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SWFAEP Events: How Did It Go?
I n s i d e T h i s
E d i t i o n
SWFAEP Spring
Luncheon
SWFAEP SWAG
Upcoming Conferences
Sponsorship
Opportunities
Other Events
Career Opportunities
SWFAEP Events Coming
Soon
SWFAEP Elections
In The News
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
Apri l 2017
SWFAEP Newsletter
Since our last newsletter, SWFAEP has hosted two great events!
On February 18th SWFAEP partnered up with the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foun-
dation (SCCF) to host a Sea Turtle Stake Painting Party to help prepare for the up-
coming sea turtle nesting season. These stakes are then used to help to mark and pro-
tect the sea turtle nest. Every year in late spring, sea turtles (primarily loggerhead)
arrive on Sanibel and Captiva for the nesting season. The SCCF Sea Turtle Program
surveys 18 miles of beach, from the Sanibel lighthouse to Blind Pass. During this party
over 200 stakes were painted! We even had some junior environmental scientists get
in on the fun (photo below on the right).
On March 15th SWFAEP hosted a networking social at Big Top
Brewing Company in Sarasota. This event had a very successful
turn out. Big thanks to Matt Miller with WRA for helping us
gather such a great group! (photo below on the left).
SWFAEP Events Survey
In January we conducted a membership survey for 2017. We had great participation and learned a lot about our membership. But we ended up with even more questions about plan-ning for events in 2017. That is why we have put together a survey specific to SWFAEP events. This is a brief 10 question survey and will really help us get a better idea of what types of events out membership is looking for. It should take less than 5 minutes to complete the survey, so please take just a few minutes to complete it by clicking on the icon below.
P A G E 3
Help Support
SWFAEP by
purchasing
SWAG!
SWFAEP SWAG!
Stay In The Loop
Now is the time to stock up
on your SWFAEP SWAG!
Show your SWFAEP pride
and help support us by pur-
chasing SWAG. T-shirts and
koozies are available for pur-
chase. 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.
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!
Most people know the Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the largest animal on the planet. But try these facts on for size
Their hearts are the size of a car, their tongues weight as much as an adult elephant. In fact, even at birth the blue whale weight around 8,800 pounds with a length of some 26 feet!
Wil
dli
fe
Fun F
act!
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 up-
dated by joining our group on Linkedin.
The Environmental Permitting Summer School has been held for the past 30 consecutive years and is attended by more than 850 attorneys, consultants, engineers, state and local government officials, developers, landowners
and others with a strong interest in environmental issues in Florida.
Programs feature a unique “break-out” format and are substantially revised and updated each year to afford the most advanced and current instruction available on Florida’s environmental, energy and growth management
laws, rules and programs.
For a Schedule of Events, Hotel Information, or Registration Information
Please visit Environmental Permitting Summer School Website
Call for Abstracts
Save the date for the 20th Annual Florida Brownfields Conference hosted by the Florida Brownfields Association and its members. As always, this Conference offers a great opportunity to network and share expertise with a
unique group of stakeholders with an interest in Florida Brownfields redevelopment. Click here for more details on submissions.
S W F A E P N E W S L E T T E R
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 email us at [email protected]
P A G E 6
S W F A E P N E W S L E T T E R
Rookery Bay Lunch and Learn: Sea Turtles—April 18, 2017 12:00pm to 1:00pm at
Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, Naples, FL
Dr. Jim Fourqurean, Director, Marine Education and Research Initiative at Florida International
University and Professor at Large at the University of Western Australia in Perth will be speaking
on Green Sea Turtle populations and conservation measures.
Registration is $10.00 per person for Friends of Rookery Bay Members and $15.00 for non-
members. Click HERE for additional information and details on how to register.
CREW Strolling Science Seminar: Making Wildlife Observations Count– April 29,
2017 at 9:00 am at Bird Rookery Swamp (1295 Shady Hollow boulevard) Naples, FL
Join Dr.Herman for this hands-on strolling science seminar where you will learn how to turn a
regular hike into something more. On this hike, we will see how these everyday nature observa-
tions can be scientific and used to increase the conservation of wildlife. Learn how to make your
nature hikes today ensure that wildlife can continue to fill future generations with wonder.
John Herman worked as a Herpetology Zookeeper at The Toledo Zoo, received his Master’s and
Doctoral degrees from The University of Toledo, and is now a Wildlife Biologist at Florida Gulf
Coast University. One of his favorite pastimes is walking the CREW trails with his two kids.
Prepare to get your feet wet, wear shoes and clothes that can get dirty! It would be helpful to have
a notebook, binoculars, and a camera/smart phone . Registration is required. Cost is $15.00 for
CREW Members and $25.00 for Non-Members. Click HERE for additional information or to regis-
ter
Fourth International Symposium on Bioremediation and Sustainable Environmental
Technologies- May 22 – 25, 2017 at Hyatt Regency Miami Hotel, Miami, FL
The technical program will present information on advances in bioremediation and the incorpora-
tion of green and sustainable remediation (GSR) practices in remediation in a series of technology-
focused sessions. The development and use of advanced tools for assessing and monitoring biore-
mediation and natural attenuation, as well as the challenges of applying bioremediation at various
types of complex sites and under extreme climatic conditions, will be considered. Several sessions
will address biodegradation of emerging contaminants and biofuels and the evaluation and mitiga-
tion of vapor intrusion.
A series of sessions will cover biodegradation and remediation of crude oil in various environ-
ments and the management of petroleum hydrocarbon sites. Innovative biological processes and
applications for pollution prevention and waste management will be addressed. GSR practices will
be discussed as they apply to all stages of remediation, from remedy selection and optimization to
long-term monitoring and management strategies. Sessions will address the adaptation of remedia-
tion systems to climate change, international perspectives on GSR, and the factors that affect the
implementation of bioremediation in various regions of the world. In addition, several sessions will
focus on munitions response and remediation of munitions constituents.
Click HERE for additional information on the event and registration details
2017 FAEP Annual Conference & Training Symposium-September 14-15, 2017 at
Four Points Sheraton, Tallahassee, FL
SAVE THE DATE for the statewide FAEP Annual Conference. The Tallahassee chapter is also cur-
rently soliciting abstracts for speakers and seeking sponsors for the event. Details on the confer-
ence are available HERE and will continue to be updated as more information is available.
Upcoming Events
Career Opportunities
P A G E 7
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 con-tact us at [email protected]
Tell Us About Your Events
Have An Opening?
Send a brief description of the
positions duties, requirements,
and contact information, and
we will feature it in our bi-
monthly newsletter.
Details of the position can be
emailed to Heather at
Also check the SWFAEP Website for links to current job postings.
Environmental Compliance Inspector– 7G Environmental Compliance Man-
agement.- Fort Myers, FL
This position entails performing environmental compliance audits of regulated petroleum storage tank systems. The chosen candidate will be trained to complete a route of a certain number of audits each month. The position requires working outside in all reasonable weather conditions. The chosen candidate may be away from home for more than 5 days at a time. The chosen candi-date will be required to obtain multiple state certifications within 30-90 days of employment.
Job history should include a combination of company travel, customer service, light mechanical duties, electronic correspondence, and report/work ticket writing. High School Diploma required, organized habits, reliability to maintain a strict schedule, strong communication skills and willing-ness to travel extensively are also necessary.
Click HERE for the full job posting and information on how to apply.
Aquatic Technicians– The Lake Doctors, Inc.– Various Locations
Seeking Aquatic Technicians who enjoy working in the great outdoors with boats and motors, four-wheel drive trucks, ATV's and other equipment, can talk effectively with customers about their lakes and ponds, have decent math skills and take pride in their work. The main responsibili-ties of this position is treating aquatic vegetation and algae at established accounts. Other duties include assisting with fountain and aeration installations, fish stocking of bass, bluegills, catfish and grass carp, water clarification and planting of natural aquatic vegetation. We are looking for a highly motivated individual that works well on their own, yet is a strong team player.
Requirements: Valid, clean Florida driver’s license, pass a background check and drug test, high school diploma, reliable transportation to and from work, college helpful but not required, expe-rience in lawn service or pest control very helpful, ability to read and interpret herbicide labels, operating procedures, and safety rules, possess good time management and organizational skills. Click HERE for the full job posting and information on how to apply.
SWFAEP Events Coming Soon
Interested in Joining the SWFAEP Board?
Serving as a SWFAEP Board Member provides a unique opportunity to lead a growing organization of
environmental professionals . Our mission is to work together to further the quality of the practice of
the environmental professional in the state of Florida , with a focus on southwest Florida. SWFAEP
Board Members strive to achieve this goal through the planning and facilitation of events that are in-
formative, educational and provide opportunities for environmental professionals to network with others
in their field.
The SWFAEP will begin accepting nominations for the Board of Directors in April 2017.
Elections will be held in May 2017.
Please send all inquiries and nominations via e-mail to [email protected].
Networking Social—May 11, 2017
A SWFAEP networking social will be held Thursday May 11th at Fort Myers Brewing Company
(12811 Commerce Lakes Drive #28, Fort Myers, FL ) starting at 6:00 pm. Come join us and meet
your fellow environmental professionals. Members and non-members are welcome.
Wetland Delineation & Hydric Soils Training Workshop– June 1 & 2, 2017
SWFAEP will be hosting a Wetland Delineation and Hydric Soils Training Workshop June 1 & 2, 2017. This workshop will in-
clude a combination of both classroom and field training. Classroom training will be held at the Estero Community Center (9200
Corkscrew Palms Blvd, Estero, FL ) and field training will be held at the nearby Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed
(CREW). The cost will be $500.00 for SWFAEP members and $575 for non-members, lunch will be provided both days. Addi-
tional registration information coming soon.
SWFAEP Luncheon with Patrick O’Donnell of Rookery Bay –June 28, 2017
Patrick O’Donnell, a Fisheries Biologist with Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, will be our presenter for our
June SWFAEP luncheon. Patrick will be presenting on his research in the Ten Thousand Islands concerning estuarine fish nurse-
ries impacted by canal systems The event will be held at the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (300 Tower
Road, Naples, FL ) from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. Additional registration details coming soon.
Have an idea for an event?
SWFAEP is looking for your feedback on what kinds of events you would like to participate in. Please make sure to take our
Event Survey and you can always email us with suggestions at [email protected]
P A G E 9
FWC documents panther kittens north of Caloosahatchee River: March 27, 2017
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has verified the presence of at least two pan-
ther kittens north of the Caloosahatchee River in southwest Florida. These kittens are presumed to be the
offspring of the first wild female panther documented north of the river since 1973.
“This is good news for Florida panther conservation,” said Kipp Frohlich, deputy director for the FWC’s Divi-
sion of Habitat and Species Conservation. “Until now, we only had evidence of panthers breeding south of the
Caloosahatchee. These pictures of a female with kittens indicate there are now panthers breeding north of
the river.”
Using trail cameras, biologists have monitored male panthers on various public and private lands north of the
Caloosahatchee River for several years. In 2015, biologists collected a photo of what appeared to be a female
panther in the FWC’s Babcock Ranch Preserve Wildlife Management Area in Charlotte County. They de-
ployed additional cameras in the summer of 2016, and captured more images of what they believed to be a
female panther.
“Early this year, the cameras captured images of a female that appeared to be nursing,” said Darrell Land,
FWC panther team leader. “For many years, the Caloosahatchee River has appeared to be a major obstacle
to northward movement of female panthers. This verification of kittens with the female demonstrates pan-thers can expand their breeding territory across the river naturally.”
“This is a major milestone on the road to recovery for the Florida panther,” said FWC Chairman Brian Ya-
blonski. “We are mindful and appreciative of all the many partners and cooperators who have supported
panther conservation efforts over the years leading to meaningful moments like this.”
The FWC works closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ensure panther conservation on both pri-
vate and public lands. Staff also work to continue building support and cooperation among private landowners
who maintain working landscapes and ranches that provide important habitat for panthers.
“This is good news for panther recovery, and the Service is committed to working with landowners to make
panthers and private land ownership compatible,” said Larry Williams, State Supervisor of Ecological Services
for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Florida residents can support panther conservation efforts by purchasing a "Protect the Panther" license
plate at BuyaPlate.com. Fees from license plate sales are the primary funding source for the FWC’s research
and management of Florida panthers. These funds contributed to the successful documentation of this im-
portant panther conservation milestone.
You can help with panther research by reporting panther sightings, and uploading photos and videos to the
FWC at MyFWC.com/PantherSightings.
In The News
The discovery of
panther kittens north of
the river comes just
weeks after the U.S Fish
and Wildlife Service
updated the estimated
panther population
from 100 to 180 adults
and sub adults to 120 to
230 adults and sub
adults
From: FWC News Release
Living relics: A look at gopher tortoises: March 29, 2017
Before computers, roads, farming and language, while we were still burning
ourselves trying to control fire, the gopher tortoise was here, burrowing in
the sandy soils of a Florida that was nearly three times as big as it is today.
As residents of the state for nearly 2 million years, gopher tortoises are truly
living relics of a time gone past and a testament to what it takes to survive.
Deep in their burrows, extending more than 40 feet underground, they wit-
nessed the extinction of many other Florida residents, including dire wolves
and 500 pound armadillos.
The burrow has quite possibly been its one true saving grace and most likely
the reasoning behind the scientific name Gopherus polyphe-
mus, where polyphemus refers to the giant cyclops from "The Odyssey" that
trapped Odysseus and his men in his cave. These skillfully crafted burrows
have helped to buffer them from fire, predators and extreme climates throughout the years, providing a safe and
secure refuge for escape when needed.
Their hardened, calloused exterior, even at a young age, evokes a certain air of wisdom, a notion of resilience and
endurance. Sturdy and solid, they have accumulated an instinctive understanding of the land, an understanding that
is ingrained into every growth ring in their shell and every wrinkle in their skin. That knowledge has been passed
on for millennia, allowing for countless generations to succeed even as they dodged the thunderous footsteps of
mammoths and sloths standing 13-feet tall.
Yet after all the years of learning and evolving, this inherited body of knowledge had no way of preparing future
generations for the inventions of automobiles, roads, buildings, and ultimately the unstoppable spread of their us-
ers.
Wallace Stegner once wrote “We are the most dangerous species of life on the planet, and every other species,
even the earth itself, has cause to fear our power to exterminate. But we are also the only species which, when it
chooses to do so, will go to great effort to save what it might destroy.”
The gopher tortoise's need to burrow in high, sandy soils has put it directly in the path of development in Flori-
da. Something that has inevitably caused some to see them as a hindrance, just another obstacle along the endless
pursuit of progress, but in reality should be a reminder, a symbol, of the true price of progress.
The Romans may have had a profound understanding of the term “keystone”, but it was Dr. Robert T. Paine who
coined the term “keystone species” in the 1960s. He found that even though certain species, like the ochre starfish
and sea otter, may not be present in large numbers, they have a profound impact on their environment. A key-
stone species functions much like the architectural stone used in Roman arches - if removed the entire system falls
apart. The gopher tortoise is widely accepted as a prime example of this term and even faintly resembles an upside
down keystone in shape.
Remove the tortoise from the equation and many other species will be negatively impacted. In fact, studies have
found over 360 different species utilize their burrows in one way or another, meaning the fate of an entire ecosys-
tem is held up by the stout legs of this tortoise.
The next time you see a gopher tortoise, whether it’s on a preserve like the one here in the Smith Preserve at
the Conservancy of Southwest Florida or on someone’s lawn in town, remember what it took for them to get
here. Envision them sidestepping mammoths and think about the hundreds of other animals that rely on their un-
wavering presence, because though they may have avoided being crushed by the giants of the past they can’t es-
cape the bulldozers in the future without our help.
Gopher Tortoise Day
On Monday, April 10, Koreshan State Historic Site and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC) along with their partners will celebrate Gopher Tortoise Day. You can help celebrate Florida’s only native
tortoise by discovering more about these magnificent creatures and what you can do to help ensure their conser-
vation throughout the day. The goal of Gopher Tortoise Day at Koreshan State Historic Site is to increase aware-
In The News (Cont.)
S W F A E P N E W S L E T T E R
April 10th is
Gopher Tortoise
Day with events
being held across
the state including
at Koreshan State
Historic Site
(Photo Credit:
Andrew West/
The News-Press)
ness and appreciation for these long lived, gentle reptiles through educational programs, fun activities, in-
formative handouts, and opportunities to observe these amazing tortoises throughout the park.
The schedule is as follows:
10 a.m.: The Life and Times of Gopher Tortoises
11 a.m.: FWC Protection Efforts
Noon: The Rehabilitation and Struggles of Gopher Tortoises
1 p.m.: Hey Kids! How Can You Help Gopher Tortoises?
The event is free with park admission.
Corps reduces flows to Caloosahatchee Estuary: March 31, 2017
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District will reduce flows from Lake Okeechobee to the
Caloosahatchee Estuary over the coming week.
The Corps started a new seven-day pulse release today (March 31) to the Caloosahatchee Estuary with a
target flow averaging 450 cubic feet per second (cfs) as measured at W.P. Franklin Lock (S-79) near Fort
Myers. No water from the lake is expected to be released through St. Lucie Lock (S-80) near Stu-
art. However, flows at either the Franklin or St. Lucie structures could occasionally be exceeded by runoff
from rain that accumulates in the Caloosahatchee or St. Lucie basins—those flows will be allowed to pass
through the spillway as necessary.
“With continued dry weather in the forecast, we expect the lake to continue its dry-season recession for
several weeks,” said Luis Alejandro, chief of Jacksonville District’s Water Management Section. “We will
continue to monitor conditions and adjust as necessary.”
Today, the lake stage is 12.54 feet, placing it in the Operational Beneficial Use Sub-Band as defined by the
2008 Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (LORS). When the lake drops into the Beneficial Use Sub-Band (elevation 12.60 feet), water allocation decisions are based largely on recommendations from the
South Florida Water Management District.
For more information on water level and flows data for Lake Okeechobee, visit the Corps’ water manage-
ment website at http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/WaterManagement.aspx.
P A G E 1 1
From: The News Press
From: USACE Jacksonville News Release
Water flows through
the spillway at W.P.
Franklin Lock & Dam
near Fort Myers.
(Photo by US Army
Corps of Engineers
Jacksonville District)
