Environment Archives - WMNF 88.5 FM

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A lightning strike in early May led to a fire in the Marine Science Laboratory on the USF St. Petersburg campus.

The recovery process of the building and years worth of research has begun.

Thomas Smith, the Interim Regional Chancellor and Vice Provost of Academic Affairs at USF St. Petersburg, speaks on how the discovery of over 30 chest freezers may be a hopeful sign.

“We pulled out of the building about 37 chest freezers, and it looks like some of the material that was retrieved is still viable for research…. could be specimens and samples going back decades. There were some Antarctic core samples that were in freezers.”

The fire displaced 150 individuals including students, faculty and staff. The university is still searching for laboratory space and equipment for them. They are working on matching offers from the community with their current needs.

The neighboring community has continued to show support through a fundraiser that raised over $400,000. Alongside them, the USF Foundation has launched the Marine Science Operating Fund.

“Thats a fund that will support the overall operations of the college of marine science, but it’s really going to be focused on the immediate sort of emergency that we’re all facing in the wake of that tragic fire.”

This initiative will provide financial relief for the university, and the affected members.

Smith states that the university has started the long process of deciding what the next steps are for the building. The debate stands on whether or not to rebuild.

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Researchers at University of South Florida say some frozen marine samples damaged in the recent fire at the St. Pete marine sciences building may still be recoverable. Scientists are continuing to assess the damage while working to preserve years of valuable environmental research.  

St. Pete Beach is launching a new living seawalls program aimed at reducing flooding and shoreline erosion using natural barriers and eco-friendly designs. The project will help waterfront homeowners create more resilient coastlines while improving marine habitats.  

Indian Rocks Beach has officially started charging visitors for parking at public beach access points as part of a six-month pilot program. Officials say the new system is designed to help manage traffic, beach crowds, and maintenance costs.  

New express lanes are now open on the southbound Howard Frankland Bridge, giving drivers a faster option when traveling between Tampa and St. Petersburg. Transportation officials hope the new lanes will ease congestion along one of the region’s busiest commuter routes.  

Creative lofting Tampa Bay has launched a fundraising effort to help cover the cost of public records requests through a new journalism-themed beer campaign. Proceeds from the initiative will support local investigative reporting and transparency efforts in the Tampa Bay area. 

The Scoop, produced by Demaria Green and Seán Kinane.

WMNF anchors Chris Young, Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Seán Kinane, Lisa Marzilli. 
WMNF News Director Seán Kinane
WMNF reporters Chris Young, Juanita Hurtado Huérfano, Lisa Marzilli, Seán Kinane, Sofia Caballero, Daria Mironova, Megan Fair, Luiza Medeiros de Campos, Hanna Lau.
Special thanks to Taylor Lovejoy and Corey Beltran.

Theme music, Fresh06, by Stian via archive.org – CC-BY-NC-SA 2.5
https://archive.org/details/jamendo-001084/02.mp3
The Scoop logo by Robin Milcowitz / Greener Pixels / greenerpixels.com / WMNF

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On Earth Day, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill stopping local governments’ climate change efforts. 

But now, the future of Tampa’s extensive Climate Action and Equity Plan is up in the air. 

In 2023, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor joined others to present the city’s Climate Action and Equity Plan. 

“Today, we’re proud to release Tampa’s first climate action and equity plan, and I think everyone has a copy of that. A great deal of work went into this plan, for two years as part of our Resilient Tampa roadmap.” Castor said in 2023.

The plan would reduce carbon emissions through infrastructure changes, which means cutting carbon emissions to a balanced level. 

But DeSantis’ bill, among other things, bans local governments from using net-zero policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“So it’s like, okay, we’re just going to stop the madness here, and that’s what this bill does. It safeguards Floridians by prohibiting all levels of government from adopting or  enforcing these radical climate policies.” DeSantis said at a Jacksonville press conference.

Susan Glickman, vice president of Policy and Partnerships for CLEO, calls the decision appalling. 

“To sign a bill on Earth Day feels quite cynical, that he’s thumbing his nose at the local communities that are suffering from extreme weather, and also that are suffering with paying power bills, and affordability is on everyone’s mind, and this went in the exact opposite direction,” Glickman told WMNF.

Non-profit climate change group the CLEO Institute partnered with the city to create the 156-page plan.

“It’s very frustrating because clean energy solutions have gotten cheaper and cheaper and cheaper. And again, because you take the fuel, the fossil gas, or coal, out of the equation, it’s just less expensive.” Glickman said.

Non-profit group, The Nature Conservancy, calls Florida “ground zero” for the effects of climate change, including warming temperatures, sea-level rise, and changing drought conditions. 

In an email sent to WMNF from Tampa’s Sustainability and Resiliency Officer, Kayla Caselli, she says the city attorney and legal department staff are still reviewing how the legislation will impact the City of Tampa’s policies and programs.

 The law takes effect July 1st.

CORRECTION: Tampa’s Climate Action & Equity Plan contains net-zero language, but does not commit to net-zero energy targets.

The post After DeSantis signs bill banning local climate efforts, Tampa’s ‘climate action’ plan is in limbo appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

On this week’s Sustainable Living show, host Anni Ellis joins guests Kira Baker and Avery Masters of MAR (Mindful Action for Regeneration). MAR’s mission is “connecting people with nature to inspire care, responsibility, and collaborative action.”

Born and raised in St Pete, Kira Baker earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science and Policy at the University of South Florida. Kira has worked in the Environmental Non-Profit sector for the last three years.  She is inspired by the drive of the volunteers that she works with, and by the lasting impact she knows she is making through each project.

Avery Masters, originally of Boston, moved to Florida in 2020 and was instantly captivated by the state’s natural beauty. Passionate about the power of connecting people to nature as a catalyst for positive change, she believes that fostering a deeper appreciation for the environment inspires collective action for a more sustainable future. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies from Smith College, as well as a Master of Theological Studies in Philosophy of Religion from Harvard University.

Topics discussed include:

-MAR’s mission to connect people to nature

-current and past projects/programs

-how connection to nature inspires regeneration of the environment and communities

-people as part of nature

and more!

Get involved at MAR-Mindful Action for Regeneration.

If you love the Sustainable Living Show, make sure to tune in every Monday at 11am on 88.5fm or listen to past episodes in the archives here. You can also stay up to date with show happenings on our Facebook page. Head over to the tip jar and direct your donation to Sustainable Living to show your monetary support. Remember, it takes a community to build a community.

The post Preserve, uplift and restore local communities with Kira Baker and Avery Masters appeared first on WMNF 88.5 FM.

A new report from the American Lung Association found air quality slightly worsened in several Florida cities.

Here’s how the Tampa Bay area measured up. 

The Lung Association’s “State of the Air” report analyzed air quality data from 2022 to 2024 to grade regions on unhealthy levels of ozone and particle pollution.

The report found that the Tampa Bay area was ranked 100th out of 226 for ground-level ozone pollution.

Ashley Lyerly is the senior director of advocacy. 

“Last year, we were 115th, so we’re sort of bumping up to, in the numbers, not so much, but really sort of middle of the pack as it relates to ozone pollution in that ranking. But that, again, being said, we’re not on the clean air list, right? So we’re still, because we are middle of the road, that means that we’re still breathing unhealthy air pollution.” Lyerly said.

She emphasizes that the data is from 2022-2024, and says rollbacks in protections for air quality from the EPA may lead to lower scores in the future. 

In Florida, a bill passed this legislative session that prohibits local governments from issuing policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“We need to stop rolling back clean air protections that we have at the federal level. And then we also need to allow our local communities in the state of Florida to regulate things like greenhouse gas emissions.” Lyerly told WMNF.

The Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale metro area ranked 132nd worst in the nation for ozone pollution.

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A TV series based on the book ‘A Land Remembered’ will no longer film at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County. 

The decision comes after the plans faced an outcry from environmental advocates. 

According to Axios, producers say they will no longer pursue a permit to film at the park. 

Beth Forys is the President of St. Petersburg Audubon and a professor at Eckerd College.

“When I actually saw the plans, I got very worried. One of the areas, it looked to me like they were going to have to drive numerous vehicles kind of through the dunes and maybe on a bicycle path.” Forys told WMNF.

She says she’s relieved.

“I, of course, loved the book A Land Remembered, as do members of St. Petersburg Audubon and others who work in the environmental community, but Fort De Soto is such a precious environment. It’s one of our last barrier islands that isn’t completely developed. So it’s really important to keep it as natural as possible.” Forys said.

In a Facebook post, St. Petersburg Audubon expressed concern about filming on fragile dunes and beaches, beach driving, and the use of cattle, pigs, and horses in the sensitive lands.   

The organization says that the filming would have potentially impacted plovers, oystercatchers, gopher tortoises, sea turtles, and dune plants

A representative for ‘A Land Remembered’ did not respond by WMNF’s deadline. 

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Black skimmers, least terns, and American oystercatchers all nest on Pinellas barrier island beaches between late April and May.

According to Jeff Liechty, the sanctuary manager for Audubon Florida, some of the species are on the state threatened list.

“The American oystercatcher estimates are about 400 adults in the breeding population in the entire state. Every individual matters and every nest matters.”

Human interference is one of the biggest problems during nesting season. Some birds nest in the sand and use their bodies to keep the eggs shaded from the sun.

But when people are around, they risk falling off their nests.

“If they’re flushed off the eggs from disturbance, those eggs can actually cook in the sun”

In St. Pete Beach, a black skimmer colony of nearly 600 birds likes to nest near the TradeWinds Resort.

Next month, the resort was looking to host a country music festival that would bring over 10,000 people to the beach.

The city denied the event’s permit saying TradeWinds had to relocate the festival, so it does not “impact the sandy beach dune system and wildlife resources, including direct, indirect and secondary impacts to listed sea turtle and shorebird nesting seasons.”

Today the festival announced it will move to coachman park in downtown Clearwater.

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It all started with a student mistake before Professor William Ellis arrived at the University of South Florida’s Department of Integrative Biology. 

He was conducting an experiment with students measuring oyster growth. They hung plastic mats with oyster shells on PVC poles near the water and didn’t see much growth.

At least until a student forgot to pick the mats up when Ellis left for sabbatical.

“After a year of being out in the field, I noticed that oysters were growing on vertically oriented structures, very, very well, and just seven feet away, nothing,” Ellis said. “And this is actually where an oyster reef was the year before.”

Ellis then put the mats on a seawall. Half of them were caged and overflowed with oysters.

When he joined the university staff sometime later, he teamed up with art professor Tina Piracci from USF’s Honors College. She leads a lab where clay is used to 3-D print objects that can be introduced in ecosystems.

“And so if you were to imagine maybe even like a hot glue gun, kind of depositing material layer after layer to be able to grow these 3d objects,” said Piracci.

She explains, the printed objects shrink as they dry and are later put in a kiln and fired. They can reach a temperature of up to 2200 degrees.

Then, students install these clay-made oyster homes along Bayboro Harbor’s seawall.

“I think they’re gorgeous and watching the fish go in and out… they look like a honeycomb where the cells are uneven,” Ellis said. “There’s a stair-stepping to them.”

Piracci and Ellis hope to make the project an open-source initiative that can be replicated across Florida.

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This week, the Trump administration exempted oil and gas drilling in the Gulf from requirements under the Endangered Species Act.

The government’s Endangered Species Committee released the exemption. They said it was needed to address the energy instability the U.S. is experiencing.

The country has been struggling with rising gas costs since the war in Iran began.

But for Brett Hartle, the government affairs director at the Center for Biological Diversity, the exemptions are more political postering than solutions.

“It has never been the case that taking reasonable science-based conservation measures has impacted military readiness, national security, energy security in the United States in the history of the Endangered Species Act over the last 53 years,” Hartle said.

He also pointed to the broadcast of the cabinet meeting last week where President Trump claimed the U.S. creates more oil than it consumes. 

In response to the exemption, the Center for Biological Diversity and other groups sued the administration. They fear the move can put nearly 10 marine species at risk of extinction.

“There is no valid reason to give the fossil fuel industry this exemption, and in fact, they never asked for it. They did not apply to have an exemption from the Endangered Species Act,” Hartle said. “We think we have a pretty good chance of overturning this and saving the rice’s whale.”

The rice’s whale is only found in the U.S. and currently has less than a hundred existing members. 

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One group is using a nearly 2 million dollar grant to help reduce the impact of flooding on Tampa Bay.

The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council is working on a Tampa Bay Coastal Master Plan. 

The planning council is using a grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation to reduce flood risks in Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota counties.

Alana Todd, the planning council’s principal environmental planner, said residents recognize that flooding isn’t going away. 

“The risks, the impacts we face from flooding will likely only worsen as our climate is changing, and so people are eager to get involved and really learn how they can support the plan,” Todd told WMNF.

Todd has worked with the community and got people involved in the making of the plan.  

“You know, flooding doesn’t stop at, you know, our county or city borders. So having a plan like this is really, you know, spurring that kind of collaboration and coordination that we need, because right now, you know, flood projects are pretty disparate and small scale.” Todd said.

Now, Todd said they are in their risk assessment phase, which involves flood mapping and identifying vulnerabilities around the region. 

They estimate the four-year plan will be completed by the end of 2028, after which they will put together a comprehensive plan for local governments to use to reduce the risk of flooding. 

The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council is also providing training on how small businesses can react in a Category 5 hurricane scenario.

For more information on the Tampa Bay Coastal Master Plan, click here.

For information on the hurricane program, Project Phoenix, click here. 

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