Jun
2
2007
General Managment Plan – Everglades National Park
Author: Tim MahaffeyTwo weekends in a row in May/June with me sitting in Miami and watching it rain and blow is a new world record. Normally, I’d be in Islamorada chasing the poon, but the weather has really made it impossible. Some of my guide friends even resorted to bonefishing (omg!) this week as the tarpon are just flat out not moving.
Hopefully, Tropical Storm Barry will give us that change we need to jump us into a normal summer pattern.
Workshops for the public are scheduled this week that will allow us to show our displeasure with the ENP Management Plan. Lots of excellent points have been made on the Maverick Forum site regarding the Plan. I particularly like what Captain Dave Sutton wrote – our position needs to focus on taking closed areas of the park back and expanding our fishing areas, not further closures.
I’ve changed my travel schedule this coming week so I can participate at the June 5th meeting. I canceled about 10 meetings I had in Jacksonville over a two day period so I could attend. It is that important.
I hope all that have an interest in the future of Everglades National Park get involved, write letters, and attend these workshops. Most of us agree that once it’s lost, it will be lost forever.
For those of you who haven’t seen the workshop schedule, take note:
There will be 6 public workshops from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., with two separate, repeated sessions at each workshop (5:00 – 6:30 p.m. and
6:30– 8:00 p.m.). Overview presentations will be given at 5:15 and 6:45 p.m at each workshop. Before and after the presentations, there will be opportunities to learn more about the preliminary alternatives and provide your ideas and comments directly to Park staff.
Workshop Dates and Locations
June 5 South Dade Regional Library, 10750 SW 211th Street, Miami, FL 33189
June 6 Everglades City School, 415 School Drive, Everglades City, FL 34139
June 7 Key Largo Holiday Inn, 99701 Overseas Highway, Key Largo, FL 33037
June 12 Holiday Isle Resort, 8401 Overseas Highway, Islamorada, FL 33036
June 13 International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame, 300 Gulfstream Way, Dania Beach, FL 33004
June 14 Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, Everglades National Park, 40001 SR 9336, Homestead, FL 33034
The public comment period closes July 2, 2007. If you cannot attend one of the workshops, there are other ways to participate and provide public comment:
Visit the NPS Planning website to learn more about the project, view or download the newsletter and comment form, and submit comments via the internet.
Submit written comments to: National Park Service, Everglades Planning Team, P.O. Box 25287,
I’ll be tarpon fishing next Saturday, rain or shine, I can’t take it anymore! Check out my tech tarpon piece coming out this week.
Until then,
Tim (Flatsheadd@aol.com)