Reduced Freshwater Inflow to Florida Panhandle to Blame for Oyster Die-off

Low catch adds to woes of oyestermen struggling to stay afloat in a tough economy

When oystermen in Apalachicola Bay pulled up bags from their winter harvest grounds last year, 95 percent of the oysters were already dead. The discovery sent shockwaves through the oyster-fishing community in Franklin County, FL. Photo by Nolan WilliamsonIn Apalachicola you either…
» Read more

(1) Comments

by: Eleanor K. Sommer – January 18, 2013

Despite Heavy Rain, Drought Continues to Affect Florida Springs and Rivers

Continued draining of wetlands, lakes, and the aquifer for public utilities, agriculture, and industry are making conditions worse

The summers have been dry for years. And quiet. No chorus of frogs. No dragonflies. No mosquitoes. No rain. Mowers have been silent. The grass brittle and brown. Leaves crunched underfoot as I walked along our creek near Gainesville, FL. No water—only…
» Read more

(0) Comments

by: Eleanor K. Sommer – July 30, 2012

Fountains of Life in Peril

Florida’s Famed Springs Threatened by Unsustainable Groundwater Extraction

There are more than one thousand artesian springs in Florida – prehistoric, beautiful, world-famous – and endangered from drought, pollutants, overconsumption, and overuse. Due to its unique geology, north-central Florida has one of the highest concentrations of freshwater springs in the world,…
» Read more

(0) Comments

by: Eleanor K. Sommer – July 2, 2012