Heartland CISMA Steering Committee MeetingMay 20, 2026 Round Robin Mary: Been busy with wildlife monitoring and preparing/submitting uplands proposals for FWC uplands program. Polk County submitted one large and one small project. The county has three technician positions open; interviews are happening now. Olivia: Submitted a proposal for the FWC uplands invasives program. Last year’s proposal was originally not funded, but is now...
Round Robin - Mary Apessos: has been busy with wildlife monitoring season, sand skinks next week, some uplands proposals. Technicians are gearing up for lake treatments. There is a new Natural Areas manager and Water Resources manager starting Monday - Mike Sowinski: uplands program proposals due in tiers May 1, ranking meeting May 8. Contact Mike or Candice for questions. - Jenna Lester:...
Overview Our annual event returns April 15 & 16th! Please register for just one date, the agenda is the same! Join us on April 15 or 16 for Heartland CISMA's Annual Central Florida Invasive Species Workshop! That's right, we're offering the same program on two dates, so you can choose which date fits into your calendar best. Please, only register for one date! WHO should attend? Environmental...
Dear fellow naturalist, Please mark your calendars for the 5th Annual DeLuca Bioblitz, taking place on Friday, March 6th, 2026, at the University of Florida’s DeLuca Preserve in Osceola County. As with last year, the Bioblitz will run for 24 hours on March 6th, offering opportunities to explore the preserve by day and night. Registration will open in...
Whose Hiring: Florida Department of Environmental Protection Application Deadline: 08/20/2025 Application Information and Link to Apply: ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST I - 37021066 Job Details | State of Florida Description: This is an entry-level environmental professional position in the Mining and Mitigation Program responsible for permitting activities, compliance assistance, and inspection activities. Duties include, but are not limited to, the following: Support permitting and reclamation programs that...
8:30-9:00Registration & sign-inRegistration Table9:00-9:15Welcome and Open RemarksKeynote Speaker: TBD9:15- 9:45Preserving Greenway Corridors: Collaborating to Keep Agricultural Spaces ConnectedGuest Speaker: Mitch Hutchcraft, Alico Inc.9:45-10:25Funding & Cost-Share Programs: Tools and Incentives to Keep Land in Production PanelModerator: Chelsea Wisner10:25- 10:30Sentinel Landscape IntroductionTabitha Biehl, Polk County10:30-10:40Introduction to the Partners: Who’s WhoAline Morrow, U.S. Fish & Wildlife10:40-11:00Networks & Exhibit Break 11:00-11:30Mitigation Banking: Turning Conservation into...
Whose Hiring: Polk County- Parks and Natural Resources Division Application Deadline: 08/4/2025 Application Information and Link to Apply: Water Resources NPDES Coordinator - Parks and Natural Resources - POLK_BoCC_Career Site Careers Description: Responsible lead staff position involving professional, technical, administrative and educational work relating to the County’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit for Municipal Stormwater. Oversees the program for collection, evaluation, and reporting of data on surface water quality and stormwater runoff. Coordinates activities with the public, county staff, and state and federal agencies on issues pertaining to water resources and environmental management. Assist the Water Resources Manager by coordinating the collection of data required for compliance with the County’s NPDES stormwater permit, preparation of NPDES compliance reports, and grant application submittal for funding projects to enhance Polk County’s surface water resources.
Whose Hiring: Polk County- Parks and Natural Resources Division Application Deadline: 08/6/2025 Application Information and Link to Apply: Lead Environmental Technician (Natural Areas Management) - Parks and Natural Resources - POLK_BoCC_Career Site Careers Description: Skilled technical work within a comprehensive environmental stewardship and control program. Skilled work operating light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles, air boats and outboard motorboats in addition to spray application equipment controlling nuisance...
Heartland CISMA Meeting 5/14/2025 Forestry Office, Lakeland Mona, Mike, Kristen, Mary, Andrew Black - in person Marissa, Andrew West, Olivia Husik, Olivia Wetsch, Richard Larson, Jackson - online 10:10 am start time ROUND ROBIN Mike - No ideas about budget yet due to legislature, working on pre-bid quotes. Hoping to get results out some time in June. Went through project rankings from West Central Working Group meeting....
The Next Steering Committee meeting will be held June 13, 2024 at 10:00 am. It is a hybrid meeting. If you are joining in-person, it will be held at Circle B Bar Reserve in the Conference room (located where the offices are). Feel free to call when you get here if you need assistance. Address: 4399 Winter Lake Road, Lakeland, FL 33803 Items...