SEBRING — State and federal officials have started several controlled fires through Highlands County since Monday, with more planned through mid-December. The cool, dry weather coming to the area made it a good time for the Division of Forestry to start as many controlled fires as possible, said Tim Elder, the division's forest area supervisor for Highlands County. "What's going to get us to (stop) is a frost," he said. ...more

December 5, 2007

Recent passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 represents an important step forward in Everglades restoration. ...more

December 4, 2007

Federal officials have some explaining to do about what's going on with the restoration of the Everglades, the hydrological heart of South Florida. ...more

December 1, 2007

I'm sure we've all heard or read somewhere that fishing is best three days before a full or new moon and three days after. What most people don't realize is about half the yearly moon events occur at night when most of us don't plan to fish. Such is the case again in December. The new moon happens on the Dec. 9 at 5:40 p.m. and the full moon on the 24th at 1:16 a.m. So is there any good news to deduce from this fact? The answer is yes. ...more

November 28, 2007

SEBRING — Residents, fisheries and businesses around Lake Istokpoga are bracing for another drawdown request that will, if granted, last much longer than the one granted this summer. Even though summer rains made it so that Istokpoga's water wasn't needed back then, the latest request could last until the end of next summer, and it would include the water-intensive spring time when growers and landscapers alike use the greatest amount of water. Highlands County Lakes Manager Clell Ford was not sure how great an impact this deviation would have on the lake, but he was certain it would be consequential if it is approved, unlike the last one. South Florida Water Management District, which manages Lake Istokpoga, asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last month to allow for a new drawdown. ...more

November 27, 2007

SEBRING — The 2007 rainy season, which ends in November, didn't alleviate the ongoing water shortage, so South Florida Water Management District's staff recommended last week that its governing board increase watering restrictions at the Dec. 13 monthly meeting. Southwest Florida Water Management District will also discuss watering rules at its 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 26 meeting at Quorum Hotel Westshore, 700 N. Westshore Blvd., Tampa. ...more

November 23, 2007

Lake levels in Highlands County have remained low, and now, as we head into the winter dry season, all lake levels are expected to drop to near record numbers. In some cases, the levels will clearly break the old marks. ...more

November 21, 2007

SEBRING — So just how little water could remain in lakes Anoka and Placid without disrupting the lakes' environment? How low can Lake Verona go without making Donaldson Park any less enjoyable? The Southwest Florida Water Management District, which monitors those lakes as well as lakes Tulane, Denton and Angelo, wants to get public input Tuesday evening on that and other questions as the district determines new rules on the lakes' minimum water levels. Those levels are set by SWFWMD to determine the point where further drops in the lake level –– from natural causes or from people drawing water out –– could affect the surrounding environment as well as the lake's recreational use. As Chief Environmental Scientist Douglas Leeper wrote in a letter from SWFWMD's Resource Conservation and Development Department, the minimum levels "protect lakes from impacts associated with ground water and surface water withdrawals." ...more

November 19, 2007

Today begins the second day after the new moon, which occurred on Friday at 11:03 p.m. The projection isn't any better today than it was last Wednesday, I'm sorry to say. So, read it and weep –– if you're a daytime angler. There is a very slight, very early, migration bite in areas known to have a high concentration of fish. The majority of fish stopped feeding four hours before and gorged themselves completely from midnight to 4 a.m. There might be a midday bite, but only the smaller fish will be participating, and very rarely a larger fish. A spawning female bass could be caught, but only if you've won the lottery in the last 2 years. ...more

November 11, 2007

LAKE PLACID — After last week's cut-off against water permit holders using Lake Istokpoga's water, the South Florida Water Management District is preparing a brand new drawdown request. SFWMD spokeswoman Missie Barletto wrote a press release last week saying they were going to apply to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a "temporary deviation to Lake Istokpoga's regulation schedule" to allow more water than usually permitted from the lake to supply farms and residents downstream. In other words, Lake Istokpoga's water level could drop down if homes and farms need the water, although given the sluggish approval of the last drawdown request, it could be a few months before that happens. "The District intends to file a new request to the Corps for a revised deviation, which may provide some relief for users whose withdrawal points are directly connected to the lake," Barletto said in the e-mailed release. ...more

October 16, 2007