If you like playing in the mud and sand with cool people, consider joining the other volunteers at the Nature Coast Biological Station's ----

Living Shoreline Volunteer Planting Days
Location: Airport Rd. Cedar Key >> Register on Facebook
 
Upcoming Planting Dates:

Oct 28, 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM or 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Oct 29, 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM or 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM

The Suwannee River Wilderness Trail has been added to the National Trail System.  The Department of Interior added 30 new trails, almost 1300 miles, to this network of outdoor recreation opportunities.

The announcement from the Department of Interior describes the Suwannee Trail this way: "The majestic 235-mile Suwanee River begins just below the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southeast Georgia. The meandering waterway then coils through the heart of north central Florida, ending in the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf Coast. Steeped in rich culture and history, this beloved river remains a wild natural wonder with endless delights for adventurous explorers."

Vic Doig received his award as Employee of the Year at this virtual ceremony attended by almost 500 people. See coverage of the award story in several regional media outlets.

Because we believe that building toll roads through our rural region would significantly damage the habitat and wildlife that our Refuges were established to conserve, Friends joined the coalition No Roads to Ruin.

Friends recently signed-on to a letter from the coalition outlining the reason all members of the coalition oppose the roads. We also sent our own letter of opposition.

Friends of the Lower Suwannee & Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges is, as you know, an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation registered in Florida.

In  part because of a Report from the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Interior, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service now requires that in order to become part of the official National Wildlife Refuge System friends program, each independent Friends organization must sign a Partnership Agreement by the end of this year. We would remain a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, however we would agree to additional monitoring and oversight by the Government.

The Friends board is weighing the implications of signing the Partnership Agreement or of remaining unaffiliated with any Government agency.