The Riverkeeper monitors the Apalachicola from the upper reaches at the Florida/Georgia line downstream 108 miles, through the middle reaches around Wewahitchka, to the estuary and Bay on the Gulf.
The Riverkeeper recognizes four priority threats to our resource that must be combated:
- Reduction of Life-Sustaining Freshwater
- Loss of Floodplain Habitat
- Point and Non-Point Source Pollution
- Explosive Growth and Development
The Apalachicola, despite these threats, remains at present an almost pristine resource of unique value to the state and the Region. With the ominous in-state example of the Everglades cleanup and the huge associated costs, the Riverkeeper has to lead an effort to protect and preserve this pristine resource against such a consequence in the years ahead. Some resource; some battle.
The Apalachicola Riverkeeper organization is no stranger to polluted waterways. Organizing regular cleanups along the bay, they fish out more than fresh oysters. Plastics are a large part of the waste collected from the area. In an effort to make their meetings and functions more sustainable, they have recently adopted the use of biodegradable plates, cups and cutlery to enjoy gumbo, oysters and other tasty refreshments both bayside and most recently at the Annual Riverkeeper Roundup on May 10, 2008, at the Tall Timbers Research Station. The Apalachicola Riverkeeper brought to the Tallahassee area some of the best of a series of award-winning environmental films from the Wild and Scenic Film Festival.
For more information on the Riverkeepers visit their website: http://www.apalachicolariverkeeper.org/index.html and please consider becoming a member to help support and preserve Apalachicola Bay as it is one of the most productive estuarine systems in the Northern Hemisphere. Between 60 to 85 percent of the local population make their living directly from the fishing industry, most of which is done in reserve waters. Seafood landings from the Apalachicola Reserve are worth $14-16 million dockside annually. At the consumer level, this represents a $70-$80 million industry. The region features 1,162 species of plants, and includes the largest natural stand of tupelo trees in the world. The area is also home to 308 species of birds, 186 species of fish, 57 species of mammals, and boasts the highest species density of amphibians and reptiles in all of North America, north of Mexico stated by the Apalachicola Reserve, 2002.
6/12/08: WFSU Radio –Perspectives- “Water Wars” http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wfsu/podcasts/11823.xml
This week on “Perspectives,” we’ll discuss the latest developments in Florida’s struggle for water with Georgia and Alabama – and the new threat to the Apalachicola River and Bay. Our guests will be Jackson County Commissioner Jeremy Branch, Franklin County Commissioner Joseph Parrish, and Dan Tonsmiere of Apalachicola Riverkeeper.
http://wfsuperspectives.org/
The recent holiday season has probably left many homes with trash bags full of discarded gift wrapping and packaging. Maybe the familiar question should be rephrased to, “How many plastic layers to tear through to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?”
Not only does plastic needlessly encase most consumer goods, it also suffocates most of our food products as well: bottled water, packaged meat and produce, snack foods, all individually wrapped than packaged again in cases. We also use plastic to house leftovers from our favorite restaurants or choice items at the deli. Then we bring all our goodies home in the infamous plastic shopping bag (now banned in some European countries and San Francisco). It later accumulates with all of the other polymerized petroleum in a plastic trash bag to be hauled off to the landfill where it will live out a lifetime surpassing even our own.
Not only is all this plastic wasteful, it is harmful to our health. Plastic can leech chemicals like benzene and dioxin into our food, not to mention the amount of water we drink from single serving plastic bottles too. Think you’re being conservative refilling those bottles? Guess again, reusing those thin plastic bottles increases your chances of chemical contamination. Don’t be alarmed, be informed. An alternative exists, biodegradable plastic. Made from 100% renewable resources like corn, soybeans or potato, biodegradable plastic will completely degrade under high heat and humidity to simple and safe atomic components of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen, it’s even compostable!
Slowly I have seen the adoption of this wonderfully green technology as produce packaging, beverage containers, and single use utensils and would like to see more. However, in addition to this safe and environmentally friendly option, let’s think about our habits and purchases. Take a moment to consider buying bulk products in weighed glass or metal containers, bringing canvas bags to haul those groceries to the car, finding a ceramic mug or glass to bring in to your favorite local coffee shop. Now knowing that plastic is a waste of resources, a health risk, and a monumental disposal problem; let’s do what we can to avoid using it.
Biodegradable plastics are labeled sometimes with “biodegradable/compostable” or the number 7 inside the triangle with PLA under. Meet the makers of containers by checking them on the bottom:
When I run errands it is suprising how many vendors nearly insist to give me a plastic bag after I politely refuse one, they seem bewildered that I could or would want to carry it bagless (if I don’t happen to have my reusable bag on me). Recently while at the grocers, I got compliments on my fold up tote bag that zippers nicely into a small wallet sized square pad.
“I have so many canvas bags, but I usually forget to bring them so I keep aquiring new ones. But that little thing is so cute, I could keep it in my purse all the time. I just would have to remember that it’s in there!”
I like when people’s eyes light up when I unzip and poof! A bag big enough for all my goodies yet conveniently convertible!
I used to get fed up with the surplus of plastic grocery bags my old roommate brought into the house, so instead of letting them find the landfill, I stuffed them into a basmati rice sack to make a pillow. With more leftover, I took a dress set aside for donation and tied it off and stuffed it up also to make another cushion. Mother Earth says: do what you can to avoid feeding me plastic.
EARTH DAY 2008 Celebration at Litchgate with live music, games and vegetarian potluck biodegradable style. Link to full Article