Do more to protect the Kissimmee River – and our quality of life

May 23, 2018 Blog Environment

I am a developer and an environmentalist, and I own property in and around Orlando. It is one of the most dynamic and interesting cities in the United States, and natural resources are part of the mix. A Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute study published in 2013 determined that wildlife viewing (excluding hunting) had a nearly $5 billion impact on Florida’s economy. Orlando needs to retain and enhance its share of this ever-expanding ecotourism industry.

U.S. Rep. Darren Soto has authored H.R. 3961 to begin the process of designating the Kissimmee River as a Wild and Scenic River. The Kissimmee used to meander its way down to Lake Okeechobee. In the dry season, flows naturally slowed; in the wet season, the river often turned into one large flood plain.

For the full op-ed visit the Orlando Sentinel here.

Recent posts

April 27 2023 Blog Environment

The Management Recommendations for Improvement

April 25 2023 Blog Environment

Grasslands are gone, too.

Some scientists estimate that native grasslands have declined by as much as 99 percent. By some estimates, this resulted in three billion fewer birds on the landscape than 50 years ago. This has harmed both the eastern meadowlark and the bobwhite which are both found on Coal Creek.

April 20 2023 Blog Environment

Landscapes like people get stressed.

Historically, open savannas and woodlands were largely maintained by periodic fire, which served to remove dense blankets of accumulated leaf litter from the ground and promote the growth of fire-adapted trees, such as shortleaf pine. Due to the loss of periodic fire, it is estimated that at least 90% of shortleaf pine-oak savanna has been lost.