Annual Southwest Florida Water Resources Conference! SWFAEP is Co-hosting this event along with several other local organizations. This year's theme Cooperative Solutions: Working Together to Address Water Challenges recognizes our region s need for all elements of society to cooperate in the pursuit of actions that will improve our water systems and environment. The conference will showcase how agencies, engineering firms, and non-profit organizations have worked together and can continue to join forces on specific projects and larger initiatives. As always, we have arranged for presentations by some of the leading experts in water resources, and will include some of the top decision-makers responsible for water resource planning and management in Southwest Florida, the State and the Nation. Registration will open at 8:00 a.m. Sessions will conclude around 4:30 p.m. and will be followed by a networking social. Various registration options are available. To learn more about this event or to register, click HERE

5 SWFAEP Sponsorship Opportunities 2017 Sponsorship Opportunities available! Promote your business while supporting SWFAEP. New this year are In-Kind sponsorships which allows individuals and/or businesses to be recognized for donating their good and/or services. Additional benefits have also been added to the Platinum level sponsorship. For additional information on sponsorship opportunities us at S W F A E P N E W S L E T T E R

6 Other Upcoming Events P A G E 6 Mastering DEPs Online Data Tools January 20, 2017 from 8:30am to 11:30 am or 1:00pm to 3:00pm at Career Source Southwest Florida (4140 Ford Street Extension, Fort Myers, FL) DEP is hosting two training sessions that will teach participants how to navigate DEP s online data tools including Oculus. Additional details and registration information is included on Page 8 of this newsletter. CREW Strolling Science Seminar: Opening Our Eyes to Insect Diversity January 21, 2017 from 9:00 am to 12:00pm at CREW Marsh Trails (4600 Corkscrew Road, Immokalee, FL) Ever wonder what that buzzing sound is coming from or what that brightly colored butterfly is? Come join Dr. Lefevre and learn about the insects that live all around us. No matter where you go, what trail you hike, what ecosystem you are in, there will always be insects. So make your adventures more interesting my learning about the little creatures that make up the base of our food chain. This is part of the CREW Strolling Science Seminar series, an annual series of scholarly walking seminars designed specifically for adults to gain in-depth knowledge about the science of CREW. The cost is $15.00 for CREW members and $25.00 for non-members. Click HERE to register or for additional information. DEP Monthly Meet-Ups: Stormwater NPDES February 1, 2017 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at Joseph P. D Alessandro Building Room 165 (2295 Victoria Ave, Fort Myers, FL) As a part of DEP s Monthly Meet-up Workshops, Rich Miller will be presenting on Stormwater NPDES. This is a free event but RSVPS are appreciated. Please Martha.Avila@dep.state.fl.us to confirm your attendance. Florida Native Plant Society, Naples Chapter: Birds, Bee s & Butterflies- Landscaping with Native Plants for our Flying Friends February 1, 2017 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Port Royal Club, North Terrace (2900 Gordon Drive, Naples, FL) Deputy Director of the Naples Botanical Garden, Chad Washburn, will share his know-how related to landscaping with native plants at home with an emphasis on helping our Flying Friends. He has many years of experience in the field and is a much sought after speaker on the subject. Heavy Hors d oeuves, wine, beer and drinks will be served. Recommended voluntary donation of $50.00 per person is requested. Additional information on this event can be found by clicking HERE. S W F A E P N E W S L E T T E R

7 P A G E 7 Tell Us About Your Events Do you have an event that you would like to promote? Send it to Us! SWFAEP sends out a bi-monthly Newsletter to promote events and highlight recent membership activities, presentations or seminars. In your submission be sure to include: Name of the Event Date and Time Location Cost (if any) Other pertinent information Please send submissions at least 2 months prior to the event. For additional information please contact us at swfaep@gmail.com Career Opportunities Also check the SWFAEP Website for links to current job postings. Environmental Field Technician: Environmental Risk Management Inc.- Fort Myers, FL Environmental Risk Management Inc. is currently seeking a full-time, environmental field technician for site assessment and remedial sites in the public and private sector. Have An Opening? Send a brief description of the positions duties, requirements, and contact information, and we will feature it in our bimonthly newsletter. Details of the position can be ed to Heather at HeatherP@passarella.net Environmental Risk Management, Inc. (ERMI) is an environmental assessment, remediation and forensic consulting firm based in Fort Myers, Florida. We are a licensed engineering and geology firm, a FDEP Agency Term Contractor in the Petroleum Restoration Program and a site remediation contractor. Our clients include contractors, developers, banks, realtors, owners, engineers, state and local governments. Bachelor s Degree in Environmental Studies, Chemistry, Biology, Geology or Engineering preferred. However, significant experience in soil & groundwater sampling and/or remediation system operation and maintenance can possibly substitute for degree. Knowledge of Florida Sampling SOPs preferred. Click HERE for the full job posting and information on how to apply.

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9 In The News P A G E 9 FWC Approves Historic Plan to Conserve Imperiled Species: November 17, 2016 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is moving forward with a groundbreaking attempt to achieve conservation success with dozens of imperiled species throughout the state. At its meeting in St. Petersburg, the FWC approved the Imperiled Species Management Plan, a capstone on five years of work developing the plan, and over a decade of revising the listing process. In the plan, the details of conserving each of Florida s 57 imperiled species are coupled with the broader approach of restoring habitats and addressing other large-scale issues essential to the long-term survival of multiple fish and wildlife species. Our charismatic species get a lot of attention, but the animals covered by this Imperiled Species Management Plan need attention too, said Commissioner Chuck Roberts. All of these species are very important to long-term resource management here in Florida. After adopting a new conservation model in 2010 that requires a management plan for imperiled species, the FWC embarked upon a process of collaboration with stakeholders and the public. Three drafts of the plan were presented for review, generating hundreds of comments on each draft, and leading to changes in the plan. Experts from outside the FWC also participated in Biological Status Reviews that evaluated which fish and wildlife species should be designated as imperiled. The Imperiled Species Management Plan addresses a diversity of imperiled species, from the reddish egret to the Florida bog frog, Barbour s map turtle and bluenose shiner, said Brad Gruver, who leads the agency s Species Conservation Planning section. In the past, we successfully used management plans for individual species like the bald eagle and manatee. With this plan, we take into account what imperiled species have in common, such as the need for us to improve what we know about them and to better coordinate how we manage multiple species. While the biologists who developed this 10-year plan are responsible for its implementation, the public is encouraged to step into key roles. Citizen-scientists can volunteer to help survey wildlife and collect data. Private landowners can conserve imperiled species on their property. Schools, businesses, organizations and individuals can become informal educators on imperiled wildlife. We have been involved in the effort to revise Florida s imperiled species listing process and management system since the very beginning, said Elizabeth Fleming, Senior Florida Representative, Defenders of Wildlife. We are extremely pleased to see the adoption of a comprehensive imperiled species management plan and associated rules. Now the important work of implementing these important conservation measures can begin. Important things to know about the Imperiled Species Management Plan: It includes one-page summaries for each species, including a map of its range in Florida and online links to Species Action Plans. The 49 Species Action Plans contain specific conservation goals, objectives and actions for all 57 imperiled species. It also has Integrated Conservation Strategies that benefit multiple species and their habitats, and focus implementation of the plan on areas and issues that yield the greatest conservation benefit for the greatest number of species. It highlights conservation success with 15 species that are being removed from the list of imperiled species but are still being monitored and conserved under the plan. What are the 57 fish and wildlife species in the plan? Eight mammals: Big Cypress fox squirrel, eastern chipmunk*, Everglades mink, Florida mouse*, Homosassa shrew, Sanibel rice rat, Sherman s fox squirrel and Sherman s short-tailed shrew. Twenty-one birds: American oystercatcher, black skimmer, brown pelican*, Florida burrowing owl, Florida sandhill crane, least tern, limpkin*, little blue heron, Marian s marsh wren, osprey (Monroe County population), reddish egret, roseate spoonbill, Scott s seaside sparrow, snowy egret*, snowy plover, southeastern American kestrel, tricolored heron, Wakulla seaside sparrow, white ibis*, white-crowned pigeon and Worthington s marsh wren. Twelve reptiles: alligator snapping turtle, Barbour s map turtle, Florida brown snake (Lower Keys popula

10 In The News (Cont.) tion), Florida Keys mole skink, Florida pine snake, Key ringneck snake, peninsula r ibbon snake* (Lower Keys population), red rat snake* (Lower Keys population), rim rock crowned snake, shorttailed snake, striped mud turtle* (Lower Keys population) and Suwannee cooter*. Four amphibians: Florida bog frog, Georgia blind salamander; gopher frog* and Pine Barrens treefrog*. Nine fish: blackmouth shiner, bluenose shiner, crystal darter, harlequin darter, Lake Eustis pupfish*, key silverside, mangrove rivulus*, saltmarsh topminnow and southeastern tessellated darter. Three invertebrates: Black Creek crayfish, Florida tree snail* and Santa Fe crayfish. As to the listing status of all the plan s 57 species, 14 were listed as state Threatened prior to the plan and will remain listed as state Threatened; 23 will change listing from Species of Special Concern to state Threatened; five will remain Species of Special Concern; and 15 will be removed from the imperiled species list (* indicates a species coming off the imperiled list but still being conserved). Rule changes associated with implementing the plan are anticipated to take effect in December From: FWC News Release Everglades Restoration Progress Report: November 27, 2016 When I picture environmental restoration, I sit in awe of the reservoirs and maze of canals that crisscross the lush landscape and feed clean water into Everglades National Park, and I stand behind the cutting-edge science and engineering that ensures all these components mesh to improve the quality of life for Florida families. As chairman of the South Florida Water Management District's Governing Board, I know the best way to achieve our restoration goals is to follow the publicly vetted plan. For Everglades restoration, that's the Integrated Delivery Schedule, complemented by Gov. Rick Scott's restoration strategies. The IDS guides restoration efforts so that projects are completed in a way that benefits all Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan efforts. This provides predictability in budgeting money and transparency in investing billions of tax dollars. Significant progress is being made. Take, for instance, the C-43 and C-44 reservoirs under construction to capture water to protect the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers and estuaries. Both are enormous projects, costing nearly a billion dollars. The 170,000-acre-foot C -43 project will store and deliver water to the Caloosahatchee at the right times. The C-44 will store and clean water before it reaches the St. Lucie, providing enough storage to fill Spaceship Earth at Walt Disney World's Epcot more than 1,000 times. The C-44 reservoir is expected to be completed by 2020; the C-43 reservoir by Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West is doubling its effective treatment area to further reduce phosphorus in Everglades-bound water. Phase 1 is scheduled to be done in December 2018 at a cost of $79.8 million. The Bolles Canal in the Everglades Agricultural Area is being upgraded to move water more flexibly into wetlands to improve water quality before it reaches Everglades National Park. The $3.8 million project will be done early next year. Top: Construction begins on C-43 reservoirs (Photo from The News- Press) Bottom: The C-44 reservoir will be able to store enough water to fill Disney s Spaceship Earth over 1,000 times A steadfast commitment to the restoration schedule and completing projects is truly how environmental restoration gets accomplished. From: Dan O Keefe (SFWMD) featured in the Tampa Bay Times FWC Releases Videos to Educate Floridians on How Best to Avoid Conflicts with Bears: December 1, 2016 As part of a continuing effort to reduce conflicts with bears, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is releasing two new videos in the Living with Florida Black Bears series, designed to educate the public about how to safely coexist with bears in Florida. The Cause for a Call video outlines when and how people can reduce conflicts with bears by taking simple steps such as securing trash and other attractants. The BearWise Communities video describes how to make a neighborhood BearWise. BearWise communities S W F A E P N E W S L E T T E R

11 P A G E 11 work to coexist with bears. This video educates residents on when and how to report bear conflicts or sightings, and how to secure food items that attract bears to a neighborhood. Unsecured trash and attractants, such as bird feeders, are the number one cause for bears coming into contact with people. This summer FWC researchers, in partnership with Dr. Joseph Clark, a leading black bear scientist, employed cutting-edge modeling to confirm that Florida s robust black bear population is estimated to be over 4,000 bears. More bears in Florida means more chances for human-bear interaction, which can be dangerous. The new videos are being added to the existing Living with Florida Black Bears series, which already includes the following videos: How to Make Your Wildlife Feeders Bear-Resistant How FWC Conducts Bear Population Estimates A Day in the Life of a Florida Black How to Protect Pets and Livestock from Bears The FWC plans to release more bear-related videos in the coming months. The short videos help meet the information needs of a busy public. To view the Living with Florida Black Bears video series, visit MyFWC.com/Bear and click on Brochures & Other Materials. In addition to educational efforts, the FWC is providing financial assistance to local communities so residents and businesses can take actions to reduce human-bear conflicts. To ensure Floridians have the resources necessary to properly secure their garbage, the FWC is currently working to distribute $825,000 to communities to become more BearWise by funding bear-resistant equipment and other methods to reduce conflicts. These efforts are in addition to our already robust Bear Management Program, which includes over 100 staff working year-round to educate people about bears and respond to human-bear conflicts. FWC urges communities to become BearWise to avoid bear conflicts as shown below. (Photos from FWC Living with Bears Website) From: FWC News Release