Environment

Category

T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park to host public meeting Jan. 15

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Park Service is in the process of updating the unit management plan for T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park. Citizens are invited to attend the public meeting to learn more about the proposed plans for the state park following impacts from Hurricane Michael, and to provide their comments. The meeting will be held on Jan. 15, 2019 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at Gulf Cost State College – Gulf/Franklin campus, 3800...

Choctawhatchee beach mouse lecture in Santa Rosa Beach Jan. 16

The South Walton Volunteer Beach Ambassador Team is hosting a presentation on the Choctawhatchee Beach Mouse on Wed., Jan. 16. The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Coastal Branch Library, 437 Greenway Trail, Santa Rosa Beach. Chris Whittle, Park Services Specialist at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park will talk about the endangered Choctawhatchee beach mouse, which calls our local sandy dunes along the Gulf Coast home. There is so much more to learn and Chris has a...

Water District launches online tools to assist with Hurricane Michael assessment, recovery

Dec. 27, 2018 – HAVANA – The Northwest Florida Water Management District launched a web application to help the public view the agency’s damage assessment from Hurricane Michael. The interactive application features an adjustable Google Earth view map showing the impacted areas from Hurricane Michael, including aerial photographs of impacted rivers, streams, and roadways. It also shows updated graphs of selected rivers that illustrate changes in water levels associated with debris from the storm. “We live firsthand with the damages inflicted...

FWC approves new guidelines for 9 State threatened species

On Dec. 13, 2018, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved Species Conservation Measures and Permitting Guidelines for nine of the more than 50 species in the agency’s Imperiled Species Management Plan. The Florida bog frog, crystal darter, Sherman’s short-tailed shrew, Georgia blind salamander, Southern tessellated darter and four species of wading birds including the little blue heron, tricolored heron, reddish egret and roseate spoonbill will benefit from the new species guidelines. Background: Species guidelines are designed to...

Step back in time at the Destin History and Fishing Museum

Most anyone who has been here for any length of time knows the best deep sea fishing in the Florida Panhandle is just offshore of Destin. You can learn how Destin got its name as the World’s Luckiest Fishing Village as you explore history and more at the Destin History and Fishing Museum. The museum is chock full of noteworthy artifacts. Historical information dating back to the 1830s, along with environmental educational displays will entertain as well as educate visitors,...

Learn about coyotes at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Dec. 21

Join Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission on December 21, 2018 from 10 – 11 a.m. Come learn about Coyotes and the role they play in the ecosystem. Topsail Talks is a monthly educational discovery series with presentations from organizations and government agencies from outside the park on the third Friday of the month at 10am in the clubhouse.  Future dates and topics are “Marine Animals” by the Gulfarium on January 18, 2019,...

Public meeting regarding Topsail Hill Preserve State Park beach access Dec. 5

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Recreation and Parks, announces a public meeting to which all persons are invited. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 5, 2018 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (Central Time) at Northwest Florida State College, South Walton Center, Rooms 119-120, 109 Greenway Trail, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459 All members of the public will have the opportunity to state recommendations and exchange information regarding beach access in Topsail Hill Preserve State...