Environment

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Be bear wise as bears become more active in fall

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds residents and visitors that our state’s black bears are more active in search of food as autumn approaches. Following BearWise® practices can help prevent negative interactions with bears and other wildlife, including securing garbage and removing food attractants. During the fall, bears start consuming more calories to pack on fat reserves for the winter, even if they are not hibernating as long as they do in colder climates. Adult bears need...

Volunteers needed for beach clean up Sept. 16

International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) day is Saturday, September 16. ICC is one of the world’s largest annual events devoted to the preservation and protection of our oceans, waves, and beaches. Come out, bring your family and friends and be a part of this major volunteer event! When: Saturday, September 16 Time: 9:00a.m. – 11:00a.m. Registration opens at 8:45 Participant Cost: Free Where: 5 South Walton Regional Beach Accesses Inlet Beach Santa Clara Ed Walline Dune Allen Miramar Beach An important...

Land steward tour of Little Creek Woods Sept. 21

Join the Walton Extension office and the Florida Land Steward Program on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 for a tour and an opportunity to meet remarkable land stewards, Bob Reid and Betsy Clark. A true champion of forest habitat restoration and having a stewardship vision measured in centuries, Bob Reid spends most of his days either working, or planning what needs to happen next on his Little Creek Woods property in Walton County. The goal at Little Creek is to develop...

Volunteers needed for Lake Powell clean up Sept. 16

The Lake Powell Community Alliance (LPCA) together with St. Andrew Bay Watch (RMA), Friends of Camp Helen State Park and Bay County Audubon invite you to participate in a community effort to clean up Lake Powell. Sign-in will begin promptly at 8 a.m. on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at the Lake Powell Park [boat ramp behind Publix] or at Camp Helen State Park. The cleanup will last until noon. Free t-shirts will be given to the first 50 volunteers to...

Flooding resilience program in Santa Rosa Beach Aug. 24

Learn how to actively support future flooding resilience activities in Walton County on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Walton County District 5 Commissioners office at 70 Logan Land, Santa Rosa Beach. Come together with your neighbors for a Community’s RISE (Resilience In Sea- Level Rise Education) event. This community event will introduce residents to the basics of sea-level rise and flooding impacts, with a discussion of how we can be more prepared in our...

Volunteers needed for longleaf pine restoration project at Grayton Beach State Park Sept. 16

Join Grayton Beach State Park staff and volunteers to celebrate National Public Lands Day at Grayton Beach State Park on Sat. September 16, 2023 from 8 a.m. – 12 Noon. Volunteers will be removing small sand pines in preparation for winter planting of long leaf pine seedlings. The park has reduced over 20,000 sand pines to help the longleaf ecosystems at Grayton Beach State Park. Bring work gloves, sun protective clothing, sunscreen, bug spray, close-toed shoes, long pants, and a...

Health advisory issued for Grayton Beach

July 27, 2023 – The Florida Department of Health in Walton County (DOH-Walton) conducts regularly scheduled saltwater beach water quality monitoring at sites through the Healthy Beaches Monitoring Program. Samples are collected from March through the end of September. The water samples are analyzed for enteric bacteria (enterococci) that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals, which may cause human disease, infections, or rashes. The presence of enteric bacteria is an indication of fecal pollution, which may come...

Learn about local wetland plants at the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center July 28

Discover the world of Walton’s Wonderful Wetland Plants on July 28th at 11:30 a.m. at the E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center in Freeport. Join the Center for an engaging presentation of the extraordinary plant life thriving in our diverse wetlands. From carnivorous plants to delicate orchids, this presentation showcases the unique and often overlooked treasures found within these ecosystems. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to expand your knowledge and appreciation of Walton County’s hidden gems. Admission is $8.00 for ages...