2006 BIRTH
This is too close for you to be; it's possible to cause the mother to abandon her calf
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/newsletter/
GENERAL:
The overall dredging project consists of dredging the main channel (that was last dredged in 1984), extending the channel out to the Bill Watts tower, & straightening the beginning of the channel. The dredged channel depth will be 6’@ MLLW. The width of the channel will be 60’ at the bottom. All navigational aids (channel markers) will be replaced in conjunction with the dredging. The dredging will remove all sand & rocks down to the specified depth. The dredged material (termed the dredge spoil) will be pumped ashore to a temporary spoil disposal site. The sandy spoil will be allowed to drain (i.e. to dewater) & will then be hauled away. :
The cost estimate for the project is $9,000,000. :
The County has previously engaged the services of HPA & Dial-Cordy, consultants experienced in dredging projects, to assist with permitting, plans & specifications, & overall project coordination.:
PERMITS::
The project requires permits from both the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) & the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE). Permit status with each agency is summarized below.:
FDEP: :
A comprehensive permit application was submitted to FDEP in March 2006. In February 2007, FDEP granted a permit exemption for the main channel that was previously dredged. FDEP must still issue a permit for the extension of the channel, the straightening of the channel, & for the temporary spoil disposal area. We will submit a separate permit for the temporary spoil area within a week or two & FDEP will expedite the review & approval. FDEP permit approval for the channel extension & the straightening is expected in May or June 2007. :
ACOE: :
Despite obtaining a maintenance dredge exemption from FDEP, we must obtain a separate permit or exemption from the ACOE. We are pursuing an exemption with ACOE. :
A comprehensive permit application was submitted to the ACOE in March 2006. In December 2006, the ACOE responded & requested additional information. That additional information was submitted to the ACOE in January 2007. :
We are requesting a maintenance dredge exemption, similar to what FDEP granted, from the ACOE. However, the channel was last dredged in 1984 & an exemption is generally only good for 10 years. So while Hernando County was working with the ACOE on the (failed) Federal channel project, the 10-year period & the exemption elapsed. Our elected officials are assisting in obtaining the needed exemption.:
The ACOE must also permit the channel extension & straightening & our consultants are working with them to provide any & all information the ACOE needs in order to permit the project.:
SPOIL DISPOSAL SITE::
Hernando County has leased a site on Eagles Nest Drive for a temporary spoil disposal site. The dredge spoil will be pumped ashore & dewatered. After dewatering, the material will be hauled away. :
Upon completion of the project, the site will be leveled & returned to the owners.:
FINANCING::
Project funding for the estimated $9,000,000 cost is coming from Hernando County & State funds.:
The Florida legislature (due largely to the efforts of State Senator Fasano & former State Representative Russell) set aside funds in a Small County Dredging Project Program specifically for dredging projects such as ours. Initially, $3,750,000 has been reserved for the Hernando County project & we have the opportunity to obtain up to $3,000,000 of additional program funds. The balance will be made up by Hernando County.
2006 BIRTH This is too close for you to be; it's possible to cause the mother to abandon her calf
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These warm Gulf waters seem to have kept many manatees in the rivers so use caution when boating on them. Also remember is is ILLEGAL to harass a manatee. Especailly DO NOT mess with a mother with a baby. We had an incident in the first part of August where people drove a mother away from it's newborn baby and it took two days for them to get re-united. This was extremely fortunate because most of the time she would have abandoned that baby. Yes they are cute , but they don't look so cute when they are dead.
Mannatees cannot tolerate water below 66 degrees for long so in the winter months they move into coastal rivers and areas around warm water sources such as power plant discharges. Throughout Florida you will notice MANATEE ZONE signs with speed limits from NO WAKE to 25 mph. Gulf temperatures range from a low of around 57 degrees in February to a high in the upper 80's in August.
WEEKI WACHEE way back in 1947
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During the Summer months BUCCANEEER BAY is open and you can swim in the spring water just a few feet down from the actual spring. Since the current is about 5 knots ( 6MPH) it is a good thing that the swim area is in an eddy area. There are waterslides for the adventurous, but it's a good test of your endurance to climb up the stairs.
River Boat Rides are a dryer way to enjoy the river and the wildlife that thrives in the area. the Glass bottom boats are long gone, but since the water is so clear you will be able to see right to the bottom.
River Cleanup |
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River flow rates are diminishing again due to a dry spell we are having in early 2006. There is still a lot of sand moving downriver as the river, but since the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Managment area, locally known as the bluffs, is temporarily closed it ins minimized.We urge caution while traversing the river as the current is still quite fast in the bends and there are overhanging limbs that can seem to reach out and grab you. Rembember that normally downriver traffic has the right of way IRREGARDLESS of vessel type since they cannot stop, however COLREGS require you to aviod collision. The larger boat needs deeper water so if you are in the shallower draft vessel GET OUT OF THE WAY.
It is not recommended that power boats over 16 feet go above Big Cypress Canal, the river is too shallow narrow, the overhangs too low. Big Cypress is approximately 1/2 way up the river from the Gulf. Its a great canoe and kayak river above that point, but power boats can cause a problem if they are not operated extremely carefully. There are places where the river is only 20 feet wide in the turns above Big Cypress. If you have bimini and insist on going up past big cypress be prepared to loose it. Don't forget the sunscreen even though the river is shaded a good deal you can still get roasted.
Manatees Are Welcome Guests Along The River
There are two clubs which may be of interest to you. The Hernando Environmental Land Protectors which meets the second Tuesday at the Weeki Wachee Area Club at 6:00 PM and the Hernando Reef Explorers Dive Club which meets at Kally K's on US 19 on the first Thursday of the month at 6:00 PM. Both of these clubs work to enhance the environment with many projects.
Hernando Reef Explorers Dive Club's web page www.hernandoreefexplorers.com
When Pastor Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.We confess that we have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and call it Pluralism.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of Your will and to openly ask these things in the name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen!"
Hurricanes tend to dominate southern weather conversation, especially when we have two Category 4s back to back like Katrina and Rita. We have been lucky so far this year and have not had the events like we did last year - Charlie, Frances Ivan and Jeanie.
The Emergency Management Dept. has prepared an excellent Flood Preparedness Handbook that everyone should be familiar with if you live anywhere where hurricanes and floods are a problem. Click on the link below to see this handbook.
HURRICANE INFORMATION
Pure, Natural Florida |
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Chuck and Friend at the SWAMP FEST |
In Call Joyce Steele at 352-596-3757 for vendor information.
To learn more about THE WEEKI WACHEE SWAMP FEST look at the following web page:
COASTLINE REALTY SERVICES, Inc.
The BIG event of the area is the SWAMP FEST, This year we were in a new location on banks of Jenkins Creek at Linda Pederson Park. This location is dust free since it is paved and the vendors are around the edges. We are addressing the transportation problems we had with over 65,000 attendees in 2004.
click here for Swamp Fest Homepage
