Editors: Bill Belleville and John Parker
Aldo Leopold
Wekiva Faces Major Threat
by Fred Harden, FOWR President
(Editor's note: The following is a letter being sent to selected residents who live in or near the Wekiva Basin. It also serves as an alert to FOWR members.)
The character and quality of the Wekiva River and its surrounding environment are facing one of the most critical challenges in recent history. Although in the midst of one of the fastest growing areas in the country, the Wekiva still represents the best of what Florida used to be all about. This may soon change.
We need your support in helping to guarantee the landmark Wekiva River Protection Act (WRPA) is not weakened. The decade-old state-mandated WRPA was legislated specifically to help preserve the treasure of the Wekiva River, not just its water quality, but the watershed and its related ecosystems. It requires that land within the designated area remain rural in character, and that the comprehensive plans of each of the three counties through which the river flows acknowledge the protective intent of the Act. 'Rural in character' has been defined elsewhere in Seminole County as one unit per acre. If housing density is increased--as the Seminole County Commission indicates it intends to do--we feel this will be a direct violation of the WRPA. Increased density brings: increased traffic and, with that, more animals, including bears killed on the highway; a precedent for commercial zoning along SR 46; an increase in pollutant entering the river with a resulting decrease in water quality; possible lowering of the groundwater from increased pumping; noise pollution; and the reduction of habitat for wildlife, and related impacts of urbanization.
At stake is the loss of the largest and most pristine remaining piece of natural land in Central Florida--a magnificent environment that represents various land types from sand pine scrub to hardwood forest and which protects a number of imperiled animal and plant species. Moreover, the quality of rural life of those who already live in the WRPA will undoubtedly change. We ask you to immediately fax, write or otherwise contact the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) in Tallahassee, Fl, and to copy your comments to your Seminole County Commissioner ASAP:
* Mr. Charles Gauthier, Florida DCA, 2555 Shumard Oak Blvd.,Tallahassee, FL 32399-2100 (Fax: 850-488-8466)
* Hon. Randy Morris, Win Adams, Dick VanDer Weide, Grant Maloy, Daryl McLain. Seminole County Services Bldg., 1101 East First Street, Sanford, FL 32771.
Attack of the Chinese tallow and other exotics
by Deborah Green, FOWR Board
If you've been to South Florida, you've seen the takeover of natural habitats by the Brazilian pepper, the Australian melaleuca tree and the Australian pine. If you have driven through parts of Georgia, you've seen the kudzu vine (from Asia) take over entire hillsides. Does Central Florida have exotic plant problems also?
Unfortunately, yes!
One of the most threatening invasive plants in our area is the Chinese tallow, which can take over wetlands choking out willows, wax myrtles, red maples, and even cypress trees. Acknowledging its stature as our most invasive wetland tree, Chinese tallow is called "Melaleuca of the North." Chinese tallow is also called Popcorn tree for the way its pods explode, sending seeds flying. Woodpeckers, jays and mockingbirds will carry and disperse tallow seeds, and seeds can float down drains and still germinate. And the tree is able to bear seeds as early as its second year.
Since January l997 Chinese tallow has been on the Florida Department of Agriculture's list of plants prohibited in new landscaping and is no longer for sale. However, there is no compulsory removal of existing plantings, and the plant is spreading. (In the Wekiva River Basin, Chinese tallow is going wild on a small piece of private property on Blackwater Creek, threatening downstream areas within Seminole State Forest, Lower Wekiva River State Preserve and the Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve. Along the Little Wekiva River there are many Chinese tallows in homeowners' yards). Following Tallahassee's example, we need to organize "tallow busters" to help public land managers keep Chinese tallow out of our natural lands.
October and November are the best months to treat a deciduous tree like tallow, according to some experts. As the leaves fall, plant sugars are going down to the roots. An herbicide applied to the injured stem travels\ downward and is more effective at this time. A Florida Department of Environmental Protection pamphlet "Ornamental Beauty Gone Wild" explains invasiveness of Chinese tallow, gives specifications for control and lists replacement trees. Order free copies of this pamphlet (to give your neighbors with tallow trees) from Bureau of Aquatic Plant Management, Technical Services Section, 3917 Commonwealth Blvd., MS710, Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000.
But there are also other troublesome exotics. Along the Little Wekiva River and to a lesser extent along the Wekiva River, elephant ear has taken over stream banks, in some areas pushing out native vegetation. Another pest in Central Florida is the air potato vine. Our state parks are mandated to keep exotics out, and Wekiva Basin GEOPark, at the back door of a suburban area, has to continually kill back air potato that creeps in along the park edges. Cogon grass takes over along highway rights of way as well as in agricultural lands and is a weed the park spends a lot of time and money to keep out. Hydrilla is the worst of the submerged water weeds, an aquarium plant set loose. Hydrilla is now a problem in Sylvan Lake. The attractive but waterway-clogging water hyacinth has been here for so long we have learned to live with it. Introduced weevils have been established as part of a biological control effort.
Skunk-vine, a big pest in parts of South Florida, has taken over Mead Gardens and has to be constantly weeded out at the Rollins College Arboretum. Nearby Leu Gardens also has to be constantly vigilant to get rid of small infestations. Skunk-vine dies back after freezes, but the amazingly abundant seeds remain and may be carried by birds. Another plant with abundant seeds is Chinaberry. Birds carry small bead-like seeds, and the plant comes up in almost any disturbed area. The attractive Golden rain tree can invade a backyard via seeds from a neighbor's tree. The cat-claw vine, a yellow-flowered tropical American species, is difficult to get rid of once started. Although Brazilian pepper is only a problem along roadways south of here or along the coast, seeds of pepper plants in Central Florida may be eaten by migrating birds and contribute to infestations elsewhere. Like most of the exotics, Brazilian pepper does not support the diversity of wildlife of native plants.
Not quite so bad...
Paper mulberry is locally invasive along roadsides. The camphor tree and ear pod tree are two other trees that invade natural areas as does the shrub with colorful little flowers, lantana. Bamboo plants from the orient can take over as can Boston fern (shield fern). Japanese climbing fern is a pest in local areas of Soldier's Creek Park between Longwood and Sanford. The attractive yellow-flowered Golden Poinciana is seeding in on its own in Central Florida. Al-though Japanese honeysuckle is not a big invader of natural areas in Central Florida, it is on the worst list for other parts of the state as is asparagus fern.
So... if you rip out the exotics, what do you plant instead? An excuse for planting Chinese tallow is often its fall color. If you've got a wet area , red maple is a good native substitute. Sweetgum is even better because it requires less water and its spiky balls have more wildlife value.
Other possibilities are several native hollies with berries birds like. For a vine with fall color, plant Virginia creeper, which also has berries eaten by birds. Our native trumpet creeper and coral honeysuckle are attractive vine replacements and their red or orange flowers attract humming-birds. Live oak or laurel oak can replace camphor or chinaberry. All the oaks are excellent to attract songbirds because of the many insects feeding on them. To replace golden rain tree, plant Southern magnolia, which has beautiful white flowers and red fruits eaten by squirrels and birds.
With water supply only going to diminish in the future, think xeriscape, cultivating plants that need a minimum of irrigation. Nurseries specializing in native plants are small compared to other commercial nurseries, and staff tend to be very helpful and informative about the plants. The native nurseries locally are: Green Images near Christmas (407) 568-1333, the Natives in Davenport (Polk County) (941) 422-6664, and Biosphere in Winter Garden (407) 656-8277. As another source of information, go to a meeting of the Florida Native Plant Society meeting. Contact: President Ron Blair (407) 896-4715. Gather your ammo and convince your neighbors to get rid of the exotics!
Deborah Green, author of "Wekiwa Springs State Park Habitat Tour" and the forthcoming "Watching Wildlife in the Wekiva Basin," will be working with GeoPark and aquatic preserve staff on a "Tallow task force." To help, e-mail: green@ao.net.
The Wood duck, our Beautiful Duck of the Swamps
In shady side channels along the Wekiva River, where there is not much boat traffic, you might startle some wood ducks. Male wood ducks are brilliantly colored with green, black and white on their large head and a slicked-back crest. The females are dull brown with a white horizontal teardrop mark around the eye. If you are canoeing on the Wekiva and see what looks like ducks flying, these are probably wood ducks, as wood ducks are the only ducks in Florida to nest in forested wetlands.
Wood ducks make their nests in large natural cavities in old cypress trees sometime between March and July. Since large cypresses were mostly logged out by the early 1900's here and along other Florida rivers, wood ducks have suffered and have declined in numbers. Artificial nest boxes, positioned at the side of water, seem to help. In the cavity, 6-15 creamy white eggs are laid and incubated over a month.
Ducks are among the birds that are precocial, kind of like precocious, which means able to swim and follow their mother almost from time of hatching. (Birds that remain in the nest and are fed by their parents for a period of weeks are called altricial.) The little wood ducks hatch out of eggs in a tree cavity many feet above the water surface (or occasionally over dry land). One day after they hatch, the little ducklings must one by one make the big leap down to the water or ground below. In summer 5 or more ducklings will be swimming behind their mother. The mother will flap her wings vigorously to drive off a barred owl or other predator trying to grab one of her offspring.
- Deborah Green. Excerpted from the forthcoming "Watching Wildlife in the Wekiva River Basin"
Program Review: Rollins Prof SharesVision of Wekiva
by Steve Phelan, FOWR Board
* John Nolen's plan for St. Petersburg in 1923 provided for a greenway circling the city, protection of the remaining viable fresh water stores on the peninsula, and preservation of the barrier islands. Fifty years after the plan was violated time after time, amid the drought disasters of the '70's, the city adopted a plan that very much mirrored Nolen's original, but in many ways it was too late.
* FOWR will be better off taking a proactive planning position about the entire three-county area-with the Wekiva Geopark as the central 'greenway'. We could start by identifying the choicest environmentally valuable areas outside the protection zone as well as inside. If we work with the counties and DCA to create additional and contiguous greenways through these unpaved areas, the state has considerable funds to support a growth that is high quality.
* Florida is the hot topic in the world of urban design and planning.
* The Wekiva River is one of the seven textbook cases in a standard text for greenway urban planning.
* Our ideal should be to create the place we want for our children to play in, one that connects their neighborhood to the natural wealth of the river to both support them physically and spiritually.
* We need to worry about extinction of plant life in Flor-ida but more importantly extinction of experience of the natural world in a healthy state.
These very important issues were communicated to us at the October FOWR meeting presented by R. Bruce Stephenson, Professor of Environmental Studies (ES) at Rollins College. Amid the controversies about encroachments into both the park and its protection zone, the Friends of Wekiva learned of a "Vision" for Central Florida- with the Wekiva basin as the emerald in the crown.
The lecture began with the lessons of St. Petersburg which Stephenson has chronicled in his recent book, Visions of Eden (Ohio State Univ. Pr., 1997). In 1923 John Nolen, a prominent urban designer in the tradition of Olmsted, drew up an enlightened plan for St. Pete. The plan failed at the polls and thereafter in practice. So, Stephenson argues, we stand at the same crossroad now in central Florida. Yet we have a unique opportunity to work with the DCA to plan parks, trails, and wetlands both to create a preserve and enhance property values as well. Using slides showing his plan for Winter Springs (still under consideration by DCA), Stephenson argued that a proactive stance for a greenway vision in the entire Wekiva basin would help mitigate the effects of increased density inside and adjacent to the protection area.
Showing an aerial slide of New York City, Bruce argued the Wekiva River is the "Central Park" of our region. The world of urban design is watching the Wekiva and what we do with it. Stephenson held up the text for greenway urban planning that included case studies from the whole nation-including the Wekiva.
As a result of Bruce's presentation, he and FOWR Board member Nancy Prine have discussed engaging the Rollins community on the idea of a "Vision" plan for the area. I have drawn up a proposal for a set of internships that might help us get this plan going. Once I get Env. Stud. Dept. approval, I will bring it to our next meeting.
Those interested in helping us brainstorm on this Wekiva-RollinsVISION are urged to call or email me: Tel. 646-2409; phelan@Rollins.Edu
Don't Forget to Vote FOR AMENDMENT FIVE !
One of the most important constitutional amendments in years is being considered during the upcoming November 1998 elections. It is Amendment 5 and it gives us the tools to save our natural lands, waters and wildlife. This amendment allows Florida's legislature to continue us-ing low-interest bonds to buy endangered lands at today's lower prices. It also brings freshwater and coastal fisheries into a single agency. So far the amendment has support of both Republican and Democratic leaders, such as Jeb Bush and Buddy McKay.
If you want to help work the polls or man phone banks, please contact The Nature Conservancy in Winter Park or visit: www.fishandwildlife.org
Upcoming Events:
Wekiva River Awareness Day Set for Dec. 5 Mark your calendar for Sat, Dec. 5 for a fun day of festivities that will include a canoe run, food & drinks, and an entertaining program. We're still putting the finishing touches on the annual Wekiva River Awareness Day. But in keeping with past traditions, it will involve both water and fun, and will begin around 8 a.m.
Contact Katie Moncrief (Tel. 322-4470 or 862-5432), chair of the event for more info or if you would like to help with the activities. Look for a postcard or flyer in the mail with more information.
Other upcoming FOWR events include:
* Nov. 5. Thurs. 6:30 p.m. Seventh Day Adventist Church. Markham Woods Rd.
Monthly Board Meeting. Public invited.
* Dec. 3. Thurs. 6:30 p.m.
Monthly Board Meeting.
7:30 p.m. Special Program:
Results of a new "Fish Study. of the Wekiva River."
Newspaper Coverage of Issues Puts Wekiva Back into Spotlight
by Bill Belleville, FOWR Board
The "Orlando Sentinel" has finally placed the issues of the Wekiva back squarely in the public spotlight in a series of articles and editorials over the last several months.
It is, without doubt, the best spat of publicity the river has received by the paper in the last several years. Thanks to their editorial staff for realizing the urgency of the issues now emerging in the river basin.
We'll excerpt several of those reports here:
*
"Residents and environ-mental groups announced their intent to sue Seminole County to stop plans for a large neighborhood in the protected area DCA officials threatened to sue the county, saying the zoning change [of Astor Farms] violated the Wekiva River Protection Act that requires the area remain rural. Residents say they fear the project will destroy their quality of life." - Sept. 11, 1998
*
"Ten years ago, environmentalists celebrated when the state passed a law protecting the Wekiva River from urban assault. Today, they look around Seminole County and wonder exactly what they won. Slowly, but steadily, developments in Seminole have crept closer to the pristine river. A 19,000 acre area that by law is supposed to be rural now is dotted with suburban neighborhoods...
And there will be more, if the County Commission has its way.
In Seminole County, officials have changed the rules for the protected area until much of it is no less suburban than the rest of the county. Seminole commissioners say they have done a great deal to protect the river. Nevertheless, they say, more homes can be built near it without causing problems. And they strongly advocate property rights. They think developers, some of them friends, should be allow3ed to get the most money possible from each acre of land. ... Governments in Lake and Orange counties, meanwhile, have strictly adhered to the river-protection law.
[In Seminole], in the ten years since the law was passed Seminole has
approved 2,400 new homes in the area..."
- Sept. 20, 1998
*
"One of the problems we have in approving additional development [in the WRPA] is proving there's not an impact on the river," said County Planner Colleen Rotella.
"Protecting the natural rural character of the Wekiva and basin is a resource investment," said Jim Lee of the Friends of the Wekiva River."
- Sept. 23, 1998
"
"The dictionary defines the word "rural'' in pretty simplistic terms: Of or characteristic of the country, country life or country people; rustic. The word connotes space, openness, room.
A decade ago, state law-makers had exactly that in mind when they heeded the recom-mendations of a study group. They drew a line around the Wekiva River and directed that 180-square-miles of land in Lake, Orange and Seminole counties remain rural.
That concept, though, apparently baffles Seminole County commissioners. They now seem to think that keeping the land rural includes de-nuding hundreds of acres to build subdivisions with row upon row of houses. Cut a swath here, another swath there. What does it matter?
It matters a great deal. Central Florida can't just sit back and suffer the consequences of Seminole County's apparent confusion. State lawmakers had good reason to take an aggressive position a decade ago to protect the Wekiva River basin. Explosive growth threatened to consume the area... Their objective: Prevent homes, asphalt, cars and people from covering over dirt and sand, and replacing trees and wildlife.
..Seminole County officials should quit trying to circumvent the rules and start reading the dictionary."
- Editorial, Oct 11, 1998
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