Florida Water Utilities Face State Revolving Fund Cutbacks | Bond Buyer $
Florida water utilities are facing smaller state revolving fund loans as federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding ends Oct. 1, adding to pressure from drought, rising construction costs, population growth, PFAS rules and the state’s ocean outfall ban. The Polk Regional Water Cooperative requested a $130 million SRF loan but received $44 million, and analysts warn the funding gap could bring rating reviews and higher borrowing costs for Florida utilities.
Florida Anglers Get 14-Day Window to Catch Red Snapper This Fall After Federal Approval | WKMG
NOAA Fisheries approved a revised permit for Florida’s state-managed red snapper season, which runs Oct. 9 through Oct. 22 in Atlantic state and federal waters off Florida for private recreational anglers and for-hire operations, with a one-fish daily bag limit and no minimum size. All trips must be declared through FWC’s Atlantic Red Snapper Reporting app, and the catch data will help FWC and NOAA Fisheries decide whether a second season can open in December 2026.
40 Bathtubs’ Worth of Chlorine Spills at Lehigh Acres Plant | Naples Daily News $
An estimated 2,000 gallons of liquid chlorine, enough to fill about 40 average bathtubs, escaped a containment area at Lehigh Acres’ wastewater treatment plant in Lee County on Sept. 18 and reached adjacent grounds, according to a report filed with state regulators.
It Stinks Florida County Abruptly Cancels Septic Meetings | TCPalm $
Indian River County abruptly canceled its septic-to-sewer conversion meetings after homeowners facing tens of thousands of dollars in costs to abandon their septic tanks by 2030 under Florida law lashed out.
Florida Family’s 85-Acre Farm Will Be Protected from Development | The St. Augustine Record $
The Putnam Land Conservancy has purchased a conservation easement on 85 acres from a family in southwestern Putnam County, permanently protecting the farm from development.
Science and Technology Help Florida Golf Courses Be Good Neighbors | WKMG
Florida is the only state with a certified golf course best management practices program, written into statute in 2022 to cover irrigation, fertilization, pesticide use and environmental monitoring. Courses such as Winter Park’s Interlachen Country Club are adding compost to help sandy soils hold water, relying on reclaimed water and maintaining Audubon certification, while University of Florida researchers develop turfgrass varieties that need less water and fertilizer.
What Is Helping Some Florida Wildfires Burn Hotter, Spread Faster? | The Boca Raton Tribune
A University of Florida study published in Fire Ecology found that cogongrass, an invasive grass now in almost every Florida county, adds fuel that speeds fire spread, lengthens flames and raises the chance of ground fires becoming crown fires that are harder to suppress. The effects peaked in late winter and early spring, when prescribed burning is common across the Southeast, and researchers say controlling cogongrass can reduce wildfire risk around homes and properties.
