Heartland CISMA News and Announcements
To find our current list of upcoming events, please visit the Events Page.
May 2026
May 20, 2026 Steering Committee Meeting Minutes
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...
March 2026
March 18, 2026 Steering Committee Meeting Minutes
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:...
Heartland Cisma Annual Invasive Species Conference
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...
January 2026
DeLuca Preserve Bioblitz
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...
August 2025
Environmental Specialist 1
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...
Polk Landowner Expo
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...
July 2025
Water Resources NPDES Coordinator
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.
Lead Environmental Technician (Natural Areas Management)
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...