The city of Lakeland will continue limited spraying to control invasive plants in lakes even as a temporary moratorium halts the bulk of herbicide use in Lakeland lakes, city commissioners were told this morning. More
Migrating birds are already returning to Circle B Bar Reserve, but it will be a bit longer before nature lovers can hike the popular Alligator Alley trail beyond the gazebo on Lake Hancock. County officials say it will be about three weeks until they hear from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about whether they can restore parts of the shoreline eroded by Hurricane Irma. After the work is approved, restoration work will take at least three months, possibly longer depending on rainfall.
Residents were warned against fishing and swimming in Lake Parker today after up to 400,000 gallons of raw sewage poured into the west side of the lake near Valencia Street and Lake Parker Drive. The spill was caused when tree stump removers accidentally broke a pressurized sewage line. It will be Friday morning before the extent of damage is calculated, and city officials said they expect vegetation in the spill area to minimize long-term environmental damage.
U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Kovachevich denied Drummond Corp.’s move to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Oakbridge and Grasslands homeowners alleging their property was contaminated by gamma radiation.
The owners of BS Ranch & Farm, an east Lakeland recycling facility that’s been the subject of odor complaints, can avoid court by restoring five acres of wetlands, enclosing parts of its operation and changing waste-handling procedures, state regulators said in a letter. BS Ranch’s attorney thanked them but noted that they’re not aware of similar operations in Florida with enclosed compost processing.
Veterinarian Patricia Mattson of Companion Animal Hospital examined dozens of swans by Lake Morton today after they were rounded up by city parks staffers on Tuesday.
2017 Swan Roundup: Day 2 Annual Check-ups from City of Lakeland on Vimeo.
Residents of unincorporated Polk should get new carts by Nov. 1 rather than the previous target of January.
Budget problems are keeping NOAA’s Hurricane Hunters from replacing Coyote drones that proved valuable in monitoring Hurricane Maria, according to The War Zone, a Time Inc. website that covers military gear.
Polk utility officials are asking home owners in Christina, Hallam Woods, Imperial Lakes and nearby neighborhoods to reduce use of reclaimed water for lawn sprinkling, warning they may be forced to shut the system or reduce to one day a week. More
