March 2013 - Sierra Club Florida

CauseWays March 2013
Note From the Chair
Betsy Grass, Sierra Club Miami
Sierra Club MiamiGroup
http:florida.sierraclub.org/miami/
Greetings Miami Sierrans,
I have just returned from a rather chilly trip up to
Lakeland, for one of the Sierra Club Florida Chapter
meetings. The Miami Group is one of 16 groups that make
up the Chapter. The leaders of the groups are invited to the
meeting of group leaders and chapter leaders four times a
year. Meetings have a basic theme like orientation for
leaders, training for committees, and election of chapter
officers. You can also hear an update from the Sierra staff
in Florida about their work and campaigns, and an update
from the Sierra Florida lobbyist.
The main topic of the March meeting was orientation and
support. Orientation of new group leaders to who is who in
the chapter, what the priorities are and what guidelines to
follow for the year. Support for groups, as in what help
you can get from chapter and national leaders and what
resources are available. The meeting gives leaders a
chance to see and talk to one another and staff and chapter
leaders, and a chance tell their stories of success or the
trials of leading a group.
Group leaders can move on to chapter, statewide, positions
in the club if they have the inclination. Debbie Matthews,
former Chair of Miami, volunteered last year on the
Chapter Executive Committee and is now the Chapter
Chair. Stephen Mahoney, the Miami Conservation Chair is
currently on the Chapter Executive Committee as well.
The Chapter can always use someone willing to take the
state-wide viewpoint and work for conservation goals
across Florida. There are positions open on various state
committees and you don't have to be a leader in your own
Sierra Club Miami Group
PO Box 43-0741
S. Miami, FL 33243-0741
SIERRA CLUB MIAMI GROUP
IS NOLONGER AVAILABLE BY
TELEPHONE: Please use contact
emails for correspondence.
Miami Group Contact
Information
Chair Ex Com/Treasurer/Website:
Betsy Grass
miami-chair@florida.sierraclub.org
Vice Chair Ex Com: Jim Teas
jim.teas@florida.sierraclub.org
Secretary Ex Com, Political Cochair:
Noel Cleland
ncleland@earthlink.net
Newsletter, Grants, Political Co-
Chair
Naomi Papirno
naomi.papirno@florida.sierraclub.org
Outreach Chair/Ex Com: Valerie
Robbin
Valerie.Robbin@florida.sierraclub.org
Volunteer Coordinator: Maria
Papazian
miami-enviroed@florida.sierraclub.org,
305-519-0877
ICO Chair: Karen Kerr

group to work on state-wide issues. You can find out more
about the chapter at the website, florida.sierraclub.org.
Browse around, look for committees (or check out "inside
the chapter"). The chapter is currently looking to start a
multi-media/social networking team to make sure we have
videos and pictures and presentations on our issues, along
with blogging and facebook entries to get our message
across. If you are interested in volunteering for that work,
email treehuggerdeb@yahoo.com, or
tom.larson@florida.sierraclub.org.
Finally, a reminder that the Florida legislative session is
starting and our lobbyist will be passing us info on bills
coming up and giving you the opportunity to lobby for our
environment. We could use some more people willing to
write and make phone calls during the session. Read up on
this at florida.sierraclub.org/legislative.asp and be sure to
sign up for the lobbyists listserv to get in on the action.
karenkerr50@gmail.com
Outings Chair: Mark Walters
miami- outings@florida.sierraclub.org
Treasurer//Ex Com: Linda Benson:
linda.benson@florida.sierraclub.org
Meeting Program:
Debbie Matthews:
treehuggerdeb@yahoo.com
Conservation Chair/ExCom:
Stephen Mahoney
miamiconservation@florida.sierraclub.org
Betsy Grass, 2013 Chair
General Meeting Program
Second Monday of the Month

7:15-7:30 Meet and Greet
7:30 Hot Topics
8:00 Speaker Presentation
Coconut Grove Sailing Club, Miami, FL
Free and Open to the Public
Phone: (305) 255-8648
THIS MONTH:
Joyce Mashchinski
Dr. Mashchinski is the
Conservation Ecologist at
Fairchild Tropical Botanic
Garden. She will be talking
about the "Connect to
Protect" project. The project
objective is to create corridors
and stepping stone gardens
that connect isolated pine
rockland fragments to
preserve wildlife corridors.
Sierra Club Miami Clean-up
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Spoil Island Cleanup in
Biscayne Bay
Sunday, March 17: 9:00 - 1:00
- Join us for a day of
service removing trash from one of the spoil islands in the
Bay across from the
Coconut Grove Sailing Club (address). Bring your own
kayak or canoe. We will
have additional canoes for use along with garbage bags and gloves. Bring a
pocket knife or gardening shears to cut through tangled fishing lines.
Rating:
Moderate to Strenuous.
Contacts: Mark Walters mark.walters@sierraclub.org or
Haden McBeth Haden@bbwk.org for more details

COMMITTEE UPDATES
INNER CITY OUTINGS: Three new volunteers joined Karen and a group of 9 to 11 year old boys on a campiing
trip in the Everglades, Michael Brasher. Ross Hancock and MaryAnn Holohean were great! The boys loved
them, Karen loved them.. they are IN!
We welcome a new partner agency to ICO this month. The children from Urban Promise will be joining us on our
awesome trips.
Unfortunately, we did not receive the grant for kayaks, so we will be sticking with canoes again this year. Maybe
next time. On a more positive note, we are hoping to receive a grant to help support our service projects. Many
of our trips include a service project and the grant will pay for gloves, trash bags trash collectors and granola
bars (gotta keep them nourished, right?)
karenkerr50@gmail.com.
EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
Volunteers needed for the following events: Please Contact Valerie Robbin (email below) if you are
interested.
Miami Dade College (Kendall Campus) is having their Sustainability Fair on Wed. March 13th from 10-1pm. This
is a great opportunity to educate the students about Sierra Club. I could use one more volunteer for this event.
And... the college gives us breakfast and lunch.
On Saturday, March 23rd The Native Plant Society will hold it's 18th annual Native Plant Day Festiva which will
be held at Bill Sadowski Park.
There will be programs, walks, plant sales, raffles and hands-on events. Come volunteer for 4hrs and then enjoy
the festival.
On April 6th the Miami River Commission will be holding it's 17th Annual Riverday event. I need volunteers to
help with the tabling from 1 to 6pm.
This is a fun event and last year they gave free boat tours of the River. They are asking us to respond quickly
which means I need to have volunteers signed up before I can request a tent
space.
Valerie Robbin: Valerie.Robbin@florida.sierraclub.org
Maria Papazian: Volunteer Coordinator, with email, miami-enviroed@florida.sierraclub.org,

305-519-0877.
CONSERVATION: Excom crafted a letter to Mayor Gimenez regarding our concerns over the water treatment
plant on Virginia Key. The main points were as follows:
As the local chapter of Sierra Club we are interested in not only environmental issues that face the planet, but
also issues that affect our local habitat and surrounding areas. In particular, we are concerned about the plans to
upgrade the central wastewater treatment plant located on Virginia Key.
We are concerned that a rise in sea level would compromise the Virginia Key facility without better planning for
flood mitigation. The current scientific estimates show an expected 2 foot sea level rise by 2060 and 3 feet by
the end of the century. The construction timeline for the County sewer upgrades would have completion of 2027
at the earliest. With an expected life for the sewer plant of 50 years, the Virginia Key Facility can expect
somewhere between 2 and 3 feet of sea level rise to contend with. Without proper planning this would render the
facility useless.
Stephen Mahoney
miami-conservation@florida.sierraclub.org
POLITICAL
The Political Committee will be interviewing in the hopes of endorsing candidates for the Coral Gables Mayor
and two Commissioner seats. The election is April 9, 2013 and we hope to be able to endorse candidates who
advocate and support an environmental agenda for the City.
Naomi Papirno
naomi.papirno.@florida.sierraclub.org
PROGRAMMING
Please join us-second Monday of every month.
We look forward to our first Vegan pot-luck dinner in June!
Debbie Matthews:treehuggerdeb@yahoo.com
OUTINGS:
Please see schedule below:
Mark Walters:mark.walters@sierraclub.org
MEMBERSHIP:
New members are sent an introductory newsletter to introduce them to the club and familiarize them with Sierra
Club issues.
FLORIDA CHAPTER NEWS:
treehuggerdeb@gmail.com
Solid Waste Advisory Committee
We are fortunate to have ExCom member, Linda Benson as an environmental representative on
this Committee.
The 5th meeting of the SWAC (Solid Waste Advisory Committee) was held February 27, 2013 in the
main library, downtown Miami, from 1 to 5pm. The status of the ranking was discussed and six
presentations were made.

Results of Ranking
The process of ranking the alternatives, generated from the Committee, and developing scenarios is
underway. The scenarios will evaluate each alternative based on least cost, environmentally preferred
and most flexible. The results will be available in our next meeting.
Various presentations were made to provide the committee alternative methods of dealing with solid
waste and the analysis of the ranking alternatives.
Presentation - Sustainable Return on Investment (SROI)
From an economist view, sustainable ROI brings into the decision making process two analysis types:
private costs (individual) and social (environmental). The alternatives that have been ranked by the
SWAC will be evaluated and ranked, both SROI and financial ROI (return on investment). An internal
rate of return (IRR) will be calculated and this will be a basis for the recommendation.
Presentation - County Finance Department
The finances, budget and bond rating of the current financial health of the solid waste department was
explained in depth.
Presentation - Waste-By-Rail
CSX presented their capabilities of moving municipal solid waste into containers and transporting by
rail to landfills. Moving by rail is safer than trucking and more fuel efficient. It allows access to less
expensive landfills.
Presentation - Waste-to-Energy: Gasification
The process: sorting (to remove soil, rock, concrete, metal and glass), waste stream is "gasified" -
boiler creates steam to the generator, creating electricity. A slag by product is used in cement.
Presentation - Waste-to-Energy: Ethanol and Electric
The process: sorting and drying, gasification, heat recovery, fermentation produces ethanol and steam
produces electricity.
Presentation - Waste-to-Energy: Plasma
Extreme heat of process does not require sorting of incoming waste as everything is turned into an
insulation material (alternative to petrochemical based insulation). Emissions are the lowest of the
waste to energy choices and the process is profitable.
Next meeting of the SWAC - March 27, 2013
Winter/Spring Outings from Sierra Club
Miami Group Outings Announcements
March - April 2013
OUTINGS INFORMATION
Spend time with us outdoors around South Florida and enjoy
the variety of experiences that few other places in the world
have to offer. Our outings are fun and educational and some
even offer the opportunity to provide hands-on service in some
of our parks and natural areas. If you have any questions about
an outing, please contact the certified Sierra Outing Leader listed for the outing. Some of the outings

need no experience; others require some level of proficiency. All participants are required to sign a
standard liability waiver. If you would like to read the Liability Waiver before you choose to
participate in an outing, contact the leader of the outing or go to
www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms.
Our outings are rated "Leisure", "Moderate", or "Strenuous". Be realistic about your physical condition
and the degree of challenge you enjoy. Come ready to paddle, bicycle or hike and share the work.
There are no passengers on our outings, only participants. Family trips are open to everyone. Once you
have made a reservation, we ask that you make a serious commitment to attend the trip. Cancellations
are detrimental to our program. Our outings leaders are unpaid trained volunteers.
"Trip expenses (park fees, food etc) are covered by participant donations. Some outings may require a
refundable deposit to guarantee a place. Contact the outing leader for details." Camping trip fees
typically cover cost of food, transportation, canoes and campground fees. Trip participants need to
furnish their own tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, and personal gear. Because of changing costs, outing
fees/donations listed may be changed at the opening of the trip.
If you are interested in a trip, call or e-mail the trip leader and ask
for details or come to the signup table at the Sierra Club Miami
Group's general meetings (2nd Mondays each month). Reservations
open at the general meeting three months in advance of the trip. At
the leader's discretion, reservations close one week before the date
of the trip. Please sign up early for planning purposes. Make all
checks payable to Sierra Club Outings. Please write the name and
date of your trip on your check and include your phone number.
Please send all payments to the trip leader.
If you must cancel, contact the leader or assistant leader as early as
possible. If you cancel less than 30 days in advance, you lose your deposit. If you cancel 7 days or less
in advance, you will forfeit all fees at the discretion of the leader.
For sign-up and further information, please contact the outing leader for the outing for which you are
interested.
Look for updated information on our website:
Planned Outings
***********************************************************************************
Sunday, March 17 - Spoil Island Cleanup in Biscayne Bay - Join us for a day of service removing trash
from one of the spoil islands in the Bay across from the Coconut Grove Sailing Club (address). Bring
your own kayak or canoe. We will have additional canoes for use along with garbage bags and gloves.
Bring a pocket knife or gardening shears to cut through tangled fishing lines.
Rating:
moderate to strenuous. Contacts: Mark Walters mark.walters@sierraclub.org or
Haden McBeth Haden@bbwk.org for more details
Friday-Sunday, March 23-24-25 - Prairie Lakes camp and hike Prairie Lakes is mid-state northwest of

Yeehaw Junction, and is one of Florida's wild but well-kept secrets waiting to be discovered. This
8,000-acre preserve includes a portion of the famous Florida Trail. Our hike traverses beautiful forests
of majestic live oaks smothered with Spanish moss, stands of cypress and pines and cathedrals of
cabbage palms. Bald eagles, wading birds, armadillos and wild pigs among other wildlife are evident.
Rating: Leisure to moderate. Carpooling is encouraged, contact the leader if you would like to carpool
or can take someone in your vehicle. Contact the outing leader for expenses and other details.
Leader: Kaatje Bernabei, kaatjebernabei@bellsouth.net, 305-223-6551; Assistant:
Chris Hermie chrishermie1175@comcast.net
Saturday, March 23 - Urban Bicycling in Boca Raton. Leisurely bicycling on sidewalks, bike paths or
quiet streets through Boca's parks, commercial district and neighborhoods. Bicycle helmets are
REQUIRED on all Sierra Club bicycle outings. Moderate. Limit 20. $3 members, $5 non-members
suggested donation. Ron Haines, 561-315-0528, RonaldHaines@bellsouth.net.
Saturday, March 30, 9 AM - Kayak/canoe the south fork of the St. Lucie River near Stuart. This is a
beautiful, pristine stream near Stuart. It becomes increasingly scenic and narrow as you paddle. We'll
stop at a remote picnic site and then paddle back to the starting point. This trip is very gentle water
suitable for beginners. Bring your own kayak or canoe or rent in advance from South River Outfitters,
772-223-1500. $26 for a single kayak, $36 for a double kayak or canoe. $5 launch fee if you have your
own boat. Limit 20. Moderate. $3 members, $5 non-members suggested donation. Chas Hunt, 561-
967-4770, loxoutings@comcast.net.
Saturday, April 6 - Canoe trip on Halfway Creek (or Turner River), ranger co-led. The hidden world of
mangrove tunnels. 7 hours round trip. Bring your own water and lunch. (We'll have a lunch-break in
our canoes). A park ranger will accompany us as a guide. Rating: moderate to strenuous Leader: Kaatje
Bernabei kaatjebernabei@bellsouth.net 305-223-6551 Assistant Leader: Alan Nowell, 305-253-4250,
mrhitnmiss@aol.com.
Saturday, April 20 Baynanza 2013 at Matheson Hammock, clean-up coastal area, mangroves from 9-
12, then picnic and swim at Matheson Hammock , Old Cutler Rd, Miami. Rating: easy to moderate.
Leader: Kaatje Bernabei kaatjebernabei@bellsouth.net 305-223-6551 Assistant Leader: Alan Nowell.
Keys Dredging Proposed - Threat to Florida Keys and Everglades National Park
Meeting: - April 18, 2013
Starting time 10:30 AM
The Marathon Government Center is located at:
2798 Overseas Hwy
2nd Floor
Marathon, FL 33050
305-289-6036

Monroe County will be voting April 18, 2013 on a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to allow dredging of
submerged lands with benthic resources (including sea grasses, sponges, and corals) in waters located within
the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. A private developer has introduced this amendment to change our
county laws to enhance his private development of 8 houses.
The area targeted for dredging is a seagrass flat with an average depth of 1.5 feet known as Walker's
Island. This island is a marine habitat that supports all manner of sea life, including but not limited to endangered
sea turtles via nesting habitat and habits.
It is presently against county, state and federal law to dredge this area. If this amendment is passed it
will lead the way to legalizing previously illegal dredging. Monroe county staff estimates that there could be as
many as 200 other potential users of this amendment thus re-establishing dredging in the Florida Keys.
Please tell your county commissioners to VOTE NO on April 18 on the Little Conch Key Development Corp.
Comprehensive Plan amendment. Tell them to please protect our nation's natural resources by not allowing
dredging of -fl.gov
You can also Take action by writing to the commission. Tell them not to start the flow of dredge
amendments and protect the sanctuary. Their contact information is at http://www.monroecountyfl.gov/index.aspx?NID=90
REDLANDS RUMPUS
Not in My Back Yard You don't!
County proposes new trash and recycling center in the Redlands but residents object and were heard!
Residents of the Redlands were appalled to learn that the County was pushing ahead with a new trash and
recycling center in the Redlands unbeknownst to them. A sizable attendance of irate and vocal citizens stalled
forward momentum for now.
The county proposed the new trash cite to conform to its policy of having a trash/recycling center within a 5-mile
radius of all County properties. Presently the closest trash site to the Redlands is 8 miles away. The proposed
site of ten acres would have included an administrative building, a drop-off area for white goods, flat tires and
electronics. The objections seemed to range from the proximity to the agricultural community including a school,
to lack of public notification. As Pat Milone a Redland resident wrote in an email addressed to Miami-Dade
Mayor Carlos Gimenez, "Redland FARM Area must be preserved as an AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY, with its
"Redland Raised" produce, huge groves and nurseries, exotic koi farms and orchid houses, animal farms, horse
ranches and feed stores!"
Mayor Gimenez along with Lynda Bell, County Commissioner from that area, stated that they have "heard" their
constituents and have directed staff to find a more suitable site. Where that site will be is anyone's guess.
Take heart in your protest endeavors; some can make a difference.
CLEO Institute's Weekend Training on Climate Change
By Jim Teas, Miami Ex Com

Several Miami Group members spent two weekends in February at the
CLEO Institute's "Empowering Capable Climate Communicators 2013"
training.
We met for two Saturdays in February at the University of Miami,
learning
the facts about climate change from expert with over 100 other
scientists,
teachers and concerned citizens.
I knew that climate change will bring drought, crop loss, an increase in
numbers of endangered and extinct species, and loss of polar bear
habitat.
But the biggest impact of all is sea level rise, which, over the next 100
years, will impact populations in coastal communities around the world. The
one that really caught my attention was the projected loss of over 50% of
the dry land in Miami-Dade County. (You know the dikes they use in The
Netherlands to prevent flooding? They won't work here due to our porous
limestone bedrock).
The training provided us with accurate facts to use when speaking to the
public about climate change (very few of us are climatologists). While the
threat is serious, there are still things that we, as citizens, can do to
address the future, instead of acting like the proverbial ostrich and
pretending that nothing will happen (our heads would be in wet sand anyway)
All participants were asked to prepare a climate change presentation and
deliver it to at least 100 people over the next year. In March, we go back
to give a five-minute presentation in front of evaluators who will critique
us and help us sharpen our skills. I'm working on my presentation and can't
wait to try it out!
Jim Teas
Vice-Chair, Ex Com
---
Sea Level Rise Threatens Everglades National Park

How much time do we have to restore the Everglades? That question has been difficult to answer until recently.
According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, by the time today's child sees middle
age, at least one-fourth to one-half of Everglades National Park's land mass will have vanished. Many
geoscientists, like Dr. Harold Wanless of the University of Miami, project an even greater rate of sea-level rise
this century. Sea-level rise is no joke, and it's particularly serious for the Everglades with elevation generally
measured in the single digits.
At the Everglades Coalition conference in January, Ernie Barnett, the South Florida Water Management
District's point person on Everglades Restoration, said that restoring the Everglades fresh water flow would
"mitigate the effects of sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion." But what does mitigation mean? Can we keep the
Everglades from sinking into the sea?
The answer rests in a complex set of circumstances: maintaining a freshwater aquifer and a hydrological head
(the pressure of freshwater flowing south), and reversing soil subsidence (the sinking of the land due to
drought), in concert with a world that has reduced carbon emissions.
What is clear is that doing nothing or doing it too slowly will result in the loss of the southern Everglades in less
than five decades. What we can and must do is to let nature resume control of water flow by removing barriers
like the Tamiami Trail, the Miami Canal and the L-67 canals, while cleaning up Big Sugar's effluent to
Everglades standards.
There has been some progress:
* A new federal project seeks to eliminate many barriers to flow in the Central Everglades and restore sheet flow
by eliminating canals. It's not a panacea, but it's a solid first step.
* A federally-funded mile-long bridge over Tamiami Trail to restore water flow is slated to open this spring and
another 5.5 miles of bridging is planned. The next 2.6-mile span is now being designed by the National Park
Service.
* The Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge has a foothold and now can be expanded to protect
critical ranch lands surrounding the Kissimmee River.
There have also been some setbacks:
* Although the state of Florida and the federal government agreed to a plan to clean up Big Sugar's water, it
takes too long and doesn't use enough land.
* The state just issued 30-year sugar lease extensions on land most likely needed for cleanup.
* The state has been trying to sell off land needed for Everglades restoration.
* The state wants to resume the backpumping of sugar effluent into Lake Okeechobee instead of treating it and
sending it south for the Everglades.
* Florida Power and Light continues to seek permission for two nuclear reactors (added to two existing reactors)
in an area most vulnerable to sea-level rise and requiring towering transmission lines through wetlands.
In the end, the Everglades restoration timetable has to beat the physics of sea-level rise. Rapidly restoring
natural, clean fresh water flow will preserve the Everglades as long as possible. Whether we can win the battle
or sustain a century-long retreat is not yet clear, but we must do everything possible to let natural processes
take over. It's our only hope.
- Jonathan Ullman, South Florida/Everglades Senior Representative, Sierra Club
(305) 860-9888 (phone)
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