Monthly Meeting & Program
How Citizens Can Speak Up for Nature
in Hernando County

by Kevin Love, Southwest Florida Water Management District and Patricia McNeese, Hernando County Planning and Zoning Department
February 7, 2011

Hernando County is rich with biodiversity on both public and private lands. Preservation of this natural heritage is entrusted to the county's citizens in several ways. This month, our Chapter's program features key staff from Hernando County and the Water Management District who will explain how decisions are made regarding conservation lands, where resources and records can be accessed, and the various ways that public opinion gets on the record.

This program is especially timely given the current assessment of the county's Comprehensive Plan, which directly addresses land use, protection of water and other natural resources, and development patterns now and in the future. Follow the action at http://www.co.hernando.fl.us/plan/EAR/ . SWFWD is also seeking input on the best recipe for public use of its lands, and holds planning meetings where interested parties can join in the discussion. Questions of specific interest to those concerned with promoting biodiversity include the extent of consumptive use, such as hunting, and the impact of motorized vehicles. Read more below!

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Plan to Plant Some Favorites

At our February meeting, we will be featuring some of our most hardy plant species: Southern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), Saw Palmetto (Sernoa repens), and Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). With these alone, you could establish the foundation of landscape bed that says, "real Florida" and require no care once installed and established.

Let's briefly talk about the benefits of each (other than low-to-no maintenance). First to acknowledge, these plants can take the heat! All are found in sunny locales naturally; if your landscape is on the hot side, meet some perfect candidates.

These three together can be especially important to the wildlife in your area. Coral honeysuckle will almost instantly attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Cedar trees provide significant cover for nesting and roosting birds, as do Saw Palmettos. The berries of both are preferred foods for wildlife; Saw Palmetto is a favorite of our sensitive black bear population.

When it comes to cover, these plants really perform in the human landscape! If you want to block a view, plant a cluster of Cedars, leaving sufficient room for them to reach mature girth. Because they naturally retain foliage close to the ground, they offer a solid backdrop for other plantings. Place a cluster of Saw Palmetto in front and accent with your favorite flowering natives. Your coral honeysuckle is by nature a climber, but is also happy in a heap. With a bit of vigilance, you can have piles of red flowers that continue until fall dormancy.

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Registration is now open for the Florida Native Plant Society 31st Annual Conference.

It will take place at the Sheraton Orlando North on May 19-22, 2011. This year's theme, Patios, Preserves and Public Spaces: Making Connections,will feature over 50 expert speakers, researchers and workshops focused on the connection between native plants and conservation of Florida's native habitats to the landscapes that we create in our personal and public environments.

The keynote speakers include Dr. Rutherford H. Platt, Professor of Geography and Planning Law Emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Sustainable Cities and Rick Darke, a widely published author, lecturer and consultant who focuses on native regional landscape design, planning and conservation. Also speaking, will be Mari Margill from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund who will be introducing the concept of Earth Jurisprudence – the emerging field that promotes the idea that nature has a right to exist in a court of law.

Evening social events, field trips led by experts, vendors, exhibitors and the native plant sale will round out the comprehensive four day event and make this an unforgettable experience.

If you have an idea for a FNPS Conference Sponsorship opportunity, please contact executivedirector@fnps.org or (321) 388-4781

For additional information, program schedule, field trip descriptions, social event information and to register go to http://www.fnps.org/pages/conference/

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Appropriate Use for Hernando County's Lands.

Currently, there are several important planning activities afoot where our Chapter is speaking out for the conservation of native plant communities. We encourage all Hernando County citizens to get involved in whatever way you can to keep the "nature" up front on the Nature Coast.

The Hernando County Comprehensive Plan Evaluation and Appraisal

The Hernando County Comprehensive Plan Evaluation and Appraisal includes a series of public workshops held by the Planning and Zoning Commission to discuss key issues related to future development and resource use in Hernando County. Several workshops have taken place, and our Chapter has been there to represent you. On January 10, several Hernando Chapter members, including Jim Clayton, Brooke Martin, Mark Hutchinson, Judith Simpson, Miki Renner, Jason LaRoche and Cindy Liberton, attended the Workshop on Future Land Use Pattern. where presentations were given to the county commission on the One Bay Vision and Agriculture in Hernando County.

Jason LaRoche says, "I feel the Planning/Zoning Board appeared attentive and genuinely interested in the ideas presented by both attendees, speakers, and presenters. The board's questions to the presenters demonstrated they understand concerns raised by the environmental advocate community as well as the other stakeholders. I left with the impression that they will strongly consider these issues raised into their final deliberations". The workshop on January 10 is a particularly critical one:

This month the Planning and Zoning Commission will discuss the EAR Workshop results at their February 14, 2011, 9:00 am meeting at the County Commission Chambers, Govt. Center, Brooksville. Go to the County’s agenda page or the EAR “Upcoming Meetings” page to download the meeting packet. Even if you can't attend in person, you can still have your say. The deadline to submit comments is submit is 2 weeks after Feb General meeting, Monday, Feb 21st. And, if you haven't yet, TAKE THE SURVEY! The first question will give you a hint on its relevance to us all:

What aspect of Hernando County's environment and natural resources concerns you the most?

Loss of wildlife habitat

Loss of open space and countryside landscape

Groundwater quality and quantity

None (None!?!?!)

To make sure your opinion is truly informed, check in at http://www.hernandocounty.us/plan/EAR/ to get the agenda packet, review minutes of previous workshops, e-mail your comments for the record and fill out an on-line survey. This is an important opportunity to weigh in on continuation and expansion of our county's sensitive lands program as well as priorities in job development, transportation and housing. Additionally, the EAR Newsletter provides this handy list of sites for Citizens to follow along on current thinking for landuse and development in our region.

1. Hernando County EAR Page: http://www.hernandocounty.us/plan/EAR
   The topics pages contain all of the speaker presentations from our workshops. The February Meeting package is available for download (see page 2 article).
2. Statewide Greenways: http://www.collinscenter.org/?ReschProjectsOvrview#CLIP
   This site is a great place to practice your computer map navigation skills. Once at this site select the phrase “Click here for the CLIP ‘viewing’ ArcIMS” located halfway down the page. You can view several layers of statewide greenways mapping data and zoom in on Hernando County.
3. Regional Transportation: http://www.tbarta.com/
   Just check out the newsletter and fact sheet from the blue sidebar, and then take a look at the “Adopted Master Plan Vision.” You’ll get a quick picture of where the region is headed with respect to multi-modal transportation.
4. Regional Land Use via One Bay Vision: http://www.hernandocounty.us/plan/EAR
   The One Bay tabloid compiles a focused visioning effort conducted over the last three years that includes Hernando County. Take a look at what the region and Hernando County might look like in 2050 with and without the application of “smart growth” principles. Just go the EAR web page (address on banner),scroll to the bottom of the landing page and click on “Download One Bay Tabloid"
5. Tampa Bay Partnership: http://www.hernandocounty.us/plan/EAR
   Just go to the EAR web page (address on banner), scroll to the bottom of the landing page and click on “Download the Target Sectors Study.” This December 2010 report, part of the Blueprint for Economic Development, shows the results of the study Dave Sobush briefed us on at our October work-shop.
6. Pasco-Hernando Workforce Board: http://www.careercentral.jobs/
   If you think the Career Central website is for job-searching only, think again. Up on the right-hand corner of the screen is a little bouncing icon, “Workforce Overview.” Here’s where Dave Hamilton, our October workshop speaker, updates Pasco-Hernando workforce statistics monthly. A wealth of updated information on job trends awaits you!

Recreational Use on SWFWMD Properties in Hernando

The District has been conducting a number of Stakeholder Meetings to develop criteria for evaluating parcels to determine appropriate use. Members of the Hernando Chapter FNPS have been taking part in discussions in support of the Society's mission. Recently, Hernando Chapter members attended the hunting working group meeting on January 28 to participate in evaluating criteria to apply to District lands to determine if there are hunting opportunities on District properties that are not currently hunted.

On all SWFWMD properties, the following are prohibited by default:

• Use of all-terrain, off-road or other motorized vehicles not licensed for Florida highway use.
• Motorized vehicles, horses or bicycles on roads not specifically open for these modes of transportation.
• Firearms or other similar equipment, unless during a District-authorized hunt or other District-authorized activities.

The District receives considerable pressure, however, to expand access to hunting and vehicles on their properties. District personnel feel that a balanced approach to decision-making is in everyone's best interest, and so have been reaching out to groups such as FNPS to contribute to decision making.

In Hernando County, the properties in question include Weekiwachee Preserve, Annutteliga Hammock and the southern tip of Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps Preserve. For a good interactive map of all the District's recreation lands, see: http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/map.php The descriptions below are accompanied by maps and other information.

Weekiwachee Preserve

The Weekiwachee Preserve, 11,206 acres, is part of a regional system of conservation lands that extend up to Crystal River Buffer Preserve, preserving the southernmost coastal hardwood hammock in western Florida. The preserve provides a rich mosaic of habitats including several miles of Weeki Wachee River frontage, portions of the Mud River, dense hardwood swamps, freshwater and saltwater marshes, and pine-covered sandhills. The preserve is best known for its Florida black bear population. The bears are shy, elusive and pose no threat to people, spending most of their time deep in the forest.

On second and fourth Saturday of each month, visitors may drive into preserve through the Osowaw Boulevard entrance and park at end of paved road. Current recreational activities include: Bicycling, bird watching (site 69 on the Great Florida Birding Trail), Boating and Paddling, no outboards, no boat ramp for lakes, fishing, hiking, and picnicing.

Annutteliga Hammock

The Annutteliga Hammock, 2,200 acres, is an important area for groundwater recharge into Florida’s primary drinking water source, the Floridan aquifer system. Situated in the Brooksville Ridge, which runs from northern Citrus County down into central Pasco County, the lands are slightly higher in elevation than the adjacent coastal or central portions of the state. The area within the Brooksville Ridge typically has well-drained soils, karst limerock outcroppings and is dominated by sandhills, upland hardwood forests and scrub communities. Property links with the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area, which is a prime Florida black bear habitat area. Approximately 570 acres have been designated for trails and facilities for public use. Current recreational activities include: Equestrian, Hiking

Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps

Purchased in the early 1990s, this property is part of a large greenway of public lands that protects the Chassahowitzka Swamp ecosystem and wildlife resources. The Chassahowitzka River’s headwaters, several tributaries and springs are within this tract and are known locally for their great sportfishing and crabbing. The vast expanse of salt marsh, hardwood swamps, crystal-clear springs and river are a canoeist’s paradise. The river has been designated an Outstanding Florida Water by the state of Florida.

Camping, a boat launch, boat rental and a camp store are available at Chassahowitzka River Campground and Recreation Area, which is operated by Citrus County Parks and Recreation Department. Recreatonal activities include: Bird Watching - site 51 Great Florida Birding Trail, Boating and Paddling on the River, Camping at Chassahowitzka, Fishing, Hiking, Picnic at Boat Dock.

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Support a CISMA for Central West Florida!

Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas, generally delineated along political boundaries, bring together representatives from various stakeholders–private and public–in a partnership for locating and managing exotic plant problems in their area (http://www.floridainvasives.org/cismas.html).

The potential formation of a CISMA for the central West Coast of Florida is being considered, and will be discussed on February 9, 2011 in Tampa, 9:30am, at the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Tampa office, located at 7601 U.S. 301 Tampa, Fl 33637 which is just north of the intersection of I-4 and U.S. 301. For more information, contact Chapter Member Brian Nelson at his SWFWMD day job, brian.nelson@swfwmd.state.fl.us

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Send in your Bloom Report

The Florida Wildflower Foundation seeks to showcase the natural beauty of Florida's highways and byways. Their new website features a map bloom map; citizens send in their reports, and everyone knows where to go for a wildflower roadtrip.

The Foundation is especially interested in reports from Florida Native Plant Society members as they will be able accurately identify plant species and provide interesting information about them. Please visit http://www.flawildflowers.org/bloomreport.php for instructions on submitting your photos. A new Spring 2011 gallery will go up in March, so it's time to dust off your camera and field guides to help the Foundation promote Florida's wonderful native wildflowers.