Victory for Conservation Lands, Native Plants and You, and more!

May 24, 2025 Weekly Newsletter

The Guana River Land Swap Victory:

A Win for Transparency, But the Fight

For Proper Process Continues

A controversial proposal to trade 600 acres of the Guana River Wildlife Management Area to a recently formed private company called The Upland LLC has been withdrawn following intense bipartisan backlash. The company cited "public sentiment resulting from misinformation" as their reason for abandoning the proposal, while insisting there was "never any intention to develop the acquired land for commercial or community development purposes."

This withdrawal marks the second time in less than a year that Floridians have successfully halted a questionable land proposal after last year's state parks development scandal. The pattern in both cases is remarkably similar: proposals quietly announced through obscure committees with minimal public notice, vague details about intentions, and an accelerated timeline that would limit public input.

The Victory Is Meaningful, But The Pattern Is Troubling

While we should celebrate this outcome, the very existence of this proposal highlights a disturbing governance approach that continues to plague Florida's environmental decision-making. The fundamental issue remains: why are sensitive land decisions repeatedly being pushed through back channels with minimal transparency?

The withdrawn proposal emerged with the same problematic characteristics we've seen before: a hastily announced meeting of the Acquisition and Restoration Council, limited information about the private entity seeking the land, and vague language about intended use that raised red flags. These are not the hallmarks of good governance; they are symptoms of a process designed to minimize public scrutiny.

Bipartisan Opposition Shows Process Matters To All Floridians

The swift and decisive response to this attempted end-run around proper procedure crossed political lines. Republican Rep. Kim Kendall rallied opposition in the Florida House, while Democratic Rep. Allison Tant condemned the potential development as "an atrocity." Even Susie Wiles, President Trump's chief of staff with long ties to Northeast Florida, blasted the proposal as "outrageous" and a "wolf in sheep's clothing."

This unified reaction underscores a fundamental truth: proper governance processes aren't partisan issues. They are the foundation of our representative democracy. When officials attempt to bypass these guardrails, they undermine confidence in government regardless of political affiliation.

A Fight That Should Never Have Been Necessary

Hundreds of residents took to the streets to oppose this land swap, organizing protests and raising public awareness. Their quick mobilization was commendable but represents time and energy that should never have been needed in the first place. Citizens shouldn't have to mount emergency campaigns to protect public resources that are already supposedly protected.

The attorney for Upland LLC now claims there was "never any intention to develop the acquired land," yet the original proposal's language about how "a majority of the wetland habitats will be avoided" told a different story, one that logically implied development plans for the non-wetland portions. This kind of ambiguity is precisely why transparent processes matter.

Vigilance Remains Essential

As Rep. Allison Tant aptly noted after the withdrawal, "You know and I know they'll be back, whoever they are, because they're never satisfied." Rep. Kim Kendall has already announced plans to sponsor legislation "to close the loopholes that made this land swap attempt possible." This would be an important step toward preventing similar scenarios in the future.

The procedures governing public land decisions are essential safeguards protecting our collective resources from exploitation. These processes exist precisely because Florida's natural treasures belong to all Floridians, not just to the politically connected few with privileged access to decision-makers.

The Path Forward

This victory demonstrates that when citizens demand transparency and proper process, they can prevail. But it shouldn't take massive public outcry to ensure that public lands remain protected. Florida needs consistent, transparent decision-making processes that invite public input from the beginning rather than attempting to avoid it.

For democracy to function properly, citizens must continue to demand better. Protected land should remain protected, not subject to backroom deals and procedural shenanigans. The withdrawal of this proposal is a win for transparency, but the fight for proper process continues. Florida's environmental treasures, and the integrity of our democratic institutions, depend on it.

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Vero Beach's Web Webster Takes Silver at ISEF

Following our coverage last week of Vero High School scientist, Web Webster's lagoon research, we learned that he took second place in Earth and Environmental Sciences at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). This is a big deal and we extend congratulations to Web!

Web expressed gratitude for the community support he received since the announcement. "The Indian River Lagoon taught me to see the world with wonder, but it was the teachers and mentors in my classrooms who taught me how to turn that wonder into action. They gave me the language of inquiry, the tools of discovery, and the encouragement to chase answers beyond the textbook. Every sample I tested, every data set I analyzed, every hour I spent bent over a microscope or hunched beside an HPLC machine, all of it began with someone saying, 'Yes, you can.'"

Web's innovative research on using caffeine as a marker for septic contamination, which earned him this prestigious recognition, demonstrates the power of local scientific education and mentorship. As he heads to the University of Florida's Honors Program this fall, our community can take pride in nurturing a young scientist whose work directly addresses one of our most pressing environmental concerns. We look forward to following his scientific journey in protecting the Indian River Lagoon and beyond.

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Native Plants Save More Than Money:

The True Cost of Florida Lawns

For a long time, the emerald-green lawn has symbolized American homeownership. (Picket fence optional.) However, with our unique climate, maintaining that turf comes with steep price tags: financial, environmental, and personal. Studies from around the state reveal an alternative: native landscaping. This can deliver dramatic savings while enhancing local ecosystems.

The Financial Flip

The numbers speak volumes. A typical quarter-acre Florida yard with traditional turf can incur significant costs for installation and ongoing maintenance, including substantial water bills for irrigation. When factoring in equipment, fertilizers, and pesticides, homeowners often spend thousands annually.

Native landscapes, in contrast, offer a different equation. Initial installation often costs significantly less, and water bills are virtually eliminated once plants establish. Without the need for weekly mowing or chemical treatments, long-term maintenance costs plummet to a fraction of traditional lawn expenses.

Reclaiming Your Time

Perhaps most valuable to busy households is the dramatic difference in time investment. Traditional lawns demand hundreds of hours of maintenance over five years, that's nearly nine full work weeks spent pushing mowers, spreading fertilizer, and battling weeds. Native yards, once established, require only occasional attention during the same period. This translates to reclaiming hundreds of hours that could be spent with family, pursuing hobbies, or relaxing.

Conclusion

Many Florida homeowners report surprise advantages after switching to natives. Gardens burst with butterflies and songbirds. Air conditioning costs often decrease as strategic plantings provide natural cooling. Neighbors become curious, creating community conversations about sustainable living.

"People don't realize how much their lawn costs until they stop maintaining it," notes one Florida landscape architect. "Not just in dollars, but in time and environmental impact."

Water conservation is becoming increasingly important in Florida. Native landscaping represents a practical solution that benefits both homeowner and ecosystem. (And looks great too!) The costs make it clear, sometimes when we say the grass is greener on the other side, it's not actually grass but rather native plants.

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Indian River County expanding urban service bounding around Oslo Road (TCPalm) - Indian River County will extend its urban service boundary to support development around the planned Oslo Road I-95 interchange, with a year-long rezoning moratorium, extended from six months through IRNA Land Use Committee advocacy, to allow for public input and preserve the area’s agricultural character.

Vero Beach, Stuart county seats 100 years. What's future hold? | Opinion (TCPalm) - As Indian River and Martin counties mark their centennial, local leaders reflect on a century of transformation while anticipating future growth driven by technology, shifting demographics, and regional cooperation—balanced against challenges like water scarcity, healthcare access, and preserving community character.

Tony Young Leaves No Stone Unturned (Vero Beach Magazine) - Driven by a deep sense of duty, retired Army Colonel Tony Young has spent years meticulously researching the lives behind the names on Vero Beach’s Memorial Island, uncovering stories of sacrifice and service to honor fallen local heroes and preserve their legacies for future generations.

Vero Beach Marina price rising due to COVID-19 and construction costs (TCPalm) - Vero Beach officials are considering leasing the Municipal Marina to a private operator to reduce financial burden amid rising construction costs, though some argue city control would better serve long-term public interests.

Report: Shores vulnernable to severe flooding (Vero News) - A new vulnerability assessment reveals that a Category 3 hurricane could flood much of Indian River Shores, threatening critical infrastructure and prompting town officials to develop an adaptation plan to mitigate rising risks from sea level rise and extreme weather.

Will county take over Vero’s lifeguard operations? (Vero News) - Vero Beach is exploring the possibility of transferring its $860,000-per-year lifeguard operations to Indian River County, but the plan was paused to allow city and county officials to resolve key issues such as equipment transfer, funding, and oversight before potential inclusion in the 2025–26 budget.

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Lack of Parasites Signals Trouble

for Florida's Indian River Lagoon

Parasites may not be the diagnosis you want when you visit your doctor, but in ecosystems like the Lagoon they play an important role. They can be seen as indicators of ongoing environmental health in ecosystems. These little guys, which depend on specific hosts, actually signal biodiversity and food webs in healthy marine environments.

Our lagoon was once considered among the state's cleanest coastal waterways. (This was back when fewer people lived here.) It has been showing troubling signs of ecological distress for good number of years now. Recent research reveals significantly fewer parasites in the lagoon's fish and crustaceans compared to similar ecosystems around the world. This scarcity indicates a disrupted and simplified food web. Not great.

Scientists studying the 156-mile estuary found particularly concerning declines in parasites requiring multiple hosts to complete their life cycles. These complex parasites, which typically move through food chains from prey to predator, were approximately 17% less prevalent than expected. Their absence suggests the ecosystem has become less interconnected and more fragile.

The reason for this 'ecological simplification' appears to be the nutrient pollution from surrounding development that we are often talking about here in this space. All that extra nitrogen and other pollutants such as fertilizer runoff have triggered harmful algal blooms that devastated the seagrass beds. These beds are critical habitats that support diverse marine life and help with biodiversity. Without these meadows, many critters will struggle to thrive. This sort of thing can disrupt the complex relationships parasites depend upon and it can spiral from there.

Researchers hope their findings will serve as a baseline for future restoration efforts. As counter-intuitive as it might seem, a gradual increase in parasite diversity would be a positive sign that the lagoon's ecosystem is recovering its complexity and resilience after years of decline. The presence of these often-overlooked organisms may prove to be a valuable metric in tracking the success of conservation initiatives along our coastline.

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Palm Beach OKs Florida Crystals and U.S. Sugar rock mine in Everglades (TCPalm) - Palm Beach County approved a 34-year limestone mining project in the Everglades backed by major sugar companies despite strong opposition from environmental groups worried it will undermine the adjacent $4 billion EAA reservoir and broader Everglades restoration efforts.

Judge blocks septic tanks near North Indian River Lagoon to guard manatees (Florida Today) - A federal judge has ordered Florida to halt new septic tank permits near the North Indian River Lagoon and reinstate emergency manatee feeding and monitoring programs, citing pollution-driven seagrass loss and manatee starvation as violations of the Endangered Species Act. Florida has appealed this decision, see the article below, State Appeals in Manatee Protection Fight, for more information.

May 2025 Peligram (Pelican Island Audubon Society) - Pelican Island Audubon Society’s May 2025 newsletter highlights its ongoing mission to protect Indian River County’s natural ecosystems through education and advocacy, celebrates its 60th anniversary, updates readers on youth programs like the Audubon Advocates and RiverKidz, and promotes native plant landscaping as a vital step toward environmental restoration and climate resilience.

Memorial Day weekend: Best snorkeling spots in Vero Beach, Fort Pierce (TCPalm) - Snorkelers on the Treasure Coast can explore marine life and historic shipwrecks at six top spots from Vero Beach to Stuart, including the S.S. Breconshire, Riomar reefs, Urca de Lima, Fort Pierce Inlet, Georges Valentine, and Bathtub Reef Beach—each offering unique underwater experiences just offshore.

UF water researchers develop prediction system for harmful algae News (University of Florida) - University of Florida researchers, in partnership with other institutions, have developed a next-day prediction model for harmful algal blooms in Florida waterways, aiming to provide water managers with practical tools to forecast and mitigate algae-related risks to public health and ecosystems.

Here's how much affordable housing Fort Pierce high rise needs to circumvent local laws (TCPalm) - To bypass local zoning rules under Florida’s Live Local Act, the proposed 17-story Causeway Cove development in Fort Pierce must include over 400 affordable housing units—40% of its 1,000 apartments—sparking local concern over state-mandated height exemptions and the city’s limited ability to intervene.

Manatee strikes up friendship with Florida paddleboarder (UPI) - A Florida paddleboarder’s repeated encounters with a friendly manatee named Paddle at E.G. Simmons Regional Park have gone viral on TikTok, capturing the gentle animal’s apparent recognition and affection while highlighting the importance of respecting wildlife laws.

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State Appeals in Manatee Protection Fight

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has appealed to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, challenging a ruling that found the state violated the Endangered Species Act regarding manatees in the Indian River Lagoon. The appeal contests U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza's April decision that sided with our friends at Bear Warriors United.

In his ruling, Judge Mendoza determined that under current regulations, it would take at least a decade for the northern Indian River Lagoon to begin recovery. The case centers on wastewater discharges that Bear Warriors United argued destroyed seagrass, a critical manatee food source, resulting in animal deaths and harm.

Bear Warriors United initiated the lawsuit in 2022 following a record 1,100 manatee deaths in 2021, with 358 in Brevard County alone. According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data, 363 manatee deaths have already been reported this year, including 75 in Brevard County. Katrina Shaddix, Executive Director of Bear Warriors, was a guest at an IRNA luncheon two years ago where she highlighted this legal action as one of the few effective tools conservationists have against the state's environmental negligence.

Conservation advocates remain hopeful that the courts will continue to prioritize wildlife protection over state interests that fail to safeguard these vulnerable species and their habitats. More updates as they become available.

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How a toxic seaweed choking Caribbean beaches could become a valuable resource (The Conversation) - Massive blooms of toxic sargassum seaweed are disrupting Caribbean economies and ecosystems, (and maybe here too before long) but local innovators and policy advocates are exploring ways to turn the invasive plant into valuable products like biofuel, plant tonics, and paper to build climate resilience and economic opportunity.

Video Game Survey Finds Players Alter Behaviour in Response to Climate Themes (The Energy Mix) - A global survey embedded in popular video games found that over 75% of players exposed to climate-themed content reported adopting more environmentally friendly habits, highlighting gaming's potential (and culture in general) to inspire real-world climate action.

Out of the Wild: How A.I. Is Transforming Conservation Science (Yale e360) - Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing conservation by enabling scientists to analyze massive data sets on species and ecosystems, but concerns remain that overreliance on A.I. could marginalize traditional knowledge, introduce biases, and reduce vital field-based ecological understanding.

New study maps the fishmeal factories that supply the world's fish farms (Mongabay) - A new global map of 506 fishmeal and fish oil factories reveals the industry's vast scale and reliance on whole fish, raising concerns about overfishing, ecosystem damage, and the diversion of vital nutrition from coastal communities to feed industrial fish farms.

Climate change is turning coastal lagoons into 'salty soup' (ScienceDaily) - Not just the IRL in trouble. Climate change and human activity are driving hypersalinity in coastal lagoons, disrupting microbial ecosystems and vital functions like nutrient cycling and carbon storage, though timely freshwater restoration can rapidly reverse the damage.

A new podcast asks: Are 'radical' climate activists really that radical? (Grist) - A new podcast called "Sabotage" explores the motivations, strategies, and surprising effectiveness of controversial climate activists like Just Stop Oil, revealing that their much-maligned stunts have helped achieve real policy wins and may be less radical than they appear.