Environment

Category

FWC moves forward with comprehensive draft bear management rules

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) continues to build on its long-standing, proactive approach to bear management. At its April 15 meeting in Tallahassee, FWC Commissioners approved several proposed bear-related rules that will be presented for final action in June. The draft rules address a wide variety of tools to manage bear populations and help reduce human-bear conflicts. Staff were directed to refine changes to the feeding rule by making a new sub-section specifically for bear feeding and...

Join FWC webinars to comment on black bear management plan March 23 and 26

Interested in voicing your opinion on proposed black bear management changes? – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is hosting two webinars to discuss proposed changes to the black bear management program. Proposed amendments to the bear feeding and conservation rules as well as rule changes required to have a bear hunt in the fall of 2015 will be discussed. The webinars will be held March 23 and March 26, each beginning at 5 p.m. CST. Those interested...

The Point Washington alligator trapper

By DeLene Sholes Note: This story was originally published in the historical book Of Days Gone By – Reflections of South Walton County, Florida by South Walton Three Arts Alliance. Republished with permission. You may find a copy of the book that includes many short stories about our area’s colorful history at the Coastal Branch Library. Long ago, when it was legal to trap alligators, and sometimes when it wasn’t, Point Washington native George Morgan and his father-in-law, Alfred Barrett,...

Coastal dune lakes symposium at E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center March 28

Filmmaker Elam Stoltzfus will be hosting a coastal dune lakes symposium and a sneak preview of his film “Coastal Dune Lakes – Jewels of Florida’s Emerald Coast,” on Saturday, March 28 at 1 p.m. The event will be held at the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center in Freeport. The symposium will begin with an exclusive sneak peek from the upcoming Public Television documentary featuring Walton County’s dune lakes, Coastal Dune Lakes: Jewels of Florida’s Emerald Coast, produced by Elam Stoltzfus. Dr....

Nature Conservancy honors local conservationists M.C. and Stella Davis

The Florida Chapter of The Nature Conservancy  presented the 2014 Richard Weinstein Conservation Partner award  to M.C. and Stella Davis on March 7, 2015 at the E.O. Wilson  Biophilia Center in Freeport, FL. Florida Chapter Executive Director, Temperince Morgan explained the importance of The Nature Conservancy’s Richard Weinstein Conservation Partner Award.  “Richard Weinstein provided good advice and counsel to the Florida Chapter during its infancy and for decades beyond.  He believed that we should focus on the long-term and what...

Public workshop on artificial reef management plan March 3

The South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA) is hosting a public workshop regarding their artificial reef management plan. The workshop will be held at the South Walton Courthouse Annex, 31 Coastal Centre Boulevard, Suite 500. Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459. The workshop will be held on March 3 from 3 – 5 p.m. Topics discussed will be: 1) Artificial Reef Management Plan (10 year) a.  Draft document link: http://www.waltonreefs.org/pdf/SWARA_Artificial_Reef_Management_Plan_Draft.pdf 2)  LAARS a.  Definition of LAARS:  Large Area Artificial Reef Site...