Water Quality
Health Advisories
- 2 stations were sampled on Jan 14 (FDOH)
- Bayou Texar was GOOD
- Sanders Beach was MODERATE
- We will be posting the 2018 health advisory report soon; stay tuned
Rainfall
- Rainfall collected weekly from East Hill (UF IFAS)
- Jan (1.2”)
- NOTE: Pensacola received 90” of rain in 2018 (FDAC); this is a 38% increase over the norm of 65”
- Pensacola received 90” of rain in 2017 as well (FDAC)
Red Tide
- No red tide reported in the Florida panhandle (FWC)
- Though only background levels, red tide has returned to SW Florida
- Escambia County Division of Marine Resources will host a seafood safety symposium Feb 11 at the COC; one of the presentations will discuss red tide (and other harmful organisms) and seafood safety; the event is free; begins at 5:00 PM; 3363 West Park Place
Fish Kills
- No fish kills reported from the Pensacola Bay area for January 2019 (FWC)
Habitat Restoration
- Winter is a good time to plant a living shoreline; if interested contact me.
- The 2018 Seagrass Monitoring Report is up on our website (UF IFAS – UWF). Visit https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2018/12/18/2018-seagrass-monitoring-report-for-santa-rosa-sound-and-big-lagoon/.
- OCEAN HOUR Clean Ups Jan 19
- – Wayside Park and Graffiti Bridge at northside of 3-mile bridge
- – Bartram Park near Fish House and Seville Square
Clean Ups begin at 9:00 and supplies are provided
Wildlife & Fisheries
- The 2018 diamondback terrapin survey should be posted soon; stay tuned
- The 2018 Great Scallop Search report can be found at https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2018/12/05/the-2018-big-lagoon-great-scallop-search-results/. (UF IFAS)
- Training for these citizen science surveys will be held in April; stay tuned for more
- We will also be introducing two new wildlife/fisheries surveys in 2019; one with horseshoe crabs and another with killifish; training dates for these TBD; stay tuned.
- The Escambia County Division of Marine Resources will be having their Annual Seafood Safety Symposium Feb 11, 2019. Will take place at the COC building – 3363 West Park Place; begins at 5:00 PM; free
Invasive Species
- Sea Grant and FWC will be hosting two back to back workshops in February. Feb 19 will be lionfish and Feb 20 will be artificial reefs. The workshops will be held at the Emerald Coast Convention Center in Ft. Walton Beach. Both are full day workshops – you can register for one or both at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-lionfish-and-artificial-reef-workshop-in-northwest-florida-tickets-54012951191
- We are currently trying to remove beach vitex from Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. If you believe you have this plant – let us know. Will be removing vitex during January and February 2019.
Environmental Literacy
- 2019 SCIENCE HOUR SCHEDULE; programs are held at the Escambia County Central Office Complex; 3363 West Park Place; they begin at 6:00 PM and are free
- – Jan 10 Pensacola Climate Task Force Repot Carrie Stevenson, County UF Extension
- – Feb 7 Urban Coyote Populations Elizabeth Heikkinen, FWC
- – Mar 14 Emmanuel Point Shipwreck Nicole Grinnan, Public Archeology
- – Apr 11 Beach Safety Dave Greenwood, Water Safety Chief
- – May 16 NW Florida Aquatic Preserves Beth Fugate, FDEP
- – Jun 13 Invasive Species Don Buchanon (FWC) Rick O’Connor
- – Jul 11 Mosquito Control Matthew Mello, Escambia County
- – Aug 8 Vibrio TBD
- – Sep 12 Genetically Modified Organisms Libbie Johnson, County UF Extension
- – Oct 10 Online Fact vs. Fiction Jane Daugherty, UWF
- – Nov 14 Bay Bridge & Artificial Reefs Robert Turpin, Escambia County
New Articles
- All’s Quiet on the Western Front… or is it? This article discusses what wildlife is up to during these cold winter months. It highlights the coyote. Read more at https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2019/01/13/all-quiet-on-the-western-front-or-is-it/.
Upcoming Programs
- Jan 19 Tree Give Away; Florida Arbor Day – Escambia County Extension will have a tree give-a-way to celebrate Florida Arbor Day; all trees are in 1-gal containers; only 2/person; while supplies last; 9:00 – 11:00; 3740 Stefani Road
- Feb 7 Science Hour; Urban Coyote Populations – FWCs Catherine Kennedy will discuss urban coyote populations and their issues; SCIENCE HOUR; Escambia County Central Office Complex – 3363 West Park Place; 6:00 PM; free
- Feb 11 Seafood Safety Symposium – Escambia County Central Office Complex – 3363 West Park Place – 5:00 PM; free
- Feb 19 Regional Lionfish Workshop – Emerald Coast Convention Center Ft. Walton Beach FL – all day – $25/person (includes lunch) – register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-lionfish-and-artificial-reef-workshop-in-northwest-florida-tickets-54012951191
- Feb 20 Regional Artificial Reef Workshop – Emerald Coast Convention Center Ft. Walton Beach FL – $25/person (includes lunch) – register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2019-lionfish-and-artificial-reef-workshop-in-northwest-florida-tickets-54012951191
HEALTH ADVISORY DATA
Enterococcus bacteria count rubric for health advisories (Florida Department of Health)
GOOD 0-35 colonies/100ml of sample
MODERATE 36-70 colonies/100ml
POOR 71> colonies/100ml
Data provided by the Florida Department of Health’s Healthy Beaches Program
| Month | Water Body | Good | Moderate | Poor | Health Advisory Issued |
| Jan | Bayou Texar | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Sanders Beach | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Health Advisory Frequency
| Body of Water | # of samples taken | # of advisories issued | % frequency of advisories |
| Bayou Texar | 3 | 1 | .33 |
| Sanders Beach | 3 | 1 | .33 |
Fish Kill Data provided by FWC
| Month | # of Fish Kills reported | # of Dead Fish reported | Cause |
| Jan | 0 | 0 |
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