Environment

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Audubon Florida’s rooftop coordinator takes sky-high approach to protect nesting least terns

Emily McKiddy, Audubon Florida’s Panhandle rooftop coordinator, works year-round from Pensacola to Panama City. She surveys a variety of gravel rooftop-nesting birds and works with building owners, volunteers, and partners to return tiny, fallen chicks to rooftop nests and to install protective measures that will prevent tiny chicks from falling in subsequent years. In spring, flocks of least terns return from their wintering grounds in South America to the Florida Panhandle to breed. The birds prefer nesting on flat, open, sandy beaches on...

Nature lovers celebrate 25 years of South Walton conservation land

As our community  grows, many residents and visitors continue to be in awe of the extraordinary amount of recreation land we have in South Walton county. However, some newcomers have no idea how we acquired such a vast and beautiful landscape enjoyed by many. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and Point Washington State Forest almost didn’t happen. Thanks to the support from organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, an energetic group of advocates from 4-Mile Village, local conservation group Beach...

Health advisory issued for Morrison Springs

The Health Advisory is issued on May 17, 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...

Nature Conservancy hosting estuary program in Santa Rosa Beach April 7

The Nature Conservancy will be hosting an Estuary meeting on Friday, April 7th from 10 am – 12 pm in the South Walton Annex Boardroom located at 31 Coastal Centre Blvd. in Santa Rosa Beach. The meeting’s purpose is to provide a forum for the panhandle watershed stakeholders to learn more about the value of creating Estuary Programs from the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) Executive Director Duane De Freese. Freese will talk about the history of the...

Florida Forest Service releases new fire information app

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam and the Florida Forest Service today announced the release of “FLBurnTools,” a new mobile app to inform the public about drought, wildfire danger and wildfire activity. Prescribed burn practitioners can also use the app to plan and submit authorization requests. The “FLBurnTools” app is now available in both Apple’s App Store and on Google Play. “By providing Floridians with better access to the latest wildfire information, we can help protect people, wildlife and...

Hazmat collection day in north and south Walton March 4

Date/time: Sat., March 4 – 8 a.m. – 12 Noon The Walton Board of County Commissioners is sponsoring a project to collect, recycle, treat and properly dispose of these and other household hazardous wastes: Pesticides – Used Oil – Stale Gasoline – Solvents – Fertilizers – Paint – Paint Thinners – Paint Strippers – Batteries – Furniture Polish – Brake Fluid – Engine Degreasers – Anti-Freeze – Pool Chemicals – Insecticides – Spot Removers Waste tire amnesty will also be...

FWC approves bay scallop season changes for 2017

At its February meeting in Crystal River, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) discussed the current status of bay scallops in St. Joseph Bay in Gulf County; approved regional changes to the bay scallop season dates in Gulf County and areas surrounding Gulf County; and discussed potential season dates in Dixie County and parts of Taylor County. These changes are for 2017 only and are an opportunity to explore regionally-specific bay scallop seasons. A prolonged red tide event...