Environment

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Volunteer with Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance to help build oyster reefs

Restore critical estuarine habitats with the CBA Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance is seeking volunteers for oyster reef construction on Nov. 11, 17 and 30  from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The group will be bagging oyster shells at the South Walton Center of Northwest Florida State College. The you will then travel to place bagged oyster shell at a reef site located at Cessna Park on CR 393 in Santa Rosa Beach and the Mattie Kelly Fishing Pier in Destin. Some...

Walton County Sheriff’s Office hosting BP Deepwater Horizon town hall meeting Nov. 11

Meeting to be held at substation in Santa Rosa Beach The Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), Emergency Management and Public Safety Communications Division, BP, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Environmental Protection, along with other local, state and federal officials will hold a town hall meeting Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. at the WCSO substation to provide an update on the impact of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill on Walton County, Fla.  Officials will also discuss plans for future...

Learn about World War II missiles on the beach at Topsail Nov. 11

‘Bombs Away’ as park ranger presents slide show about WWII missile testing on South Walton beaches Thursday, Nov. 11 — 3 p.m. Join the folks at Topsail for a fascinating look at the events that took place during WWII right here at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park.  As the face of modern warfare shifts from relying on ground troops to launching missiles, learn about the history of missile development in Walton County. Park at the Day-Use area off Hwy 30A...

Céline Cousteau keynote speaker at official 2011 Florida Chautauqua Assembly Jan. 27-30

Granddaughter of legendary Jacques Cousteau will highlight a “A journey into Florida” Céline Cousteau, granddaughter of legendary Jacques Cousteau, has accepted the invitation of the Florida Chautauqua Center to be the featured keynote speaker at the official 2011 Florida Chautauqua Assembly in DeFuniak Springs scheduled for Jan. 27 – 30.  The program theme is “A Journey into Florida,” and Ms. Cousteau will speak on Friday, January 28 at 9:00 a.m. at the new Walton County High School auditorium. “We are...

YOLOing with the manatees makes for a perfect day

Near shore paddle brings pleasant surprise to Santa Rosa Beach resident Santa Rosa Beach resident Rich Blasbichler captured these amazing photos on Oct. 7 while paddling with a group of manatees in the Gulf of Mexico. Paddling with his brother behind the Sea Oats Motel in Destin on their YOLO experience with the manatees brought an extra bonus to the beautiful day. About manatees: Manatees can be found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals, and coastal areas —...

Highway 20 closed as fire rages in Basin Bayou

Alaqua Animal Refuge may need assistance with animal evacuation UPDATE: Alaqua Animal Refuge is safe…. 3:30 from South Walton Fire District: The Florida Highway Patrol is reopening a portion of State Road 20 shut down by a large wildfire burning south of the road. The road was shut down between Basin Bayou and Portland due to heavy smoke. FHP troopers are reopening the road and traffic will move at about 15 mph. Between 200 and 250 acres of scattered areas...

Monarch arrival brings a sign of the season in Walton County

Monarchs flutter along the Choctawhatchee River Even though the temperatures have not indicated any sign of fall, Mother Nature is. This monarch was spotted on a willow tree along the Choctawhatchee River on Sept. 19. A bit of an early migrate, its appearance indicates that fall is nigh. Unlike most other insects in temperate climates, monarch butterflies cannot survive a long cold winter. Instead, they spend the winter in roosting spots. Monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains fly farther south...