Environment

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2011 hurricane disaster preparedness seminar May 3 

The Walton County Tourist Development Council along with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), South Walton Fire District, American Red Cross, National Weather Service and other emergency response personnel will host a disaster preparedness seminar Tuesday, May 3 at 6 p.m. in the South Walton High School auditorium. Disaster preparedness topics will include presentations involving response capabilities, protocols for beach access closures, shelter availability, evacuation routes, etc. What:    2011 Hurricane Disaster Preparedness Seminar Where:  South Walton High School 645 Greenway...

Local naturalist nurtures bluebird breeding program at Hammock Bay

  Spring brings nesting bluebirds Spring brings a full house to 55 bluebird boxes at Hammock Bay in Freeport. This is the fifth season Joe Wyatt, naturalist at Hammock Bay, has been running a bluebird breeding program for these beautiful indigenous birds. The success has been quite good with close to 300 fledglings each year. Cool Facts: • The male Eastern Bluebird displays at his nest cavity to attract a female. He brings nest material to the hole, goes in...

Dedicated group watches over sea turtles

South Walton Turtle Watch Group keeps track of South Walton nesting sea turtles South Walton turtle nest season runs May 1 – October 31 According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, sea turtles, are among the oldest creatures on earth, and have remained essentially unchanged for 110 million years. However, they face an uncertain future. Illegal harvesting, habitat encroachment, and pollution (physical and light) are only some of the things sea turtles must face as each species struggles to...

Oil Spill public forum at Coastal Branch Library Apr. 19

South Walton Community Council hosts guest speaker April 20, 2011 marks the one year memorial of the Deepwater Horizon Oil disaster in which eleven lives were lost, 205.8  million gallons  of oil gushed into the Gulf and an unprecedented  1.8 million  gallons of dispersants  were applied to the oil from the air, boats and subsea. In commemoration of the impacts and lessons learned, on April 19, 2011, Dr. Richard Snyder will be the guest speaker at a public forum sponsored...

Warm weather means active alligators and crocodiles

Play it safe when recreating in fresh and brackish water The onset of warm weather in the spring is when Florida’s alligators and crocodiles start getting active, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds Floridians and visitors to be cautious when having fun in and around water. Florida is home to two native crocodilians: the American alligator, which is found in all 67 counties, and the American crocodile, which may be found in coastal areas of the...

Choctawhatchee Estuary Family Festival Apr. 30

Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park hosts educational day of fun for everyone Date: Saturday, Apr. 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Department of Environmental Protection’s Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, Friends of the Emerald Coast State Parks and the Mattie Kelly Cultural & Environmental Institute of Northwest Florida State College will sponsor the Choctawhatchee Estuary Family Festival. This family event will feature fun, educational activities and displays showcasing our coastal environment. Cheer on the crab races...