Happy Trails, to our Summer Interns

Find a nice online article about the Summer Intern Graduation HERE

Guest Blogger--Vanessa Aparicio

To keep you all updated on the Summer Intern Program, we have asked the interns to serve as guest bloggers from time to time. Here is a rundown of recent events from Vanessa Aparicio:

On July 27th, the Summer Interns and crew left bright and early to see a true treasure of Florida, Barley Barber Swamp. This old growth cypress swamp is owned and maintained by FPL and is located in Indiantown. We were all really excited because most of the cypress trees we had seen this summer were not very old and the trees in this Barley Barber Swamp were several hundred years old, with the oldest being around 900 to 1000 years!

It was a real treat that we were even able to go on this tour because tours normally only run from September through April, but Charles Barrowclough of Treasured Lands Foundation, made a special exception for us. It was also a special treat because the Swamp had been closed to the public since September 9, 2001 for security reasons. The Swamp had only recently reopened to the public after an Eagle Scout had restored the boardwalk to its original glory.

The Swamp had just experienced a rain storm the night before and had quite a bit of water, even though our guides said the day before had been very dry. We got to see a lot of insects, apple snail eggs, a variety of birds, pond apple trees, and of course plenty of cypress trees. We also saw a lot of flowers and Dr. Tom saw his first ever Ball Bromeliad in bloom, which has a beautiful purple flower! When we came to the clearing where the oldest cypress trees were, the oldest known as big grandpa or the Champion, took center stage, it was huge!

We also learned an interesting history as to where Barley Barber Swamp got its name. It was named after a man who came down here and laid claim to land. He was a bit of a loner and needed to make some money, but had no family or friends he could call upon to work with. As a result he decided to hire a Seminole Indian to help him open a logging business. One day people around town noticed Barley Barber and the Seminole Indian did not show up for work and they went looking for them. At Barley Barber’s house they found the Seminole Indian dead and his bride, along with Barley Barber, were missing never be seen again.

We also learned a great deal of the cultural history of Barley Barber Swamp. It is classified as an Indian trading or aquaculture mound by the State. There are many Indian artifacts located on the grounds and this mound likely took many generations to build. The mound faces due west towards the lake and was built with materials brought back from the coast. The highest elevation of the mound sits at 16 feet and is thought to be where the high chiefs resided.

Towards the end of the day, while we were at lunch, we received a fascinating history of Florida Ranching and Indiantown from the owner of the Seminole Inn. She told us of her family roots and how her mother’s best friend, Betsy, helped the Seminole Tribe gain recognition by the government. It was fascinating to hear about her heritage and a little bit about old Florida. I would really recommend to anyone who has a chance to get out there and see Barley Barber Swamp for themselves! It will not disappoint!

Guest Blogger--Judy Hartshorn (part 1)

To keep you all updated on the Summer Intern Program, we have asked the interns to serve as guest bloggers from time to time. Here is a rundown of recent events from Judy Hartshorn:

Reveille, Reveille, We’re Going to Riverwoods Today!

Generally when my alarm goes off at 5:30 a.m I am not a happy camper. However, when the beeping started that Monday I didn’t have the urge to throw it across the room. In fact I happily got up. Why? Because soon I would be off, along with my fellow interns, Shannon-a past intern and the current education associate, John Marshall, and Dr. Tom on our second overnight trip with the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation. We were headed north to visit northern Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River. I had never been to these areas and was excited to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the greater Everglades system by visiting its headwaters.

The trip got off to a great start with an airboat ride with Don Fox of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Paul Grey whom works for Audubon. We were especially excited for the tour because all our other air boat rides had been canceled due to drought conditions. We all loaded onto two airboats and were off. The tour was a whirlwind of Lake Okeechobee information from natural history, politics and policy, species information, to the Lake’s response to current drought conditions (many of which were good such as increased littoral zone). Dr. Tom caught an armored catfish barehanded, we made lotus maracas, and no airboats broke down. Although the Lake’s Snail Kite population is only about 700,drastically lower than historic numbers, it seemed as if the majority of those 700 showed up for our airboat ride, which was awesome. Afterwards Don and Paul joined us at Lightsies, which I would highly recommend, for lunch. While munching on their famous catnip appetizer and variations of fried cooter, gator, froglegs and catfish we further discussed the happenings around the Lake specifically about the drought’s effect on the lake and local agriculture. It was awesome to experience Lake O firsthand.

After lunch we all piled into the car and headed off to Riverwoods, our home for the next two nights. Riverwoods Field Laboratory is a facility jointly managed by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the Florida Center for Environmental Studies (CES). Riverwoods's main objective is to support research and educational activities related to the restoration of the Kissimmee River and the greater Everglades watershed. Loisa Kerwin came and gave us a very nice orientation to the field lab and the house we were staying in. It was then we learned about CiCi, Riverwoods’ unofficial mascot, whose favorite perch happened to be the tree outside the group house. CiCi is a usually friendly, people fed, Bard owl that recently found a wildmate (named GiGi). Although CiCi and GIGi are usually not a problem it is nesting season and CiCi’s behavior has been more aggressive-metaphorically the Jekyll and Hyde of owls. Loisa warned us about this and explained Riverwoods new CiCi protocol. Anytime one went outside they should have a badminton racket with them which they would swing in front of their head and body. Loisa said CiCi should not be a problem as he had not swooped at anyone in three weeks. Well if anyone knows Dr. Tom and the influence he can have on the interns that statement was basically an invitation for swoopage. Within two minutes of going outside CiCi was in the tree. Next thing we know CiCi has swooped down, lightly scratched Rob and attempted to land on Dr. Tom’s shorts. Needless to say we were more formal about the rest of our CiCi interactions, and he actually had us semi-cornered more than once.

Marshall Foundation on Radio Green Earth--7/14/11

The Marshall Foundation shares air-time with Michael Grunwald on the topic of drought in South Florida! Listen in as the Summer Interns discuss their views on the topic...

This week on Radio Green Earth, we talk about a topic on everyone’s minds these days in South Florida : drought.

We’re lucky enough to talk to John Marshall about his theories behind our “man-made droughts” and what we can do to help restore our natural climate system. We’ll also be talking to Time Magazine’s Michael Grunwald, author of the Swamp, about his own research on the Everglades and our local climate systems. Radio Green Earth host, Missy Strauss, will visit the Kissimmee River Basin at the very source of the Everglades and report on one of the best developed restoration projects in the area. We’ll see how aggressive efforts are already under way to restore the Everglades.Read more

Join us for an hour of environmental news, these feature stories, our green tip-of-the-week, and our environmental events calendar Thursday at 7 PM on WPBI 90.7 FM and Wednesdays at 8 PM on WQCS 88.9 FM. Also available live at www.radiogreenearth.org/.

Join us for the Summer Solstice party

Interns Have Arrived!

The Arthur R. Marshall Foundation is pleased to welcome our newest class of Summer Interns--(from left to right )Vanessa Appricio, David Diaz, Judy Hartshorn & Rob Hill.

Deadline for Summer Interns is March 31st!

SIP 2010 Poster Paper

Sure we talked about the SIP Poster Paper...but did we ever share it with you? Here it is for your viewing pleasure...

follow the link for a PDF version:

Letter to the Editor: What About the Benefits?

Below is a draft letter to the editor, sent to the Palm Beach Post from the 2010 Marshall Foundation Summer Interns. As of 8/12/10 this had not been published.

U.S. Sugar Land Purchase

What About the Benefits?

Restoration of the historic Everglades is at a critical point. In a pending Florida Supreme Court appeal, litigants have argued against the purchase of the U.S. Sugar Corporation land on economic grounds. The newest version of the proposed land deal calls for buying 26,800 acres from U.S. Sugar that could be used to build reservoirs and treatment areas to restore water flows from Lake Okeechobee to the southern Everglades. The litigants’ main argument states that the high cost of the South Florida Water Management District issuing $200 million in bonds does not serve the “public good.” Litigants imply that restoring the land bought with bonds will cost still more and take away from other critical Everglades restoration projects. They suffer from what some call, “sticker shock.” Those critics have failed to consider the economic benefits that restoration will bring or claim that they are either intangible, or incalculable. However, there are objective, scientific methods of valuing the services provided to nature and society by restored ecosystems.

While the cost of buying the land is evident, the greater benefits provided by the land are less apparent. In order to assess these benefits, we have quantified the economic value of the services provided by ecosystems: flood protection, water supply, recreation, etc. We have used and modified the methodology for “valuing ecosystem services”, first quantified by a group of international economists and biologists in 1997 and recommended for application by the National Academy of Sciences. Without natural systems like the Everglades the cost to provide these services will burden the SFWMD and the public. Our point is that natural systems and restoration provide economic value.

Furthermore, in the decision-making process, we must recognize that the natural ecosystem has tangible economic value. We argue that it can be evaluated as an investment, and we calculated the return on the purchase of the U.S. Sugar land. Our assessment compared the co

sts to the ecological and economic benefits of the proposed plans for Everglades restoration. Costs include the purchase of land, building necessary reservoirs and storm water treatment areas, and ongoing operations and maintenance. Benefits include flood control, water regulation and the revitalization of the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries, which have been severely damaged by harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee.

Investment in any of the proposed restoration plans will result in a substantial return within 10 years and contribute up to $90 billion dollars to the economy over 40 years. What the investors and taxpayers need to remember is that restoration is not only a “feel good” environmental project, but also an economic investment with a huge return. With a benefit to cost ratio of at least 6 to 1 there is an astounding “sticker benefit” associated with the purchase and restoration of this land.

2010 Summer Interns: Angelique Giraud, Ed Pritchard, Dylan Scott, Adrienne Smith, Jim Wally

Arthur R. Marshall Foundation & Florida Environmental Institute, Inc.

What about the Benefits?: The U.S. Sugar Corporation Land Purchase

Here is a paraphrased version of my public comment to the SFWMD Governing Board, delivered on August 11, 2010:

Chairmain Buermann: The written summary submitted for the record is the work of our Arthur R. Marshall Foundation Summer Interns, same that briefed you at the Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration (GEER) Conference in July.

Economic conclusions remain: In the long run, whatever River of Grass configuration is chosen, the economic benefits approach 90 billion dollars over the 40 year life cycle of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). This results in a calculated benefit to cost ration of 6 to 1, maybe more, with an optimal approach.

What were the benefits as Art Marshall saw them, reading from the 1981 Marshall Plan:

There will be benefits to fresh and saltwater fisheries, to wildlife, and to water quality. These translate into increased public health and improved recreational experience, protein foods for Floridians and their visitors, and profit for the tourist industry and fisheries, both recreational and commercial. There will also be benefits - little recognized - arising from increased energy efficiency.

On the same page of the Marshall Plan, Marjory Stoneman Douglas addresses the cost question:

What about the costs? The cost of doing nothing in monumental.

As Art Marshall advocated, the only way to get this done is to buy some land...and increase the total spatial extent of natural area...the first stated goal of CERP!

Stupidity is forgivable, but ignorance is no excuse.

Buy the land, whatever's affordable. Then buy more land when it becomes affordable.

The cost of not doing it is monumental

(Following this public comment, Chairman Beurmann acknowledged the work of the 2010 Arthur R. Marshall Foundation Summer Interns with a thank you.)

Post Script: (1) All the nay-sayers and anit-establishmentarians are putting up roadblocks, so who is going to exercise leadership and tell us how it--CERP+, is going to be done?
(2) Art Marshall, Marjory Stoneman Douglas and Johnny Jones, had it right all along.

Respectfully Submitted,
John Arthur Marshall