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CONSERVATION

CONSERVATION

 
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 LOWER SUWANNEE AND CEDAR KEYS
NATIONAL  WILDLIFE REFUGES
 
THE WINTER SOLSTICE IS UPON US...JOIN US ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21

THE  20224 December 18

https://mailchi.mp/721b4e7a744a/december-news-brief?e=[UNIQID] 
 
 

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LOWER SUWANNEE AND CEDAR KEYS
NATIONAL  WILDLIFE REFUGES
DECEMBER 
 NEWS BRIEF

 20224 December 15

https://mailchi.mp/721b4e7a744a/december-news-brief?e=[UNIQID] 
 
 

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CKWSD FAUCETCEDAR KEY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT EXPLAINS UPCOMING WORK
2 December 2024
 
On December 2, 2024, the Cedar Key Water and Sewer District conducted a brief meeting at 5 pm, following an Open House at 4 pm at the City of Cedar Key City Hall, instead of the CKWSD offices due to the damage from Hurricane Helene. The five commissioners were in attendance: Chair Mike Borelli, Secretary / Treasurer Leslie Sturmer, and Commissioners Joe Hand, Steve Rosenthal, and Johnathan Ferguson.

The Open House setting displayed several approximately four-by-five foot posters explaining what lift stations were and how they functioned. Additionally, a four-by-seven-foot map display detailed each lift station functioning south of Bridge Number Four. Audience members easily located their homes and the closest lift stations.

Most interactive and informative were Superintendent Gabe Doty, General Manager John Rittenhouse, and , of course, James McCain himself. Every conceivable question was asked; audience members walked away more knowledgeable.

At the brief 5 pm meeting, General Manager Rittenhouse introduced Baskerville-Donavan, Inc.’s Engineer of Record for the project, Tyler Lee of Pensacola, Florida. He also introduced the construction management crew, Cody Sutterfield of Select Water and Adam Brang of C and B Civil Engineering.

General Manager John Rittenhouse reminded all those present that, though grants have been achieved, now is the time to again thank Governor DeSantis and Florida legislators Chuck Clemons and Keth Perry, as well as their soon-to-be-seated replacements.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 5:30 p.m..
 
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CKWSD FAUCETCKWSD WILL MEET DECEMBER 
 
 
 
 
  
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CKWSD FAUCETNOTICE:
CEDAR KEY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT: 
SMOKE TEST 
POSTPONED UNTIL JANUARY 

December 6, 2024 
Due to a schedule change from our Smoke Testing contractor, we will not be conducting Sewer System Smoke Tests in December. These important smoke tests will allow us to determine where significant storm water infiltration exists.

We will alert you to the new schedule after the first of the year. Thank you for your patience!
  
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CKWSD FAUCETCEDAR KEY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
NOTICE OF MEETING
2024 November 19



The Cedar Key Water and Sewer District (the "District") Board of Commissioners (the “Board”) announces a public meeting to be held at the following date/time:

Monday, December 2, 2024 at 4:00PM EST

The meeting will be held at 809 6th STREET, CEDAR KEY FL 32625, for the purpose of hosting an informational townhall for the Lift Station Rehabilitation Project and conduct other District business. All interested persons are invited to attend and participate in the meeting.



CKWSD FAUCETCEDAR KEY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT: 
SMOKE TEST 
BEGINNING DECEMBER 9 
2024 November 29


To Residents and Occupants of Cedar Key, Florida:

The Cedar Key Water and Sewer District will be conducting a smoke test of our sanitary sewer system This testing will begin Monday, December 9, 2024. This study will involve the opening and entering of manholes in the streets and public utility easements. An important task of the testing will be locating breaks and defects in the sewer system. The smoke test will also reveal where storm and surface water enter the sewer system.

A special non-toxic smoke will be used in these tests. The smoke is manufactured for this purpose, leaves no residuals or stains, and has no effect on plant or animal life. The smoke has a distinctive, but not unpleasant, odor. Visibility and odor last only a few minutes, where there is adequate ventilation.

Because the plumbing appliances in your house or building are connected to the sanitary sewer system, some smoke may enter your home or place of business if:

•Vents connected to your building's sewer pipes are inadequate, defective, or improperly installed.
•Traps under sinks, tubs, basins, showers and other drains are dry, defective, improperly installed, or missing.
•Pipes, connections and seals of the wastewater drain system in and under your buildings are damaged, defective, have plugs missing, or are improperly installed.

If the plumbing system of your residence/business is adequate and all drain traps are full of water, smoke should not be seen indoors. Smoke observed indoors during the testing would indicate a plumbing deficiency. Should smoke enter your home or business, you may contact us at 352-543-5285 so we can record the location. Location, identification, and correction of the source of smoke that enters your building is advised. Your cooperation will be appreciated. The information gained from this testing will be used to improve sewer service.

Should you have any questions on this matter, please contact John Rittenhouse, at 352-543-5285.
 
  
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new logo W3C WILL MEET DECEMBER 18 
2024  November  21
 
The Waccasassa Water and Wastewater Cooperative, the W3C, will meet on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, in Cedar Ky at City Hall
 
 
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   fwc-banner

 FWC RED TIDE REPORT  NOVEMBER  20, 2024

   VIEW MAP OF FLORIDA COUNTIES BY CLICKING ON "READ MORE" BELOW.  

 Current Conditions

Over the past week, the red tide organism Karenia brevis was detected in 125 samples collected from Northwest and Southwest Florida. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were observed in 24 samples: one offshore of Pasco County, four offshore of Pinellas County, one from Hillsborough County, five from and offshore of Manatee County, 10 from Sarasota County, two from and offshore of Charlotte County, and one from Lee County. Light microscopy and/or automated shipboard analysis of samples collected between 11/9 to 11/16 confirmed the presence of K. brevis from and/or offshore of Pasco to Monroe counties. Chlorophyll satellite imagery (USF, NOAA) continues to be dynamic, with imagery from 11/19 showing patches of elevated chlorophyll along and/or offshore of Pinellas, Charlotte, and Lee counties.

Additional details are provided below.

In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background to medium concentrations in and offshore of Pinellas County, low to medium concentrations in and offshore of Hillsborough County, background to medium concentrations in and offshore of Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties, and background to very low concentrations offshore of Collier County.

In  Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at medium concentrations in one sample collected offshore of Pasco County.

Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

LIFT STATIONS /
GRINDER/PUMPING UNITS...
A PRIMER / THE BASICS
2024 November 18
 
 
PRIVATE STATIONS / UNITS
If you live on the islands south of the Number Four Bridge in Cedar Key and your property sits below the Cedar Key Water and Sewer District’s drainage system, you have a private residential lift station on your property.
 
The purpose of that lift station on your property is to “lift” and pump the sewage from your property up to the level of the CKWSD drainage system, where it is collected into one of seventeen CKW&SD lift stations around the Cedar Key islands south of the Number Four Bridge. Those seventeen lift stations lift and pump the sewage to the wastewater plant on Third Street where it is treated.
 
The lift stations on private properties are sometimes referred to as grinder pumping units, or wet wells.
 
The Cedar Key Water and Sewer District maintains the larger lift station systems that are located on the city right of way. The lift stations units on individuals’ private properties and all piping located beyond the water meter are the responsibility of the property owners. Both the CKWSD’s and individual property owners’ stations are electronically complex units requiring regular maintenance.
 
PUBLIC STATIONS / UNITS
The seventeen CKWSD lift stations will now be refurbished, thanks to grants from the Florida legislature and the energetic lobbying of CKWSD general manager and commissioners, some city officials, ad voluminous missives from Cedar Key based non-profit environmental groups.
 
PUBLIC MEETING
An information meeting presented by the CKWSD will be held on December 3rd. Presenters will explain the process and scheduling of the refurbishing of the seventeen water department lift stations The plan is that two stations will be refurbished at a time, diminishing he slight traffic alterations that will attend the process.
 
FURTHER HELPFUL INFORMATION
Helpful to you might be the two following pieces:
• the first from retired architect and resident Laura Goodwin focusing upon the lift stations on private property;
• the second from CKWSD General Manager John Rittenhouse focusing on lift stations on private properties when power interrupts operation.
 
 
 
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CLAM SCULPTURES: 
CELEBRATION AND UNVEILING
 
Saturday, November 30th, 2-6 pm
Cedar Key Sculpture Garden, 457 2nd Street
 
Join us for a fun, educational, and public art event in which clam sculptures painted by local artists will be unveiled.
 
The project is a collaborative effort with the Levy County Visitors Bureau, UF/IFAS Shellfish Extension Program, and Cedar Key Arts Center. 
 
NOV 18 STURMER CLAM PIECE********



CKWSD FAUCETCEDAR KEY WATER AND SEWER DISTRICT BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
NOTICE OF MEETING
2024 November 16

The Cedar Key Water and Sewer District (the "District") Board of Commissioners (the “Board”) announces a public meeting to be held at the following date/time:

Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 4:00PM EST


The meeting will be held at 809 6th STREET, CEDAR KEY FL 32625, for the purpose of hosting an informational townhall for the Lift Station Rehabilitation Project and conduct other District business. All interested persons are invited to attend and participate in the meeting.

 
new logo W3C WILL MEET NOVEMBER 20 
2024  November 15 
 
The Waccasassa Water and Wastewater Cooperative, the W3C, will meet on Wednesday, November 20618, 2024, in Bronson.
 
 
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CKWSD FAUCETNOTICE:
CKWSD WATER DISTRIBUTION
2024 November 13
 
The following is a message from the Cedar Key Water Sewer District:

With the Boil Water Advisory rescinded, we will be removing the bottle/carton water and bagged ice distribution from First Baptist Church on Second Street.
 
We owe a debt of gratitude to this great church as it has allowed us the space, noise, and traffic to supply our customers in time of need.
 
Thank you all for your patience, constructive criticism, and kind words as we navigated bringing clean water and healthy sewer services to our island. Cedar Key Strong!
 
 
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CKWSD FAUCETNOTICE:
CKWSD WATER DISTRIBUTION ENDSTODAY
2024 November 13
 
The following is a message from the Cedar Key Water Sewer District:
 
The Cedar Key Water and Sewer District has confirmed that the ice truck will be leaving the island today at 5 p.m.
 
 
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CKWSD WILL MEET NOVEMBER
 
 
  
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   fwc-banner

 FWC RED TIDE REPORT  NOVEMBER 4, 2024

   VIEW MAP OF FLORIDA COUNTIES BY CLICKING ON "READ MORE" BELOW.  

 Current Conditions

Over the past week, the red tide organism Karenia brevis was detected in 76 samples collected from Florida’s Gulf Coast. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were present in 18 samples: 2 offshore of Pinellas County, 3 from and offshore of Sarasota County, 4 offshore of Charlotte County, 8 offshore of Lee County, and 1 offshore of Collier County. Satellite chlorophyll imagery (NOAA, USF) from 10/31 indicates patchy conditions along Southwest Florida, with elevated chlorophyll extending along ~160 miles of coastline. Elevated chlorophyll levels were observed ~25-35 miles offshore of Pasco County, and alongshore from southern Pinellas County to Lee County. The patch ranges from ~5 miles wide to ~20-25 miles wide off of Charlotte Harbor and Tampa Bay estuaries. Additional details are provided below.


• In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background to medium concentrations in and offshore of Pinellas County, very low to low concentrations in and offshore of Manatee County, background to high concentrations in and offshore of Sarasota County, background to high concentrations in and offshore of Charlotte County, very low to medium concentrations in and offshore of Lee County, background to medium concentrations offshore of Collier County, and background concentrations offshore of Monroe County.
• In Northwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was at background concentrations in one sample collected from Franklin County.
• Along the Florida East Coast over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

 
CKWSD FAUCETNOTICE:
PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER NOTICE RECINDED

2024 November 1

CLICK HERE FOR NOTICE 

 

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NCBS UF IFAS
DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

  2024October 28

Editor’s Note: This article was excerpted from the Nature Coast Biological Station monthly publication
UF IFAS Nature Coast News, October 2024. 
The NCBS is operated by Dr. Mike Allen.

WE ARE ALL CONNECTED... 

Hurricane Helene has caused dramatic impacts to our communities and to natural resources in the Nature Coast region. Helene caused the highest storm surge ever recorded in Cedar Key, with over 13 feet storm surge (MLLW) recorded at the Cedar Key NOAA gauge. Most folks in our area were spared from storm surge impacts from Hurricane Milton, but the impacts of Helene created huge challenges for many of us. Regarding our facilities at NCBS and the Seahorse Key facilities we help manage, all received damage, which has been summarized on our social media and I won’t go into detail here.  
 
The outpouring of volunteers to our communities has made a huge impact on the initial recovery from this storm, and without those volunteers, we would be substantially delayed in any recovery efforts. We are all grateful for the folks who have taken their time to come to help, often from long distances and much personal expense. 
 
Every hurricane we have faced has created lessons about how to prepare for storms, but in my view the biggest lesson from Helene is that we are literally all connected. In ecosystem science the concept of connectivity is pervasive, where loss of one part of the system influences the rest of the food web. If you lose seagrass habitat, you functionally change the rest of the food web, all the way up to humans. Similarly, damage to oyster reefs, mangroves, and salt marsh all have cascading impacts to forage fishes, predators, sea birds, sea turtles and marine mammals.  

 
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OCTOBER  NEWS BRIEF

 2024 October 17 

SUWANNEE 22 UPDATE 
VISTA, HURRICANE HELENE, AND TERMITES
LAW ENFORCEMENT HOPES
 

 
new logo W3C WILL MEET OCTOBER 16
2024  October 12
 
The Waccasassa Water and Wastewater Cooperative, the W3C, will meet on Wednesday, October 1618, 2024, in Otter Creek.
 
 
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LIGHTHOUSE
 
 
SEAHORSE KEY AND CEDAR KEY LIGHT STATION OPEN HOUSE 2024
 
Visit Seahorse Key Marine Lab and the Cedar Key Light Station!
Seahorse Key is an island adjacent to the mainland on Cedar Key, managed by the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges. On these free open house dates, the public is welcome to check out the UF IFAS NCBS field research lab, or explore the historical light station. Visitors can become immersed in the islands flora and fauna, featuring a winding dune side trail leading to the Gulf-facing beach. Transportation by personal vessel or tour boat (includes fee from tour company). Please contact the Cedar Key Welcome Center regarding tour boat operations.
 
 
 
Please note: Trails leading to the light station and beach are steep and primitive in some areas.
Take caution when loading and unloading vessels onto the floating docks, and navigating the natural areas of the trails and beach.
 
2024 Dates (9 am until 3 pm): October 14
 
Photo coutesy of Joe Hand Editor's Note:
The above was excerpted from the Nature Coast Biological Station's Monthly Newsetter, April 2024.
 
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CKWSD_FAUCET.jpg
CKWSD RECEIVES A FULL 10 MILLION
FOR LIFT STATIONS,
SUPPORTS TO END PIPELINE AT WELLFIELDS
2024 September 21
  
 
The Cedar Key Water Sewer District met on Monday, September 9, 2024, at 5 pm, at the district’s office on Third Street.
 
LIFT STATION FINANCIAL SUPPORT
General Manager John Rittenhouse reported that the district now has ten million dollars in grants from Florida Commerce and the Florida State Legislature. This dollar amount should pay for the refurbishing of all 17 lift stations and may have several thousands in excess. Rittenhouse plans to put that excess, if it surfaces, to do work on the aging wastewater plant.
 
INSURANCE
Commissioners unanimously approved a new contract with Egis Insurance, CKWSD’s insurer, for $136,194.
 
MILLAGE
Commissioners set the millage rates 1.7177 The Final Budget Hearing is scheduled for September 23, 2024.
 
WACCASASSA WATER AND WASTEWATER COOPERATIVE
Dewberry Engineering is the firm that the W3C has contracted with to oversee pipeline operations. On Friday, September 6, Dewberry’s Robert Beltran met with each CKWSD commissioner regarding the question of where the pipeline would connect with Cedar Key: at the CKWSD wellfield, located on the mainland, approximately five miles north of the city or at the city boundaries. Despite input to the contrary, all five commissioners approved stopping the pipeline at the wellfield. The last five miles of pipeline leading into Cedar Key will not be part of the W3C.
 
IN ATTENDANCE:
Present were Chair Mike Borelli, Secretary Leslie Sturmer, and Commissioners Joe Hand and Steve Rosenthal. Commissioner Johnathan Ferguson attended by Zoom.
 
Staff in attendance included General Manager John Rittenhouse, General Counsel Evan Rosenthal, and Clerk Alicia Johns.
Among those in the audience were: Cedar Key Mayor Sue Colson, Doris Hellerman, Darrell McCormick, and the Cedar Key News’ Mandy and Frank Offerle.
 
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.
 
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CKWSD MEETING / FINAL BUDGET HEARING
FY 2024-2025
2024 September20 
 
SEPT 24CKWSDFINALBUDGE 
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new logo W3C WILL MEET SEPTEMBER 18
2024 September 12  
 
The Waccasassa Water and Wastewater Cooperative, the W3C, will meet on Wednesday,
September 18, 2024, at the Cedar Key Water and Sewer District offices on Third Street in Cedar Key, Florida.
 
 
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CKWSD WILL MEET SEPTEMBER 9
2024 September 7 
 
 2024SEPT10KWSDPKT
 
  
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