Your View of Florida. Tell Us.

Grady-lady

toomer said:

I consider myself extremely fortunate to have many vivid pre-Disney memories of Florida.  I daydream about it all the time.  One of the things I miss most was the great quail and dove hunting in eastern Lee and Hendry counties.  

I cannot tell you the last time I've seen a quail or heard one call - and I've lived nearly 50 years within the boundaries of a national forest whose population and development impacts are minimal.  Some say it's the fire ant invasion.  I've not seen a killdeer in ages either.


Another critter mia (though I see a one now and then)… https://youtu.be/WsfXscAWTpA

King's Bay used to be blue and clear - (or is that a figment of a youthful imaginary memory?).  There again, 'some say' it's accumulated run-off from lawns and streets, others that it's salt water intrusion from reduced flow...maybe both?  

The springs at the head of the Silver River have an observably reduced output (old waterlines on the rocks) and further down the river the bottom appears to be a dead zone - drastically reduced populations of native fish and greatly increased population of 'armored catfish' (so-called locally) - yet the Silver River begins and ends in sparsely populated swamp (other than at the headwaters) where fishing hasn't been allowed as long as I can remember.

Without a doubt, population growth, water demands, run-off, interference with natural drainage - all this is impacting the land, the water quality, the wildlife, etc.  That the Big Bend has far more low lying salt marshes than white sandy beaches is about the only thing that keeps it from being St. Pete/Clearwater...unfortunately even that is not as much protection from the effects of dense population elsewhere as it once was.

Grady-lady

Cyclist said:

Floridians continue to elect crappy politicians that only care about development, growth and jobs. rick scott was horrible as governor and will probably be elected to senate. If you care about the environment, there is no republican you could vote for in good conscious.

Florida Scorecard

http://scorecard.lcv.org/

https://www.fcvoters.org/about/

http://scorecard.lcv.org/state/florida

Well there goes fcv's claims of non-partisanship. 

Funny thing - I'm seeing all sorts of anti Rick Scott political ads on social media telling us why we shouldn't vote for Scott and not one telling us why we should vote for Nelson. Nelson's 75 years old, been in politics for 46 years - first in the Fl State Legislature, then the US House and lastly a US Senator for 17 years.  That's a very long time - and the situation in Florida has only worsened - he's part of the problem and needs to go.

Casual Angler

vernon said:

state and local need to preserve more shoreline for fishing.

Yep. Every year there are more and more places where you're not allowed to fish anymore. Especially so if you don't have a boat.

surfman

We used to see meadow larks in the pasture near our house, haven;'t seen one of those in years either.

Soda Popinski

What in the koo koo fa cho cho is this nonsense? 

pottydoc

Grady-lady said:

Cyclist said:

Floridians continue to elect crappy politicians that only care about development, growth and jobs. rick scott was horrible as governor and will probably be elected to senate. If you care about the environment, there is no republican you could vote for in good conscious.

Florida Scorecard

http://scorecard.lcv.org/

https://www.fcvoters.org/about/

http://scorecard.lcv.org/state/florida

Well there goes fcv's claims of non-partisanship. 

Funny thing - I'm seeing all sorts of anti Rick Scott political ads on social media telling us why we shouldn't vote for Scott and not one telling us why we should vote for Nelson. Nelson's 75 years old, been in politics for 46 years - first in the Fl State Legislature, then the US House and lastly a US Senator for 17 years.  That's a very long time - and the situation in Florida has only worsened - he's part of the problem and needs to go.

Nelson has vacuumed up tens of thousands of Big Sugar money over the years, also. But now he says he’s seen the light. Funny how it happened when he had to face his first real challenge in a long time. I mean, he’s a politician, surely he wouldn’t lie, or go back on what he promises. 

MRichardson

It's not funny.

He's right. Republicans are not stewards of our state's natural resources.

Democrats are fing crazy.

So yeah, it's not funny. We have no options.

Enyar

I'll echo what others have said EXCEPT we can't blame this on Disney. Disney is pretty much a godsend for the state. No income taxes, in the middle of Orlando (what the heck else are you going to do in friggen Orlando??? and it provides jobs. 

If only people wisened up and prioritized our play ground instead of more development this place could have been a paradise. 

surfman

People used to come to Florida because of our environment, we had no income tax then either, now they come here to ride a roller coaster, and then they move here. 

MRichardson

Fishing and hunting was great in Orlando before all the people.
Fishing still is, some of the best lakes in the country.

Enyar

I was semi-sarcastic with my comment on Orlando, but you have to admit it's a better place for a theme park than our coasts.

surfman

Atlanta would be better IMO.

1outlaw

surfman said:

Atlanta would be better IMO.

I agree!

Barrell

Cyclist said:

Floridians continue to elect crappy politicians that only care about development, growth and jobs. rick scott was horrible as governor and will probably be elected to senate. If you care about the environment, there is no republican you could vote for in good conscious.

Florida Scorecard

http://scorecard.lcv.org/

https://www.fcvoters.org/about/

http://scorecard.lcv.org/state/florida

Why do you say that? Your first link show Florida in the middle on environmental factors. In the middle isnt bad with all the people here. Your link to how they voted show plenty of republicans voted to minimize methane emissions. Both parties in Florida have failed to clean up the runoff problem. They have both been in power and have had plenty of time to do something.

FloridaOD

Florida’s boaters, fishers,hunters,conservationists have now been consigned to simply observing the demise of Florida as once known and in fact required for future placement, use and enjoyment of such defined natural  resource based “ Constituency “.
In fact,Florida’s very own FWCC recognized same not long ago.
FWCC staff rarely, if ever engage with such Forum. 

saltysenior

surfman said:

We used to see meadow larks in the pasture near our house, haven;'t seen one of those in years either.

i believe the ant problem is a major factor in the successful nesting for birds who nest on the ground....do you see many ground doves anymore ???   turkey #'s are falling fast too. 

FloridaOD

When in the depths of remorse over knowledgeable view of where Florida is headed, the injustice, failed efforts, the Bad Guys, it is comforting and freeing to know that before “we know it”, in geological time, the Peninsula will be entirely awash in sea water..... once again.

stc1993

I grew up in Winter Garden, Ocoee area in the 60's before Disney.  It was nice back then fishing.  We would go to the banana river & get wash tubs full of oysters & shuck oysters all day Sunday.  A lot of good times back then.  We never had AC then either.  Just a lot of mosquito spray.

MRichardson

I am glad to have seen it the way it has been the past 40 years. 
Given the current state, I've already begun making plans to leave so I can find
something comparable in my retirement.

ANUMBER1

MRichardson said:

I am glad to have seen it the way it has been the past 40 years. 
Given the current state, I've already begun making plans to leave so I can find
something comparable in my retirement.

Being as live in Orlando, might I suggest Fire Island NY.

stc1993

I think it's time to look at the outer banks of NC.

Like the old saying call it paradise and kiss it goodbye.

The paradise days of FL are gone.  I'm glad I got to live some of it.

MRichardson

ANUMBER1 said:

MRichardson said:

I am glad to have seen it the way it has been the past 40 years. 
Given the current state, I've already begun making plans to leave so I can find
something comparable in my retirement.

Being as live in Orlando, might I suggest Fire Island NY.

Lol.  I spend all my free time on weekends/days off outdoors far from Orlando.
I just get my monies here.

[email protected] Special

I have seen so much done to our environment that I have actually lived long enough to dig a canal in the Everglades and then get paid to backfill it many years later.

We sometimes just can't make up our minds on what to do.

YakAddict

Tallahassee blames Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C. blames Tallahassee. Democrats blame Republicans. Republicans blame Democrats.

The gross mismanagement of Lake Okeechobee is the epitome of the abysmal lack of apolitical, non-partisan cooperation in Florida.

For years I've been enjoying inshore saltwater kayak fishing along the relatively undeveloped Big Bend coastline (from Cedar Key to Keaton Beach). I fear this area will face heavier pressure in the future as other areas in Florida continue to experience water quality issues. 

HookI

Been a Fla traveler since the mid 70's , now family put their roots in this great state w/ their fine people .
What I'm hoping is the state of Florida is honest with the conditions of its recent 2018 environment of what is going on . Billions of northern dollars come down every winter to spend and help the Florida citizens make an living . The sour taste of not being informed when these travelers come down could set off a very ,very bad future of Florida's economic stability & growth . Which means local residents will have to pick up the slack with higher taxes if folks decide to go elsewhere of future winters .  

ANUMBER1

I don't  think their RV will make it to Costa  Rica. 

surfman

YakAddict said:

For years I've been enjoying inshore saltwater kayak fishing along the relatively undeveloped Big Bend coastline (from Cedar Key to Keaton Beach). I fear this area will face heavier pressure in the future as other areas in Florida continue to experience water quality issues. 

When people ask about Steinhatchee I am quick to point out that the reason I like it is there are no beaches, there is nothing to do so unless you like to fish or hunt, don't waste your time going there. The no-see-ums will run you out anyway. But, even that place has seen crazy growth in the last decade, the real estate boom saw a huge change, fortunately most of those folks lost their butts and the development came to s screeching halt but not until after a lot of damage was done. It is changed forever.

John Haggerty

I've only been here for 3 years.  Moved down at 53.  I thought inshore fishing would become my thing.  I was getting it figured out, but the red tide has been wearing on me.  Probably going to start snowbirding and do my summer fishing in Canada.  BEWARE:  There are millions more like me who have "Northeast" money coming down soon.  Sorry but it's too cold for me anymore!

EarlyPoint2

What's going on is a horrible crime. During these last years, the fish population plummeted wildly. I wish we had things like these they have in Europe. It would be invaluable in spreading the information about healthy fishing lifestyle and why nature needs to be preserved for that.

Soda Popinski

surfman said:

People used to come to Florida because of our environment, we had no income tax then either, now they come here to ride a roller coaster, and then they move here. 

And then their kids and grandkids move here.