[ft-l] FW: Important: OFW Alert

Please read and take action.

Public response does work-- remember how we won back Bull Creek!

Pam Hale
---------------------------------------  

URGENT, PLEASE READ AND ACT!!!
-Charlie D.---------
> From: mary-slater.linn@sfsierra.sierraclub.org
> Subject: Important: OFW Alert 
> Date: Thursday, April 15, 1999 12:57 PM

> 
> From: Judy Hancock, Florida Sierra Club Public Lands Chair and Linda
Bremer  
> 
>  ALERT!!!!       ALERT!!!!               ALERT!!!!
> 
>E-mail or fax Commissioner of Agriculture Bob Crawford.
> 
>  The ERC (Environmental Regulation Commission) will vote April 29 on
whether to de-designate 8 listings of OFW (Outstanding Florida Waters)
within the boundaries of our State Forests.  In l993 the DER proposed the
addition of isolated wetlands and intermittent streams as OFWs within state
lands,
including State Forests.  To do this gives these wetlands the water quality
criteria and protection that larger water bodies achieve with the same
designation.
> 
> Amazingly, the Division of Forestry has found this to be a problem.
Mainly they are bound by the voluntary forestry Best Management Practices to
maintain
a buffer zone(uncut) of 200' around OFWs. As a result, DOF cannot get the
timber harvest they want and have difficulty maneuvering their equipment.

> The wetlands and streams the DOF wants to de-list this time are: Goethe
State Forest, Point Washington State Forest, Lower Econ, Seminole
Springs, Upper Black Creek (Jennings), Volusia Water Recharge (Tiger Bay),
Withlacoochee Tracts (With. St. Forest), Homosassa Reserve/Walker Tract.
The proposed de-designation will diminish water quality protection for
all other water bodies on State Forests. DOF does not intend to stop here.
Other
state forests are due to be altered by DOF in the coming year.

 THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED MOVE BY A STATE AGENCY - TO REQUEST THAT THE OFW

 REQUIREMENT TO PROTECT EXISTING WATER QUALITY BE ELIMINATED ON STATE
 PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION LANDS!!
 
 Many wetlands on public lands would be PERMANENTLY REMOVED FROM PROTECTED
WATER QUALITY STATUS. 
 
> ACTION: PLEASE FAX OR E-MAIL BOB CRAWFORD, COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE,
WHO SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS UNPRECEDENTED PROPOSAL TO REDUCE
WATER QUALITY AND WILDLIFE PROTECTION ON STATE FORESTS. 
 
His fax is 850/ 414-9778 E-mail address is Bob
Crawford<crawfob@doacs.state.fl.us>  Include  a copy to Secretary David Struhs,
 Secretary of DEP STRUHS_D@EPIC5.DEP.STATE.FL.US>.  
 
  l.  Say that there should be no change in the protection status given to
  these wetlands.
 
  2. These wetlands are essential to many species of amphibians and
 migratory birds (many species of amphibians cannot survive in waters with
 predatory fish. Isolated wetlands, especially the smaller ones, do not
have predatory fishes).
 
  3. Decisions should be made on an ecological basis, not a timber harvest
basis.
 
  4. Forestry BMPs are overdue for revision. Science should tell us what
the buffer should be, not timber.

  5. These lands are purchased for protection. It is astounding that a
state agency would find this to be a problem.  OFW designations on state
lands should NOT be changed.
 
  THIS IS AN OUTRAGEOUS, UNACCEPTABLE PROPOSAL! IT IS NOTEWORTHY
  THAT THE ATTENDEES AT THE FIRST MEETING WHERE THIS PROPOSAL WAS
  PRESENTED WERE 3 REPS FROM THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY, A REP FROM AN
  ANTI-ENVIRONMENTAL LAW FIRM, AND THE DOF.
 
 > Linda Bremer
 > Jacksonville, Florida
 > 904/399-1520
 >
 
 
 
 
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