Environment

Category

Audubon Florida’s former executive director Eric Draper now director of Florida State Parks

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein today announced three key appointments to DEP’s leadership team, as part of its continued focus on the protection of Florida’s prized properties through the management of Florida’s world-renowned state park system and land acquisition and conservation. Eric Draper will join the DEP team as the Director of Florida State Parks, effective Nov. 28, and Callie DeHaven will serve as Interim Director of the Division of State Lands effective Nov....

Public workshop on tree protection amendments in Santa Rosa Beach Nov. 2

Walton County will be hosting public workshops to discuss possible amendments to the Land Development Code implementing heritage or landmark tree protection regulations within the Walton Land Development Code. The public is encouraged to attend one or more of these workshops to and to provide input. Your input is important and will help the county ensure that the Land Development Code will continue to serve the needs of all county citizens and continues to protect the environment while also providing...

Health advisory issued for Bayshore Drive area in the Choctawhatchee Bay

DeFuniak Springs, Fla. – Due to a sewage spill, the Florida Department of Health in Walton County (DOH-Walton) is issuing a health advisory for the Bayshore Drive and surrounding areas in the Choctawhatchee Bay.  This health advisory is also issued for the unnamed lake off Forest Shore Drive. DOH-Walton advises against any water-related activities at the above location until bacteriological sampling reveals that the area is safe.  Sewage from the spill may have contaminated this area.  Individuals, especially those with...

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park public workshop in Santa Rosa Beach Sept. 21

Date/time: Thursday, Sept. 21, 5:30 p.m. Interested in having input on the future of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park? A preliminary public workshop is being held and will serve as a forum for the public to provide input on the future management of the park. The preliminary public workshop will be held September 21, 2017 from 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., with a presentation at 6pm, at South Walton County High School, Media Center, 645 Greenway Trail, Santa Rosa Beach,...

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park hosting beach clean up Sept. 16

Date/time: Saturday, Sept. 16, 9:15 – 11 a.m. Join Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on International Coastal Cleanup Day for a beach cleanup on September 16, 2017 from 9:15 – 11:00 a.m. Help keep the beach safe for the threatened and endangered species that call the beach home by minimizing the impact of marine debris on the beach and in the Gulf. To register as a beach cleanup volunteer please call 850-267-8330 and provide your name, email address, phone number...

Volunteers needed for Lake Powell clean up Sept. 16

The Lake Powell Community Alliance (LPCA) together with the St. Andrew Bay Watch (St. Andrew Bay Resource Management Association), Friends of Camp Helen State Park, Bay County Audubon and local neighborhoods invite you to participate in a community effort to cleanup Lake Powell on Sept. 16, 2017.  Sign-in will begin promptly at 8 a.m. on Saturday, September 16th at the Lake Powell Park [boat ramp behind Publix] or at Camp Helen State Park. The cleanup will last until noon. After...

Health Advisory issued for Morrison Springs

The Health Advisory is issued on August 9, 2017, for Morrison Springs. The Advisory is issued based on the criteria for fecal indicator bacteria. This should be considered a potential health risk to the bathing public and swimming is not recommended. Samples taken are above the public health threshold for fecal indicator bacteria. Water quality exceedances are based upon the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommended standard of no more than 61 Enterococci CFU/100mL, or 235 E. coli CFU/100mL in...