http://naplesnews.com/news/environment/?partner=RSSnaplesnews.com Stories: Environmenten-usenvironmenthttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/oct/04/state-revising-rules-lawn-fertilizer-environmental/?partner=RSSEnvironmental groups and the landscape maintenance industry are facing off over a rewrite of a Florida water quality manual. Industry representatives say the rewrite by the state Department of Environmental Protection is meant to update a 2002 version of the manual with new science, but an environmental advocate is worried the industry will use the manual as a weapon against more restrictive fertilizer laws adopted by Southwest Florida cities and counties, including Naples, in the face of declining coastal water quality. emstaats@naplesnews.com (ERIC STAATS)Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:37:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/oct/04/state-revising-rules-lawn-fertilizer-environmental/?partner=RSSenvironmenthttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/oct/02/after-long-wait-naples-cay-residents-might-soon-be/?partner=RSSThe U.S. Senate passed legislation Monday correcting a federal mapping error that has prevented Naples Cay residents from participating in the Federal Flood Insurance Program. The House passed similar legislation in June. The bill now goes to President Bush for his signature. Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/oct/02/after-long-wait-naples-cay-residents-might-soon-be/?partner=RSSlocalhttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/oct/01/south-florida-watershed-journal-run-water/?partner=RSSIf we can have a “run on the bank,” --- can we also have a “run on the water?” --- The answer is “no.” robert.v.sobczak@gmail.com (ROBERT SOBCZAK)Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:24:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/oct/01/south-florida-watershed-journal-run-water/?partner=RSSenvironmenthttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/30/rain-garden-naples-city-hall-help-water-conservati/?partner=RSSNaples City Hall is getting an environmentally friendly face lift this morning with a demonstration rain garden that city officials hope will spread the word about water conservation and native plants. tlaten@naplesnews.com (Naples Daily News staff report)Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:28:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/30/rain-garden-naples-city-hall-help-water-conservati/?partner=RSSlocalhttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/29/report-everglades-decline-restoration-lags/?partner=RSSA multibillion-dollar effort to restore Florida's Everglades has made little progress amid funding shortfalls, bureaucratic red tape and disagreements, according to a congressionally mandated report that warns the vast wetland is in peril. Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:34:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/29/report-everglades-decline-restoration-lags/?partner=RSSenvironmenthttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/27/visitors-rookery-bay-take-step-back-time-30th-anni/?partner=RSSSeveral hundred visitors learned Rookery Bay Research Reserve’s history with an opportunity to see and touch many of its native inhabitants at a 30th anniversary celebration that coincided with National Estuaries Day on Saturday. Visitors learned that much occurred over the decades as told in stories by scientists about wild bear encounters, a rescue of a 45-foot whale with “eyes the size of soccer balls,” treasure hunters and decades of political shifts that affected the way the reserve operated. kelfarrell@yahoo.com (KELLY FARRELL)Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:13:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/27/visitors-rookery-bay-take-step-back-time-30th-anni/?partner=RSSenvironmenthttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/25/are-failing-seawalls-threat-marco/?partner=RSSThe number of seawalls on Marco Island in significant disrepair continues to grow rapidly and the city is looking at how to prevent a community hazard as well as protect the community’s shrinking wallet. The number of seawalls found in violation of code for poor maintenance or complete failure is looking to nearly double this year with more than 100 such violations in 2007 and nearly 175 so far this year, said Eric Wardle, the city’s chief code enforcement officer. kelfarrell@yahoo.com (KELLY FARRELL)Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:01:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/25/are-failing-seawalls-threat-marco/?partner=RSSenvironmenthttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/25/some-wary-about-clam-pass-park-beach-access-plan/?partner=RSSCollier County unveiled a beach access plan Thursday that would add a leg to the tram boardwalk at Clam Pass Park and create kayak and canoe launch and landing spots on the edge of Clam Bay. A wary audience of about 50 people attended a Pelican Bay Foundation meeting to hear about the $2 million proposal from county park planners and expressed worry about parking, the environment and security. emstaats@naplesnews.com (ERIC STAATS)Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:46:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/25/some-wary-about-clam-pass-park-beach-access-plan/?partner=RSSlocalhttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/24/south-florida-watershed-journal-lull-storm/?partner=RSSSeptember has been a slow rainfall month. --- Does that make this the lull before the storm? --- Or could the storm be officially behind us? --- (After all, it is fall.) --- The answer to both questions is a tentative “yes,” ... depending on what you mean by “storm.” robert.v.sobczak@gmail.com (ROBERT SOBCZAK)Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:48:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/24/south-florida-watershed-journal-lull-storm/?partner=RSSenvironmenthttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/23/lee-health-department-issues-advisory-cape-coral-y/?partner=RSSThe Lee County Health Department is recommending that people should not swim at Cape Coral Yacht Club Beach. tlaten@naplesnews.com (Naples Daily News staff report)Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:30:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/23/lee-health-department-issues-advisory-cape-coral-y/?partner=RSSenvironmenthttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/22/six-year-old-collier-land-dispute-elevates-new-lev/?partner=RSSA landowner, an earth mining company and Collier County have gone to court over the county’s 2002 plan to slow rural growth. At stake is whether the county will be saddled with a $91.5 million property rights claim and whether earth mining will be allowed on land that environmental groups say should be preserved because of its importance for endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers and Florida panthers. emstaats@naplesnews.com (ERIC STAATS)Tue, 23 Sep 2008 01:09:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/22/six-year-old-collier-land-dispute-elevates-new-lev/?partner=RSSlocalhttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/22/collier-leaders-balk-balk-balk-show-chicken-breede/?partner=RSSLike most of old Florida used to be, Immokalee still is an agricultural community. So the orders Gayla Brittain received from Collier County officials might leave some people scratching their heads: No hens or roosters allowed on the premises of her Immokalee home. imstackel@naplesnews.com (I.M. STACKEL)Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:10:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/22/collier-leaders-balk-balk-balk-show-chicken-breede/?partner=RSSlocalhttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/22/south-florida-watershed-journal-dipping-our-toes-a/?partner=RSS"Cool light" at end of Naples "long summer tunnel" is in sight. Today was the Autumn Equinox: that's the moment when the sun is directly over Earth's equator, and in the celestial calendar: the end of summer. Regardless, by south Florida standards, we're still in the wet season! robert.v.sobczak@gmail.com (ROBERT SOBCZAK)Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:05:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/22/south-florida-watershed-journal-dipping-our-toes-a/?partner=RSSenvironmenthttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/21/fruit-veggie-convention-week-naples/?partner=RSSFruit and vegetable growers from around the state are planting themselves in Naples this week. They’re coming for the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association’s 65th annual convention, scheduled for Sept. 21-23. lllayden@naplesnews.com (LAURA LAYDEN)Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:18:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/21/fruit-veggie-convention-week-naples/?partner=RSSlocalhttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/21/lee-forefront-biodiesel-research/?partner=RSSThe quiet of Ken Ryan’s farm is shocking at first; the only sounds you hear are the trees swaying, the birds singing, the occasional truck rumbling down the gravel road in front of his house. The tranquility of this North Fort Myers location is a far cry from the gridlocked nightmare of Del Prado at rush hour, though the two might one day be more closely linked than an initial glance would indicate. Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:01:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/21/lee-forefront-biodiesel-research/?partner=RSSenvironmenthttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/21/road-nowhere-leads-future-rookery-bay-marks-30-yea/?partner=RSSYears ago, nothing existed on the sensitive wetlands between Naples and Marco Island that nature didn’t put there. With access limited to an occasional canoeist or hiker, what is now Rookery Bay was a pristine mangrove ecosystem. mmiron@naplesnews.com (MARTIN MIRON)Sun, 21 Sep 2008 04:05:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/21/road-nowhere-leads-future-rookery-bay-marks-30-yea/?partner=RSSenvironmenthttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/21/snook-season-opens-no-age-limit-fishermen/?partner=RSSMitchell Rusk rolls out of bed with tousled blonde hair and big blue eyes, saunters to the lanai, grabs his fishing pole and begins his day on his backyard dock between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m., depending on the time of sunrise. He’s out fishing as late as sunset. He’s 5 years old and he’s been doing this for three years. kelfarrell@yahoo.com (KELLY FARRELL)Sun, 21 Sep 2008 04:04:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/21/snook-season-opens-no-age-limit-fishermen/?partner=RSSenvironmenthttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/20/reserve-plans-30th-birthday-party/?partner=RSSRookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is throwing a two-day 30th anniversary party. An invitation-only evening reception is planned for Friday night at the reserve’s Environmental Learning Center off Collier Boulevard, about a mile south of U.S. 41 East. tlaten@naplesnews.com (Naples Daily News staff report)Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:24:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/20/reserve-plans-30th-birthday-party/?partner=RSSlocalhttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/20/rookery-bay-well-preserved-it-turns-age-30/?partner=RSSRookery Bay reserve, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary with events next weekend, is more than a spot on the map. The events that led to the designation of Rookery Bay as national research reserve in 1978 ignited a fledgling environmental movement in Collier County and remains a milestone of community activism. “It’s something we like to remind people of, that it often takes local community action to help truly make a difference,” Rookery Bay reserve manager Gary Lytton said. emstaats@naplesnews.com (ERIC STAATS)Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:30:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/20/rookery-bay-well-preserved-it-turns-age-30/?partner=RSSlocalhttp://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/20/rookery-bay-meet-pioneers-bernie-yokel-ted-and-gin/?partner=RSSBernie Yokel opened the first marine research station at Rookery Bay, an early step in a career that has bridged science and environmental policy. Ted and Ginnie Below have logged thousands of hours tracking bird populations at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve tlaten@naplesnews.com (Naples Daily News staff report)Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:30:00 -0000http://naplesnews.com/news/2008/sep/20/rookery-bay-meet-pioneers-bernie-yokel-ted-and-gin/?partner=RSSlocal