Environment

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South Walton coastal dune lakes swell from recent rain, Western manually opened

Strong outflow to Gulf prompts water rescues With several coastal dune lakes in South Walton swelled from recent rains, Walton County Public Works Department has been keeping a close eye on lake water levels. On Aug. 1, Western Lake was manually opened to relieve it from potentially flooding low lying homes along the lake’s shoreline. The County holds Department of Environmental Protection permits which allows them to control the water flow on several lakes if needed. On July 31, Western...

Health advisory issued for Johnson Beach and nearby areas along Choctawhatchee Bay

Walton County – Due to a sewage spill in the Miramar Beach area of Walton County the Walton County Health Department is issuing a health advisory from Legion County Park west to Bay Bridge Landing in the Choctawhatchee Bay. Sample results exceed the Environmental Protection Agency recommended standards for fecal coliform. The Health Department advises against any water-related activities at the above location until a bacteriological survey reveals that the area is safe. Sewage from the spill may have contaminated...

Learn about native snakes at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Aug. 17

Learn fascinating facts about Florida’s snakes Time – 1:30 p.m. Come and join the park for a presentation of native snakes. Learn the differences between venomous and non-venomous snakes and how they help the environment. Park at the Day-Use area off Hwy 30A and take a short hike to the clubhouse. All programs require a $6.00 entry admission per vehicle into the park. Outside tours canceled during severe weather. Call 850-267-8330 for more information. Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is...

Where would we be without pollinators?

Bees, beetles, flies, butterflies and moths play an important role in our natural environment From the FWC – By Stan Kirkland, FWC There’s a growing movement in Florida, and the rest of the country, for that matter, to recognize the crucial value of pollinators and the role they play in agriculture and forestry. Pollinators include insects such as bees, beetles, flies, butterflies and moths, and other wildlife species such as birds and bats. “Pollinators are absolutely crucial to the things...

Walton County Health Department issues mosquito-borne illness advisory

Numbers serve as important reminder for Florida residents and visitors to take proactive measures against mosquitoes WALTON COUNTY — This is to advise that there has been increased mosquito-borne disease activity in areas of Walton County. Several sentinel chickens have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). The risk of transmission to humans has increased. Walton County Health Department reminds residents and visitors to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes that may cause encephalitis disease. Walton County Mosquito Control, South Walton...

FWC officer recalls favorite photos

From the FWC – Doing the unexpected by Stan Kirkland, FWC Many of us have our favorite photographs and remembrances of people and wildlife. Sometimes the unbelievable happens and the images are all the more unforgettable. I’ve seen a lot of photographs over my career but my favorite is of co-worker and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wildlife biologist Adam Warwick saving a drugged 375-pound male black bear from certain drowning in the Gulf of Mexico at Alligator...

North Walton pitcher plant bog boasts international fame

One native Sarracenia hybrid named after landowner Tucked behind the fence line of a North Walton County farm is a wetland bog of international intrigue. A pitcher plant bog that is, along the banks of Walton resident Leah Wilkersons’ pond. Since the early 1930s, Wilkerson’s family lived and worked their cattle ranch on 72 acres of rolling hills in the New Harmony area. Early on, Leah’s father dug a multi acre pond and burned the surrounding land to create healthy...