Sea Grant Notes – Feb 1, 2019

Feb 1, 2019 Sea Grant Notes

 

Water Quality

Health Advisories

Rainfall

  • Rainfall collected weekly from East Hill (UF IFAS)
  • Jan (2.1”)
  • 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)
  • Background levels were detected along SW Florida as far north as Pasco Co. and in Volusia Co. on the east coast
  • 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). However, a cold stunned turtle was found in Escambia County.

 

Habitat Restoration

 

Clean Ups begin at 9:00 and supplies are provided

Wildlife & Fisheries

 

 

Invasive Species

 

  • Feb 19 Lionfish Workshop and Feb 20 Artificial Reef Workshop – Sea Grant and FWC will be hosting these two back to back workshops in February. 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.
  • Giant salvinia – FWC is currently suspending all aquatic invasive removals using herbicides. They will host a series of public meetings to discuss the use of herbicides. Dates and locations TBA. Until then, citizens are asked to remove invasive from local waterways by hand. One local concern is Giant Salvinia. This plant has been found in the Jackson Lakes and upper reaches of Bayou Chico. It is still cold, but when temperatures warm – search for this plant and remove using a crab net (or something similar). Plants should be dried and bagged before disposal. This link has more about this plant. http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/salvinia-molesta/.

 

Seafood

  • Local Seafood in Peak Season for February

Clams (cultured), King Mackerel, Oysters, Pompano, Pink shrimp, Snapper (check

regulations on current harvest time), Spanish Mackerel

  • Seafood Safety Symposium

Annual Seafood Safety will be held at the February Escambia County Marine Advisory Committee Meeting – Feb 11 – 5:30 PM – 3363 West Park Place – free

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 Report Carrie Stevenson UF IFAS 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

 

Upcoming Programs

  • 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
  • Feb 24-Mar 2 National Invasive Species Awareness Week (NISAW) – UF IFAS Extension and the Six Rivers CISMA will be posting articles about local invasive species all week. You can find these articles at Panhandle Outdoors http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/.
  • Mar 2 – Weed Wrangle – The Six Rivers CISMA will be having an invasive plant removal workday. This year we will be clearing invasive plants from the Blackwater Heritage Trail. More details on meeting location and what to bring forth coming.
  • Mar 8 – Roy Hyatt’s Night of Nature – This annual event will welcome the public to tour the facility at Roy Hyatt Environmental Center. There will be naturalist hikes down the trails, star gazing with telescopes, and live birds of prey and reptiles. There will be food, great for all ages. RHEC is at 1300 Tobias Road off of highway 97 in Cantonment. 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM. Free

 

 

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 3 1 1 1
  Sanders Beach 1 2 2 2

Health Advisory Frequency

Body of Water # of samples taken # of advisories issued % frequency of advisories
Bayou Texar 5 1 .20
Sanders Beach 5 2 .40

Fish Kill Data provided by FWC

Month # of Fish Kills reported # of Dead Fish reported Cause
Jan 0 0  
0


Posted: February 1, 2019


Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
Tags: Sea Grant Notes


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