tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post4301366506211270109..comments2024-01-13T03:17:01.627-05:00Comments on SWFWMD Matters: Lake Okeechobee - Scott's Waterloo?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-18106708762344701842013-08-16T11:36:49.892-04:002013-08-16T11:36:49.892-04:00I spent the last twenty years of my career working...I spent the last twenty years of my career working for the State of Florida land planning agency in Tallahassee (in the Department of Community Affairs) and for the Department of Transportation in Tampa. I watched the start of state land use planning in the early 1970's, and later witnessed the drawn-out backlash and final gutting of it in 2010-11 under the current regime. In recent years heavy-handed politicians and their appointees demanded special treatment and favors. Some competent managers in positions charged with protecting the public interests under Florida law. . . were fired for "doing the right thing" under the law. Water management districts and state agencies mandated to protect the environment were slammed to discourage the monitoring of business interests and protection of resources including water and land. Florida has become the developer's whore. Sincerely, lifetime Florida resident.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-54699579600467520442013-08-12T14:27:22.256-04:002013-08-12T14:27:22.256-04:00I do not have knowledge of all that is going on wi...I do not have knowledge of all that is going on with the lake, but if there is concern that the water levels have gotten away from them down there then one has to consider the reasons for that. I have some knowledge of the system as an ex SFWMD engineer (although managing the lake's structures was not my primary duty). What I am seeing is that the work environment is one where failure is not an option for the individual. Failure, at least from the Governing Boards, Executive Directors and the Governors office viewpoint seems to be defined as anything that makes their actions of staff cutbacks, targeted termination of former senior leadership positions and "program" adjustments appear to have been a mistake. Therefore anyone that "allows" a problem to arise must be incompedent at be dealt with, as in removed. Seems to me that all that does is ensure people don't make any descisions on their own. Why would you. That leave it up to the executive level inexperienced staff to make them. As we all know, you can't predict the weather so I imagine that those in charge of regulating the lake's water levels early on (remember we were in a drought last winter) didn't want to over compensate by creating more storage and then not have the rains come, something that previous administrations had done. The difference is that previously you took your lumps but you did so because the other option was a failure and lives lost. Hopefully that is not going to happen, but I do not have the confience that the new guy (Guillery) is any better than the last one (Meeker). He won't last long, maybe 2 years like at SWFWMD before he creates a high paying job near his home and splits. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-80953459932334943092013-08-10T10:45:40.903-04:002013-08-10T10:45:40.903-04:00After reading your email that was forwarded to me ...After reading your email that was forwarded to me by a friend, I think I needed to be added to your distribution list because you did a great job expressing my thoughts of late… Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-15940642456453996602013-08-10T10:42:44.183-04:002013-08-10T10:42:44.183-04:00A legend in my own mind? Nah. But I do touch ner...A legend in my own mind? Nah. But I do touch nerves from time to time and apparently I’ve touched yours. As you know I’m fully retired and pretty much say what I want, without concern for nurturing legends in anyone’s mind, particularly mine or yours. But, there’s no need to get personal. <br /><br />Let me clarify … Nowhere did I suggest that the lake’s levels are being operated at the whim of anyone in Tallahassee. Nor did I say, or even suggest, that “the protocols embedded in the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule” have been abandoned “for the sake of public sentiment.”<br /><br />The point I was making, apparently not clearly enough, is that the wholesale and politically motivated dismissal of literally centuries of institutional knowledge and nationally recognized expertise with no regard for the impact it would have on the ability of the state to resolve “south Florida’s complex water resource problems,” as you put it, was totally irresponsible and is resulting at least partially in the dangerous situation that now exists there. You’ll never convince me that the actions of Rick Scott, Herschel Vinyard and Jeff Littlejohn have not placed the state in more danger than existed before their unthinking ignorance was released upon the scene … arrived in situ, as you techies might say.<br /><br />Again not to get personal, but don’t you think ag holds some - no, a lot - of the responsibility for the mess there? It’s long past the time when the farmers’ oxen can continue to be protected. It’s time for ag to get painted by the radar of truth, just as it is for most of the other actors in that bad play unfolding down there. Seems to me we’re at that point where the denouement is about to be revealed and all that’s left to see is who dies. Will it be the Park, Indians, Agriculture, People, Politicians, lobbyists, Economy, or Everglades? (Pardon me if I’ve left anyone out.)<br /><br />Good to hear from you, ____. Hope you reach retirement one day and be able to say any and everything you really want and should say.<br /><br />-Sandspur<br />Sandspurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17526071481551000261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-19538489435918097042013-08-10T10:39:38.066-04:002013-08-10T10:39:38.066-04:00You're a legend in your own mind. It's a ...You're a legend in your own mind. It's a shame that you have chosen to sensationalize Lake Okeechobee water level management as if it were subject to the whim of the Governor or Secretary Vinyard. You know better. The abandonment of the protocols embedded in the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule, for the sake of public sentiment, is irresponsible and stands in direct opposition to the science-based decisions you claim to hold so dear.<br /> <br />You disappoint me and those who work every day to manage south Florida's complex water resource issues. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-44833296861604502652013-08-09T23:29:19.444-04:002013-08-09T23:29:19.444-04:00And on another front, we're looking for ways t...And on another front, we're looking for ways to add more run off water. (And for ways for private entities to profit from that water.)<br />http://news.ufl.edu/2013/08/07/forest-water/Laura McKeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6798568783457003128.post-82741299814264190422013-08-09T18:26:24.702-04:002013-08-09T18:26:24.702-04:00Well, I think after 10 years of reading Sunshine L... Well, I think after 10 years of reading Sunshine Law record requests from the DEP, one thing is for sure: they have no real standard testing!<br /> I mean, while all these consumer advocates were screaming for the US Sugar sale, some of us were relieved it did not pass. Because US Sugar had no clean up of the parcels being sold.<br /><br /> So, let me ask, all you people "upset" about the algae. Did it ever occur to you, Algae= nitrates and phosphates??<br /><br /> So, if our water is so EPA clean, WHY do we have algae everywhere??<br /><br /> And if Florida DEP is cutting employees, WHAT are they doing to the lab technician departments???<br /><br /> Maybe someone should fund LaPointe's $2 Million (Rick Scott didn't)so he can independently test the water area around Lake Okeechobee??!peggy Arvanitasnoreply@blogger.com