The Friends of the Chinsegut Wildlife and Environmental Area aims to preserve, expand and increase access to this natural 'jewel.' ...more

September 2, 2008

A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer said she observed an active gopher tortoise burrow with bulldozer tread marks near it near the Sebring Wal-Mart as the property was being developed. A sign of a felony, she alleged late July, even though they're normally only filed as misdemeanors. ...more

August 7, 2008

A loophole in county law allows developers wanting to clear land a way to do so without regard to endangered or threatened species. Our county should close this loophole immediately, and make sure no one can skirt the law when it comes to our environment. ...more

July 9, 2008

A plan to connect Pasco County's public lands and protect wildlife met with opposition Tuesday. ...more

July 9, 2008

A loophole in county law allows developers wanting to clear land a way to do so without regard to endangered or threatened species. Our county should close this loophole immediately, and make sure no one can skirt the law when it comes to our environment. ...more

July 9, 2008

SEBRING — It's a frequent situation for developers in Highlands County. They have a property more than two acres in size that they want to develop, so they need to clear it. Theoretically, they're supposed to complete an environmental impact report, have the property inspected to make sure there are no sensitive natural resources or protected wildlife there. According to multiple officials, however, that's not happening in some cases. Instead, a loophole in the county's law allows those developers to develop just less than two acres at a time, allowing them to bypass the environmental inspections and requiring only a simple permit from the county. Ultimately, this allows them to get away with bulldozing over gopher tortoises and other threatened animals since the state cannot perform inspections. ...more

July 2, 2008

Pasco County environmental lands officials gave tours Friday of the Upper Pithlachascotee River Preserve, the first property purchased through the 4-year-old program. ...more

June 21, 2008

A new park at the headwaters of the Pithlachascotee River soon will be open for hikes and family picnics now that the state has kicked in its share of the purchase price. ...more

June 7, 2008

State and county environmental officials donned khaki pants and hiking boots last week and headed for Alderman's Ford Preserve - 985 acres of scrub, pine flatwoods, wetlands and sand hills. ...more

January 2, 2008

State and county environmental officials donned hiking boots last week and headed for Alderman's Ford Preserve - 985 acres of scrub, pine flatwoods, wetlands and sand hills. ...more

January 2, 2008