AGP Executive Report

Storm Aftermath: Hurricane Isaias has been linked to eight deaths, including six in Florida; researchers say unusually warm Gulf waters made more likely by human-caused warming helped fuel the storm. Drinking Water: Tampa is designing a treatment system capable of processing 140 million gallons a day, with pilot tests showing improved organic-material removal and some reduction of PFAS. Coastal Habitat: Manatee County plans 23 oyster reefs in the Braden River to restore habitat and shield bird-nesting islands from erosion. Land and Water: Marion County voters will consider up to $140 million in bonds for parks, trails, clean water and land conservation. On Sanibel, drought and storm-surge controls are suspected of contributing to drying wetlands. Pollution: Sumter County is suing the operator of the Heart of Florida landfill over persistent odors, demanding a fix or closure.

Sanibel Wetlands: Drought and lower river levels introduced to reduce storm-surge flooding may be drying wetlands, cutting habitat and food sources for birds and other wildlife. Water Supply: Recent rain has lifted Tampa Bay Water’s reservoir from 5.5 billion to 11.2 billion gallons, but watering restrictions remain in place through March 2027. Tampa is also offering homeowners rebates of up to $3,000 to replace grass with native plants. Coral Protection: Miami Waterkeeper will celebrate its campaign against Port Everglades dredging, which it says threatened staghorn coral, at its State of the Water event. Climate Risk: A new report warns insurers are retreating from climate-related risks, shifting more costs to governments and homeowners—a growing concern for Florida’s storm- and flood-exposed communities.

Stormwater Safety: After Hurricane Isaias, Okaloosa health officials urged people to avoid beaches and pools until water testing is safe, citing risks from storm-driven runoff, sewage breaks and failing septic systems. Development Pressure: Florida environmental regulators are poised to approve a 41-acre expansion of an Immokalee sand mine, raising fresh questions about the project’s local impacts. Water Quality: Human-waste bacteria are the leading reason Southwest Florida creeks and bays were added to a list of polluted waters. Coastal Research: USF has received a NOAA award to expand seafloor mapping, adding to efforts to better understand Florida’s marine environment.

Wildlife: A rare pumpkin-orange loggerhead hatchling stood out in Florida, where its unusual coloring may make it easier for predators to spot. New wildlife crossings are helping panthers avoid traffic, though 30 were killed on roads in 2024. Land and Water: A 310-acre DeSoto County cattle ranch along the Peace River is now protected from development, preserving drinking-water benefits and a wildlife corridor. After the Floods: Heavy rain has driven more snakes into South Florida neighborhoods, while dengue cases continue to rise; Orange County reported five locally acquired cases. Energy and Conservation: Florida energy experts and advocates are questioning recent EPA rollbacks, and the state’s wetlands fight is heading back to Congress. Storm Recovery: Hurricane Isaias hit the Panhandle as a Category 2 storm after strengthening over the Gulf, bringing flooding, power outages and deaths; recovery efforts continue.

Storm Recovery: Hurricane Isaias left at least four people dead across Florida and Alabama and knocked out power for hundreds of thousands. UF/IFAS urges homeowners to put safety first when clearing storm-damaged trees and yards. Waste Crisis: Miami-Dade’s landfills could run out of capacity within five years. The county generates more than 5 million tons of waste annually and has been shipping garbage elsewhere since a fire closed its major waste-to-energy plant. Water Research: FAMU-FSU engineer Nasrin Alamdari won a National Academies fellowship to advance water-resource tools, including forecasts for harmful algal blooms. Gulf Watch: Red tide organisms were detected at low levels in Gulf Coast samples, with no fish kills or irritation reported. Land Protection: A 498-acre Florida cattle ranch will remain undeveloped under a $7.48 million conservation easement.

Wildlife Rescue: A dolphin rescued in Matlacha Pass is swimming actively after its return to the water, with FWC, NOAA and researchers tracking its movements by satellite. Storm Aftermath: Hurricane Isaias brought warnings about displaced alligators and snakes in flooded areas; Tallahassee also reported three sewage spills, while crews reopened storm-damaged Grayton Beach State Park. Coastal Cleanup: Volunteers in Coconut Grove removed nearly 2,000 pounds of debris, helping protect a waterfront area used by wildlife. Wetlands and Water Quality: Florida’s wetlands fight is returning to Congress, as bacteria linked to human waste put Southwest Florida creeks and bays on a new polluted-waters list. Land Conservation: A 498-acre Florida cattle ranch will remain protected from development through a $7.48 million conservation easement.

Hurricane Recovery: Isaias made Category 2 landfall near Destin, leaving widespread outages and flood damage; Florida reported three sewage spills in Tallahassee, and storm remnants brought more rain. Coastal Cleanup: Coconut Grove volunteers collected nearly 2,000 pounds of debris from the waterfront. Wetlands: Florida’s authority to issue federal wetland permits is back before Congress after court challenges over endangered-species protections. Invasive Wildlife: Everglades python hunters are testing drone tracking to find the destructive snakes, while Florida continues paying contractors to remove them. Water Quality: Bacteria linked to human waste put Southwest Florida creeks and bays on a new polluted-waters list. Land Conservation: A 498-acre Florida cattle ranch will remain protected from development under a $7.48 million conservation easement. Environmental Health: Florida dengue cases have topped 250 as local transmission continues, with heavy rain adding to concerns.

Hurricane Recovery: Isaias struck near Destin as a Category 2 storm, leaving damage, flooding and power outages. Florida activated thousands of Guard members and transportation workers; the storm also caused three sewage spills in Tallahassee. Water Quality: Human-waste bacteria are the leading reason Southwest Florida creeks and bays were added to a polluted-waters list, renewing concerns about runoff and sewage. Invasive Species: After days of rain, suspected Cuban tree froglets appeared on Orlando homes; the invasive frogs can compete with and prey on native species. Researchers are also testing drones to track Burmese pythons across the Everglades. Climate and Health: Florida’s dengue outbreak is a warning as warming conditions can expand the range of disease-carrying mosquitoes, though experts say it is too soon to link this outbreak directly to climate change. Gulf Coast: Okaloosa County says the 990-foot SS United States is cleared for deployment as an artificial reef southwest of Destin, likely in November, weather permitting.

Hurricane Recovery: Florida deployed thousands of Guard members and transportation workers after Isaias, while more than 448,000 customer accounts were without power Saturday morning. Water Quality: Three Tallahassee sewage spills released about 15,450 gallons during the storm; one affected Lexington Creek and Munson Slough, though crews quickly contained and cleaned the overflows. Southwest Florida creeks and bays also face pollution, with bacteria linked to human waste a leading reason for new impaired-water listings. Coastal Resilience: Jacksonville Beach volunteers removed invasive plants from dunes, including more than 700 pounds in the first hour, as the storm renewed attention to protecting natural coastal barriers. Wildlife: FWC urges residents to give animals room after storms and report injured or stranded manatees and sea turtles.

Hurricane Isaias: The Category 2 storm made landfall near Destin, bringing storm surge, flooding, damaging winds and power outages before weakening over Alabama. Storm Forecasting: As Isaias approached, experimental AI models shifted its projected path toward Pensacola while traditional forecasts initially pointed farther west; forecasters blended guidance from both. Wildlife: USGS researchers are testing drones to track invasive Burmese pythons across the Everglades. Water and Health: Red tide organisms were detected at low levels in Gulf Coast samples, with no fish kills or irritation reported; dengue cases are also rising in Tampa Bay after heavy rain. Conservation: Proposed changes to federal endangered-species protections could weaken safeguards for Florida wildlife, while a plan would expand off-road vehicle access across 230 square miles of Big Cypress National Preserve. Everglades: Drought damaged this year’s wading-bird nesting season in Everglades National Park.

Hurricane Isaias: The Category 3 storm is closing in on the western Florida Panhandle, with evacuations underway and life-threatening storm surge, destructive winds, flooding and possible tornadoes forecast. It rapidly intensified over record-warm Gulf waters; scientists say climate change may be contributing to stronger storms. Dengue Outbreak: After heavy rain, Tampa Bay cases continue to climb. Florida has reported 540 cases, including 282 across Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties, as officials step up mosquito control. Big Cypress: The National Park Service is considering more off-road vehicle access across 147,000 acres of the preserve, raising concerns about habitat and wildlife impacts. Everglades: Drought devastated wading-bird nesting in Everglades National Park, pushing counts to their lowest level in three decades of record-keeping. Landfill Energy: Manatee County has broken ground on a $50 million facility to capture landfill methane and turn it into pipeline fuel; partners say it could cut emissions, though those projections have not been independently verified.

Hurricane Isaias: The Category 2 storm is bearing down on the Florida Panhandle, bringing risks of damaging winds, storm surge and flooding. Evacuations are ordered in parts of Walton, Escambia and Okaloosa counties. Record-warm Gulf waters are helping fuel the storm, while El Niño’s wind shear may weaken it before landfall. Wildlife Protections: Three tiny Florida reptiles gained endangered status as sea-level rise and development threaten their habitat. Meanwhile, a federal move to narrow Endangered Species Act habitat protections could put more at-risk species in jeopardy. Conservation: Polk County and the state preserved nearly 375 acres of agricultural land. Separately, 10 people were charged in an alleged Florida poaching operation involving fish, shrimp and sea turtles.

Hurricane Isaias: The storm reached Category 2 strength over record-warm Gulf waters, with dangerous surge and heavy rain forecast as it heads toward the Florida Panhandle. DeSantis declared an emergency in 27 counties; crews and search-and-rescue teams are standing by. Septic Permits: The 11th Circuit overturned a pause on new Florida septic permits, ruling the lower court relied on a federal wildlife rule that was no longer valid. Coastal Conservation: Fish and Wildlife has suspended its request for bids to remove buildings on Ballast Key while it reviews compliance requirements and whether removal is appropriate. Land and Wildlife: Sarasota County rejected a developer’s settlement and is pursuing a purchase of land beside the Celery Fields. Separately, a UF study found urbanization shifts pollinators’ active seasons, potentially disrupting their ties with native plants. Reef Health: Researchers say disease made the 2023 Florida Keys heat wave far deadlier for elkhorn coral, underscoring how cleaner water could help reefs withstand extreme heat.

Gulf Storm: Isaias strengthened into a hurricane, with warnings across the northern Gulf Coast and 5–7 feet of possible storm surge from Mississippi to the Florida Panhandle. Heavy rain and flooding are also concerns as the storm approaches. Public Health: Florida has reported 497 dengue cases this year, including 252 locally acquired infections and one death—the state’s largest outbreak in decades. Officials also report 25 Vibrio infections and five deaths, as storm cleanup could expose people to contaminated coastal water. Wildlife: A Florida crocodile’s death from lead poisoning is the state’s first known case. Separately, 10 people were charged in a Florida fish and sea turtle poaching investigation. Water and Conservation: Florida DEP ordered Trulieve to submit a plan to stop wastewater from leaving its Monticello property. Sarasota County rejected a settlement near the Celery Fields and is seeking to buy the property, while Key West is considering a pilot to remove sargassum from its shores.

Gulf Storm: Tropical Storm Isaias is strengthening over warm Gulf waters and could become the season’s first hurricane before reaching the northern Gulf Coast. Florida’s Panhandle faces possible storm surge, heavy rain and damaging winds; residents are urged to follow forecasts and prepare. Wildlife Protection: Ten people face charges after investigators say an illegal fishing operation took about 23,000 pounds of fish, shrimp and protected sea turtles and sold more than $150,000 in catch. The allegations include exceeding catch limits and selling turtles to undercover officers. Pollution: Florida’s first known lead-poisoning case in an American crocodile involved 23 air-rifle pellets, a fishing weight and other lead fragments in its stomach. The FWC plans further testing. State Parks: A $250,000 partnership is bringing battery-powered tools to parks and historic sites statewide, aiming to reduce emissions and noise. Climate and Health: Florida’s dengue outbreak is the largest in the continental U.S. in decades. Researchers caution it’s too soon to link this episode to climate change, though warming can expand the range of disease-carrying mosquitoes.

Hurricane Watch: Tropical Storm Isaias is forming in the southwestern Gulf and is forecast to rapidly strengthen into a dangerous hurricane, with flooding, storm surge and tornado risk expected to reach the northern Gulf Coast (including the Florida Panhandle) by Friday. Climate Outlook: A strong El Niño could bring Florida a wetter, stormier winter, with higher chances of severe weather and tornadoes. Coastal Resilience: A study finds wave-shaped building walls and roofs can cut hurricane wind pressure by up to 60%, offering a passive geometry-based way to improve storm durability. Local Infrastructure: Miami is considering $5 million to advance its Ludlam Trail segments, aiming to connect neighborhoods along the former railroad corridor. Water & Outdoor Grants: Volusia County approved $13.1M in ECHO grants for projects expanding water access and outdoor recreation, including new docks, boardwalk upgrades and a nature center. Wildlife & Invasives: Dozens of suspected invasive Cuban treefrogs have been reported around Orlando after days of rain, raising concerns for native frogs. Policy & Growth Pressure: Alachua City Commission approved a first reading of a 12-month moratorium on new AI data center development. Coral Research: EPA’s Gulf Breeze lab is working to understand how human activity affects coral reefs.