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Editorial: Guest Editorial: A Native`s Case for Florida Hometown Democracy
October 3rd, 2009

Editorial: Budget of Sugarcreek Goes Modern
October 1st, 2009

Editorial: Is Nothing Sacred?
September 17th, 2009

Editorial: Great Expectations
September 2nd, 2009

Editorial: Helping the Levy County Budget
August 6th, 2009

Editorial: WUFT-FM to Delete Music for Cedar Key
July 28th, 2009

Editorial: Governor Crist Balks on Appointment
July 9th, 2009

Editorial: Affordable Housing in Cedar Key
July 6th, 2009

Editorial: The Greening of Cedar Key
June 25th, 2009

Editorial: Unanimous Consent to Suspend the Rules
June 12th, 2009

Editorial: Cutting the Cost of Garbage Collection
May 27th, 2009

Editorial: America Must Support Chinese Democracy Seekers
March 23rd, 2009

Editorial: Membership Appeal
February 20th, 2009

Editorial: Cutting Health Care Costs
January 10th, 2009

Editorial: 2008 and Some Fearless Predictions
December 30th, 2008

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Water, Water, Water

Water, Water, Water

Editorial

Fresh water is essential to life. And, water is essential to the economy of Cedar Key and the State of Florida. Certainly crude oil, NASCAR and X-Boxes are important to many people, but fresh water resources and unpolluted salt water are more important to the people of Florida, and our many visitors.

The rivers and wetlands of Florida need protection for the fish and wildlife that they support. They also feed the underground water resource, the aquifer, from which we all drink. The estuaries and bays need protection from pollution because they are the nurseries for seafood species and sports fish species.

The scenic, sanitary and recreational conditions of Florida's rivers all have economic value. Tourists and tourist's dollars come to Florida because of the fishing and kayaking. Florida's coastal waters draw tourists and produce clams, oysters, crabs and mullet for the tourists and natives to eat. Pollution of coastal waters shuts down shellfish harvest and kills the sea grass beds that are essential to fish production.

Protection of coastal waters and beaches is essential to the tourist industry. Most elected officials, lame ducks excluded, recognize the dangers of offshore drilling, yet pressure from lobbyists and the need for campaign funds can override the public interest.

Sustainable resources are those that will be available to our children and future generations if they are protected from short-term economic gain and corporate greed. Clean water is a sustainable resource that must be protected from tapping the aquifer to the point that springs dry up or dumping pulp mill waste into the Fenholloway River or the Gulf. Oil spills and hurricanes bring economic loss, but we can avoid the threat of oil spills.

When a clear and present danger to our water occurs, let your legislators, regulators and neighbors know that our water resources must be protected.

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