The number of new COVID-19 cases in Polk County has been rising recently, along with the positivity rate of testing, prompting Mayor Bill Mutz to say he will call for a renewed mask requirement in Lakeland if the rate of positive tests remains 10% or higher for 14 days, The Ledger reports | LkldNow charts […]
Category: Environment
Posted inCity Hall / Local Gov't
Swan Lottery Winners Stretch From Fort Myers to Jacksonville
Eighteen individuals from Fort Myers to Jacksonville were winners Friday when the city of Lakeland held a drawing to buy swans at $400 each, Fox 13 News reports. The swan sale will reduce bird overpopulation at Lake Morton. The winners will each buy two swans and had to agree to provide a safe water environment. […]
Posted inEnvironment
Welcome Center Will Add Context to Se7en Wetlands
A welcome center being developed for the Se7en Wetlands Park will tell a story about how in the 1980s, the city of Lakeland set an example for other jurisdictions on how to treat wastewater through nature.
Posted inEnvironment
Sick Bald Eagle Found in Lakeland Nursed Back to Health
A bald eagle rescued from a Lakeland pasture after it fell ill was nursed back to health at Busch Gardens and the Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife in Odessa, ABC Action News reports. The bird likely ate a poisoned rodent, said Owl’s Nest Director Kris Porter. She hopes to release the eagle in Lakeland next […]
Posted inEnvironment
DeSantis Cuts Funds for Se7en Wetlands Education Center
Forced to tighten state spending by coronavirus-driven revenue drops, Gov Ron DeSantis cut $1 billion through line-item vetoes, including at least $1.4 million for Polk projects, The Ledger reports. Among them: $400,000 to design and build an educational center at Lakeland’s Se7en Wetlands nature preserve/water treatment area and $500,000 for Polk Regional Water Cooperative’s Heartland […]
Posted inEnvironment
For Some Happy News, We Present … Baby Swans
View this post on Instagram Squeeeee! Our first cyngets of the year have been released back onto Lake Morton this week 😍 #swans #lakeland #lakelandFl #cuteanimals #parksandrec #lkld A post shared by Lakeland Parks & Recreation (@lakelandparkrec) on Mar 25, 2020 at 7:03am PDT Source: Instagram: City of Lakeland Parks & Recreation
Posted inEnvironment
Car Death of Black-Necked Swan Leaves One Adult Left
Lakeland’s last adult black-necked swan, a male, is tending a nest and its one egg after a car hit and killed his female mate Saturday. That egg and four more in an incubator may determine the success of the city’s six-year effort to perpetuate its black-necked swans. Source: The Ledger
Posted inEnvironment
Foggy Day in Lakeland Town Yields to Swan Roundup
Fog delayed the start of Lakeland’s 39th annual swan roundup on Lake Morton Tuesday; after it lifted the Parks and Rec boat crews were able to capture all 77 swans for their yearly physical checkups, which are being performed today by My Pets Animal Hospital. Watch Fox 13’s Ken Suarez get a net around one […]
Posted inEnvironment
High Metal Levels Seen in Water Samples Near Coal Storage
Water samples collected from monitoring wells near Lakeland Electric’s coal ash storage area showed levels of arsenic above federal drinking water levels and lithium above groundwater protection levels, The Ledger reports. The utility said it’s taking corrective action and there’s “little to no risk to the public.” Source: The Ledger
Posted inEnvironment
County Cites BS Ranch in More Odor Violations
The battle over bad smells around BS Ranch in east Lakeland continues. Polk County code enforcers filed five new notices of odor violations against the compost/soil manufacturing company this month. BS Ranch’s lawyer responds that complaints come from a small number of opponents and that other nearby operations are causing odors. Source: News Channel 8
