Dead fish and algae blooms alarm residents near Lochloosa Lake

Residents and fishermen near Lochloosa Lake in Hawthorne are reporting dead fish, dying vegetation, dead snails and algae blooms along the shoreline, with conditions said to have worsened over several months. Local fishermen believe herbicide spraying used to control aquatic plants is destroying critical habitat for fish and wildlife. Residents are calling for greater transparency about what is being sprayed and how often, and are asking whether alternative approaches should be considered.

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Sources: WCJB TV20

Ducks Unlimited transfers 1,300 acres to St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

Ducks Unlimited this week handed over a 1,300-acre parcel bordering the St. Marks River to St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, permanently protecting land near the refuge’s front entrance from private development. The property provides habitat for Florida black bears and threatened species including the red-cockaded woodpecker, and also supports the refuge’s popular annual Monarch Butterfly festival.

Sources: WCJB TV20