2. Wildlife Habitat Improvements from Improved Water Quality Paul W. Thomas, Fisheries Biologist Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission “Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.”

3. VACATION PICTURES SUMMER 2011!!! Insert Crowd Applause Here…

8. New Title – “A Thirty-thousand Foot View of Watershed Development, Management, and Improved Water Quality’s Effects on Fish and Wildlife Habitat and What That Means to the Critters and People of the State of Florida” …Right?

9. What is Water Quality?

10. For Fish and Wildlife… Dissolved Oxygen Temperature Range pH Salinity Dissolved Solids Quantity - mfls

11. Within Watershed – Control Over… Land Use Water Use Point Source Inflows Runoff Flows and Levels – Control Structures Access

12. Some Control…Invasives!

13. What We Can’t Control… Rainfall Natural Disasters Climate Change Drought

16. The Big Assumption…

17. Fish, Wildlife, and Aquatic Natural Resources are Important…to Somebody!

18. The Challenge… Getting the Public to See the Connectivity Between Water Quality, Fish and Wildlife Habitat, and the Watershed They Live In!

19. Caring Through Economics Bass Fishing – generates $1.25 Billion and 16 million days of fishing annually in Florida 2.8 million licensed fresh water anglers

20. Birding – 48 million participants, $3.0 Billion generated AND a new Steve Martin/Jack Black/Owen Wilson movie!

21. Smart Development= Effective Watershed Management = Improved Water Quality=Healthy Fish and Wildlife Habitat =Sustainable Fish and Wildlife Populations=Economic Prosperity

22. Kissimmee River Restoration

23. So Umm…What’s Happened? Dissolved oxygen levels doubled! Wading bird numbers tripled! Return of duck species including Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, and Ring-necks! Sportfish percent composition increased from 38 to 63 percent!

24. Something to Think About…

27. Bass Regards and Tight Lines from FWC’s Fresh Fish Folk! Questions? Oh…Okay…Go Ahead!