Monthly Archives: February 2020

Mother and Calf Right Whale Travel Right Past the House of Refuge! (NMFS/NOAA permit No. #19674)

In early 2020 Right Whale sightings were reported along the northeastern coast of Florida apparently this year the whales are taking their young further south…

Right Whale with Calf Travels past the House of Refuge, Martin County (NMFS/NOAA permit No. #19674 by Jim Moir)

Today’s photos may be the most wonderful I have ever had the privilege to share. Researcher, Jim Moir, for years has told me stories about his experiences at sea untangling and assisting the most critically endangered whale species on Earth, the North Atlantic Right Whale. Named the Right Whale because for yesteryears’ whaling industry, they were the “right” species to kill; they remain on the brink of extinction today with an estimated 400 remaining, visiting Florida’s waters usually north of Cape Canaveral, only to bear their young.

A a recent Rivers Coalition meeting Jim said “Hey Jacqui, I’ve got to show you something.” He took out his cell phone and showed me a photo of a mother Right Whale and Calf swimming past the House of Refuge in Martin County. My jaw dropped. “Are you kidding me? ” I almost screamed. “Here in Martin County? I didn’t think they came down this far.” Jim just smiled.

I was completely blown away. What a picture!

Today, I along with others in the press share Jim’s photographs of these incredible mythical creatures living day-to-day, struggling for their lives in a changing world that you and I hold in our hands. In my conversations with Jim I came to understand that perhaps we all must modify our behaviors and attitudes if these great creatures are to avoid extinction. Plastics, boat collisions, human harassment, and how we treat our planet. Climate Change not only affects human food sources, the animals too.

I am including some of Jim and my exchange below. Thank you Jim Moir! What special pictures!

Text conversation:

Hi Jacqui, I’ve got clearance to release some whale photos. I’m about to leave for St. Pete and I haven’t been able to process the photos in order to affix a watermark “taken under NMFS/NOAA permit No. #19674 under the authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the U.S. Endangered Species Act.” I will release the photos to the media with that watermark. You’re right about needing to balance research protection and public information/education. One of the biggest local threats are curiosity seekers hoping for an interesting selfie or social media post and inadvertently harassing the animals. These are the most critically endangered great whale species they are 50 ton mommas nurturing their infant babies (2-4 ton babies) they are not feeding so unlike sea turtles or rays they are unlikely to signal schools of Cobia or other sport fishes. Boaters are legally prohibited from approaching closer than 500 yards. If the animals approach them or they accidentally get too close the should (if safe to do so) go engine off, and enjoy a memorable experience. Call FWC and MRC. Under no circumstances should anyone consider touching or swimming with these wild mothers and their infant calves a swipe of their tail or head on collision have been fatal. These animals are the size of semi tractor trailers. And incredibly powerful. They occasionally come this far south but usually stay north of Cape Canaveral. There are fewer than 400 of these animals left their problem is us, fishing gear entanglement and collisions with vessels killed more each year than are born extinction is a very real outcome Florida waters are the only known calving grounds. They eat coepepods in New England and Canada. There are 11 other species of whale and dolphins that live around Florida too. ~Jim

Jim thanks so much! I promise to be very careful, mindful, and respectful with how I post. I in no way would wish to endanger these very endangered species. I will be sure that the public knows how critically endangered the whales are and that they must be left alone to survive and successfully raise their claves. The permit for the photographs will be displayed. Thank you Jim ~Jacqui

Sign as displayed as Stuart Causeway along the Indian River Lagoon close to St Lucie Inlet.

Ed Lippisch -eye in the sky- SLR/IRL 2-26-20

Ed Lippisch -eye in the sky- St Luice River/Indian River Lagoon 2-26-20 3pm

Ofcouse, it’s important to document from the air during this great new era of no Lake Okeechobee discharges. In any case, the St Luice River is plagued by too many human made canals. The SFWMD basin map below reveals all.

Ed’s photos are beautiful but the color of the water is not striking as area runoff from rain is visible in grayish tones. Still, a good time to go outside and enjoy! Thank you to my husband, Ed for flying over the St Lucie River/Indian River Lagoon as I can write all day long, but “a picture speaks a thousand words!” And we will continue to work a thousand times harder to save her.

Sailfish Flats IRL east of Sewall’s Point

Approaching St Lucie Inlet, Sailfish Point

The Remarkable Restoration of the Kissimmee River, a Modern Flyover

The Remarkable Restoration of the Kissimmee River, a Modern Flyover

Recently, I featured my brother Todd Thurlow’s extremely popular time capsule flight, “The Destruction of the Kissimmee River.” Today, I present the remarkable antithesis, “Restoration of the Kissimmee River.”

As Todd notes, Kissimmee restoration began in 1999 with phases 1 and 4 completed first. Phases 2 and 3 are expected to be completed by 2020. You will see as you travel up the winding river the long gash of the C-38 Canal backfilled with the same soils that were dug from its own flesh, and the winding oxbows, like capillaries, filling-up to come back to life!

Here’s a map to reference. Amazing! This restored habitat will help replenish wading bird communities and naturally filter water as it flows south to Lake Okeechobee rather than mainlining pollutants. My favorite shot comes at the end where an aerial view of gigantic dump trucks looks like a collection of children’s toys. We can now begin to grasp the scale of this massive project!

When we watch this video we know Ernest Lyons’ words “what men can do, they can undo,” is no longer just a saying, but a reality and we are empowered to do the same! Please click on image with arrow or link below.

This video compares 1940 and 1999 aerials of the Kissimmee River with current Google Earth Imagery to show The Kissimmee River Restoration project, which began in 1999. Phases 1 and 4, at the northern end of the project, were completed in 2010. Phases 2 and 3, on the southern end, are expected to be completed in 2020. When finished, the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District will have restored 44 miles of winding river, over 12,000 acres of wetlands and 40 square miles of floodplain. ~Todd Thurlow

(Click link to play “Restoration of the Kissimmee River” https://youtu.be/eTfm5W2ubSQ)

1911 Kissimmee Valley Gazette; Amazing Old Pics!

My mother, historian Sandra Henderson Thurlow, sent me this remarkable 1911 magazine promoting the wonders of the Kissimmee Valley as seen in 1911; I think you’ll enjoy it too! Click on images to enlarge and view as gallery. Magazine is organized into four sections due to length. After viewing gallery section, X out in upper right corner to be able to enter next galley section.

KISSIMMEE VALLEY GAZETTE, 1911

Jacqui,

I have this over-size magazine published in 1911. Since you are working on the Kissimmee it might interest. Believe it or not, there is an aerial of Lake Tohopekaliga–oblique. I wonder why Miami is misspelled on “Miam” on map page 9? Notice no St. Lucie Canal. Interestingly, P. A. Vans Agnew ended up here and was involved in the formation of Martin County. ~Mom

Pages 1-10

Pages 10-21

Pages 22-30

Pages 31-42

Only for the Hardcore! SFWMD February 19, 2020 Ecological Conditions Report

Only for the Hardcore! SFWMD February 19, 2020 Ecological Conditions Report

As I mentioned in a recent blog post, when I read the weekly SFWMD Ecological Report, I “start with the end in mind.” Reading the recommendation at the end of the thirty plus page weekly document gives me a hook to keep in mind while reading everything else. I read, or at least peruse, this document because I want to know not just about the St Lucie, my hometown, but the entire Everglades System, especially my friends the animals.

This just came out, so I am sharing it now with you! There is a lot of science, but also pictures too! Nonetheless, this post is for the hardcore student of the St Lucie River and Entire Everglades System! Give it a try!

PDF Weekly Environmental Conditions Report wkly_env_conditions_ops_report_2020_02_19

Images below are screenshots from report with final recommendation and images that struck me first. Included is a helpful image showing rough boundary of SFMWD, Everglades National Park, & Water Conservation Areas for understanding.

The February 19, 2020 Ecological Conditions Report is posted to the portal:

https://www.sfwmd.gov/science-data/operational-planning under Operational Reports, lower left-hand side.

The Destruction of the Kissimmee River, an Historic Flyover

Our recent focus on the Kissimmee River has inspired my brother Todd Thurlow to create a very special Time Capsule Flight. He has geo-referenced more than twenty 1940s historic aerials and topography maps revealing the destruction of this once remarkable, not just river, but vast floodplain. The outcome is epic! You will see this historic mistake as you’ve never seen before.

The 1962-1971 channelization of the two mile wide Kissimmee floodplain into a thirty foot deep C-38 Canal was perhaps the all-time worst act of the State of Florida and the Army Corps of Engineers. Why was the channelization of the Kissimmee any more destructive than any other of the Central and South Florida Plan atrocities? Because the Everglades south of Lake Okeechobee was already very compromised. This act not only killed the Kissimmee, but just about everything below it.

Like a knife through flesh, the engineers cut deep, draining the life blood, water, from the surrounding marshes and curves to now shoot down, unfiltered into the Lake. In short order, with devastating ecological consequences, over ninety percent of the waterfowl that once graced the region, disappeared. Fish and other wildlife’s health and bio-diversity plummeted. Today the ACOE and SFWMD recognize this huge mistake and are working hard to restore parts of the Kissimmee. But before we witness that, Todd will lead you through a time capsule flight of what indeed, we did do…

Please watch video directly below.

(The Destruction of the Kissimmee River, click here for YouTube with Todd’s full write up: https://youtu.be/xChsxU8Nv5s)

This video compares 23 USDA aerials from 1941 and 1944 to historical aerials from 1999. The early aerials predate the transformation of the river into a canal in the 1960s. The 1999 aerials show the canal before recent restoration efforts. Beginning in 1999, the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers began restoring sections of the river by dismantling the canal. Twenty-four miles of river have been restored. Aerials of those restoration projects will be the subject of future videos. ~ Todd Thurlow

SFWMD “Weekly Environmental Report” of the Entire Everglades

One thing is for sure, the South Florida Water Management District puts out a lot of information. One publication I am slowly acquiring the patience to read in the weekly “Environmental Conditions Report.” The District has been great about sharing this important information on Twitter and Facebook, but it is still difficult to find on the website.

Today I am going to share how I read this report hoping that you will start to read it too. You’ll notice that right off the bat there is a disclaimer: “Information contained in the report addresses environmental conditions only and is not the official South Florida Water Management District operations recommendation or decision.”

Disclaimer or not, this document is very important because it is given from the perspective of the entire environment of the Everglades System and of the wildlife if they could talk. The report is 30 pages long and scientific; how can we make it easier for the layperson to read?

For me, as I begin, I ask myself, “What is this week’s problem?” “What should I know first?” To get myself engaged, I have started reading at the bottom of the document first. I go directly the last page where it says “…Recommendations.” Then I read it all.

The first sentence under the February 13, 2020 Water Management Recommendations reads: “Current stages in WCA-3A are low for this time of year and salinities are high in Florida Bay.” Hmmm. I know high salinities are not good for Florida Bay because it can cause a massive sea grass die off, and what is this about WCA-3A? What is a WCA?

WCA means “Water Conservation Area.”

Below is the SFWMD recommendation and a map from the National Academies showing the three Water Conservation Areas. WCAs are protected just like the Everglades and they are part of the Central and South Florida Project of 1948. They have many important functions for people and for wildlife: https://www.sfwmd.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fyi_wca_management.pdf

So now with these “problems” in mind and of course thinking about the importance of my own St Lucie River. (I am so thankful we have not had toxic algae discharges from Lake Okeechobee this year!) I read it all because I want to know about the environment for the entire Everglades as I’m sure you do as well!

Please click here to read. 2-13-10 SFWMD Weekly Environmental Report: wkly_env_conditions_ops_report_2020_02_13

A mullet jumps at sunset, St Lucie River. (Photo Todd Thurlow)

On SFWMD website:The February 13, 2020 Ecological Conditions Report is posted to the portal:https://www.sfwmd.gov/science-data/operational-planning under Operational Reports, lower left-hand side.

Aerial Photo Explanation ~Kissimmee River Restoration

Aerial, Kissimmee River restoration, Gary Goforth, 2-9-20

My most recent blog post included the above photograph of Kissimmee River Restoration north of Lake Okeechobee taken by Dr Gary Goforth. My mother, Sandy Thurlow, commented: “ I would so like for Dr. Goforth to explain what we are seeing in his aerial of the restoration of the Kissimmee River.”

I wrote Gary on behalf of my mother and he provided such comprehensive and helpful insight that today I am sharing not just for my mother, but for everyone! Please read below.

~Dear Gary,

When time allows my mother was hoping to get an explanation of the wonderful Kissimmee River restoration photo you shared in my blog post. Could you please write something? Thank you so much.

Jacqui

~From Gary

Hi Jacqui,

The Kissimmee River Restoration (KRR) Project is one of my favorite projects on the planet! In the 1960s, the historic 105-mile meandering Kissimmee River was transformed into a 56-mile ditch by the Corps of Engineers at the request of the State of Florida to help relieve flooding upstream. Public activism convinced Gov. Bob Graham to support restoration of the River in the 1980s, and as a US Senator he was instrumental in having Congress authorize the Corps to proceed with restoration. The SFWMD was way out ahead of the Corps (again) and had completed several phases of engineering design and prototype testing. The initial backfilling of the C-38 Canal was begun in 1999, and when completed later this year, the project will re-establish flow in 40 miles of the old river and rehydrate about 12,400 acres of former wetlands that were over-drained by the canal.

There are many reasons I love the picture taken Sunday as Ed was flying Mark and I north of the Lake:

· In the foreground of the photo you see a section of the meandering restored Kissimmee River! The construction work in this section of the river consisted of backfilling the 300-ft wide and 30-ft deep canal. It also included “re-carving” some sections of river channel that were destroyed during C-38 canal construction. This work has routed water to the native channel and floodplain of the Kissimmee River, and reestablished hydrologic continuity between the river and floodplain for the first time since the C-38 canal was completed in 1971! How amazing!

· The photo also shows smaller secondary river channels and a colorful mosaic of wetlands on their way to restoration! What has been amazing is that despite almost 50 years of over-drainage, there are tens of thousands (maybe millions) of resilient seeds of the former marsh vegetation in the soil that have regenerated upon reflooding! This is truly amazing!

· The photo shows the restoration area known as Phase II, located roughly in the middle of the KRR project. This phase is almost complete, with the remaining canal backfilling to be completed later this year. By the way, the balance of the restoration project should also be completed this year!!!

· The left hand side of the photo, where the road crosses the floodplain, shows the location of what was the water control structure and navigation locks known as S-65C. As part of the restoration project, structure S-65C was demolished in 2017. For spatial reference, the old structure was located about 5 miles upriver from the Hwy 98 bridge and about 23 miles upstream of where the C-38 canal empties into the Lake. About 30 miles to the north (left in the photo) is where the C-38 Canal exits Lake Kissimmee.

· A Google Earth image taken in 2017 is attached below. This image shows the S-65C structure prior to demolition.

· In the photo taken on Sunday you can see the footprint of the backfilled C-38 canal in the center of the photo – on either side of the rectangular open water. You’ll need to zoom in to make out this detail since the inundated floodplain has almost covered up the former canal footprint!

A map of the project and a summary table are attached. Additional details are found in Chapter 9 of the SFWMD South Florida Annual Report. https://www.sfwmd.gov/science-data/scientific-publications-sfer

Hope this helps!

Gary Goforth http://garygoforth.net

~To say the least my mom was thrilled. Hope you are too! So interesting! So inspiring! Thank you Dr Goforth!

2020 Aerial Update! St Lucie River to Kissimmee!

Pilot my husband, Dr Ed Lippisch, Dr Gary Goforth, Mark Perry Feb. 9, 2020

Between the rain and the FAA’s Presidential Temporary Flight Restrictions, it has been difficult this Florida winter to get photos of the St Lucie River/Indian River Lagoon. Luckily, yesterday, there was an opportunity to get up in the air!

Ed took Florida Oceanographic https://www.floridaocean.org Executive Director, Mark Perry, and board member, Dr Gary Goforth up for a ride. Mark wanted to check on the seagrasses and near shore reefs. Gary – the restored Kissimmee https://www.sfwmd.gov/our-work/kissimmee-river as he was very much part of this success that is still underway. As it was quite windy and I have a delicate stomach, I stayed on the ground. I didn’t want to ruin the outing asking for an air-sick bag!

Today, I share some rare photos of the St Lucie River after being “Lake Okeechobee discharge free” for almost one year. As you can see, her seagrass beds still need a few more years to recover, but rhizomes and grasses are back in some areas, ~but not what we want- historic “all.” The ocean waters were very turned up so it was hard to see the reefs, but the water sure was blue and for that we are beyond thankful!

Ed and I and the River Warrior Community will continue to document and fight for the continued health of our St Lucie River/Indian River Lagoon!

South of Sewall’s Point, Crossroads, photo Gary Goforth

St Lucie Inlet, near shore reefs, photo Ed Lippisch

Indian River Lagoon, Sailfish Flats, photo Ed Lippisch

Sailfish Point, IRL/SLR Crossroads, photo Ed Lippisch

Restored area of the Kissimmee River, photo Gary Goforth

Mayor Oravec and the City of PSL Welcome the SFWMD

~Photos courtesy of the SFWMD

Saturday https://www.flickr.com/photos/sfwmd/albums/72157712931573927/

Friday https://www.flickr.com/photos/sfwmd/albums/72157712922225308/

Thank you to Mayor Greg Oravec and the City of Port St Luice for welcoming the South Florida Water Management District https://www.sfwmd.gov to the Treasure Coast in order to hold a “Consumptive Use Permits” Workshop on Friday, January 31st, and a Governing Board Business Meeting on Saturday, February 1st. Wonderful, unconventional meeting dates for an unconventional time in history as Governor DeSantis’ 2019 appointed Governing Board, led by Chairman Mr Chauncey Goss, reaches out throughout South Florida to build relationships and transparency. It was so special to have many area local elected officials, the new IndianRiver Keeper, and members of the public participate in “our own back yard.”

You might not know, but the City of Port St Lucie is the 8th largest city in Florida! https://www.cityofpsl.com/discover-us/about-psl After a hard 2008 Great Recession, the city in now blossoming into one of Florida’s most “new-thinking,” pushing water quality initiatives that are beyond bold. https://www.cityofpsl.com/government/departments/utility-systems/water-quality-initiatives

Now that the economy is much improved, the city’s literature proudly touts “Growing Together,” and that they are. Over the past decade, the affordability of Port St Lucie compared to other Treasure Coast areas has brought in a tremendous number of young professionals and modern-families looking for a better water future and a place to call “home.” This vision is apparent in the cities elected officials and staff.

On a personal note, I am proud to call Mayor Oravec my friend having known him since my Treasure Coast Council of Government days beginning in 2008. We have watched a long needed cultural shift occur regarding water. The mayor is a true visionary and has been a huge inspiration in this hard fought movement.

Thank you for hosting the new SFWMD. Tother with Martin, Palm Beach, Okeechobee, and Indian River counties, we are building a Treasure Coast future, as part of a greater South Florida, of which our children and grandchildren will be proud.

Shared below are LINKS TO THE WORKSHOP & MEETING.

JTL & Mayor Oravec 2020

Basin map: the C-23 canal boarders St Luice and Martin County.

WORKSHOP VIDEO:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5Wo8nM9fyg&t=3514s

GOVERNING BOARD MEETING VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7SdPAgzeCY

In closing, I thought the photo below appropriate to share. It is a python football from the recent SFWMD Python Challenge “Super Bowl.”

https://www.sfwmd.gov/news/80-pythons-submitted-during-2020-python-bowl

*Congratulations to the Kansas City Chiefs for their Super Bowl win last evening ~even though I was born at Travis Air Force Base next to San Francisco!

~For all of us, it’s about getting the ball to the finish line!