Feb 16, 2019 Sea Grant Notes

 

Water Quality

Health Advisories

• 2 stations were sampled on Feb 11 (FDOH)
• Bayou Texar was GOOD
• Sanders Beach was POOR, was re-tested and POOR again – HEALTH ADVISORY ISSUED
• 2019 data at end of these notes
• 2018 Health Advisory Report is now posted – https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2019/01/23/health-advisories-in-the-pensacola-bay-area-2018-report/.

Rainfall

• Rainfall collected weekly from East Hill (UF IFAS)
• Jan (2.1”) Feb (0.2”)
• 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)
• Red tide continues to appear in background levels along the SW coast of Florida. There were some reports of respiratory problems.
• No reports from the east coast of Florida this week.

Fish Kills

• No fish kills reported from the Pensacola Bay area for February 2019 (FWC).

 

Habitat Restoration

 

• Winter is a good time to plant a living shoreline; if interested contact me.
• Big Lagoon seagrass monitoring training – Apr 10 – SW Branch library – 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
• 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 Feb 16
• – Wayside Park and Graffiti Bridge
• – Bartram Park near Fish House and Seville Square

Clean Ups begin at 9:00 and supplies are provided

Wildlife & Fisheries

 

• Diamondback terrapin survey trainings – Perdido Key area – Apr 10 – SW Branch Library on Gulf Beach Highway / across from state park – 10:00 AM-12:00 PM.
• Diamondback terrapin survey trainings – Navarre/Garcon area – Apr 15 – Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center on Navarre Beach – 9:00-10:00 AM.
• The 2018 diamondback terrapin survey can be found at https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2019/01/23/2018-diamondback-terrapin-panhandle-survey-report/.
• Scallop search trainings – TBA
• 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)
• Horseshoe crab survey training – TBA
• Killifish survey training – TBA

 

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
• Feb 24 – Mar 2 – National Invasive Species Awareness Week – This annual event includes workdays and education. UF IFAS and the Six Rivers CISMA post articles on invasive issues each day during the week and end with a work day known as the Weed Wrangle. We will begin posting articles Feb 25 and you can find them at http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/.
• Mar 2 – Six Rivers Weed Wrangle – The Weed Wrangle is an annual event held across the country where selected invasive species are removed from public areas. The 2019 Weed Wrangle will remove Chinese Privet from the Blackwater Heritage Trail in Milton. We will begin with a short orientation at the Heritage Trail Visitor Center. The event begins at 9:00 AM and ends no later than 1:00 PM. The center is at 5533 Alabama Street in Milton FL. You can park next to the library or the playground. Please wear closed-toed shoes, bring gloves, loppers, and a water bottle. Snacks if you want them.
• Beach vitex – 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

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

 

• Getting Ready for Invasive Species Week – http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/.
• The Nesting Bald Eagles are Back – http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/.

Upcoming Programs

• 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 Chinese Privet from the Blackwater Heritage Trail. We will meet at the Heritage Trail Visitors Center – 5533 Alabama Street in Milton FL at 9:00 AM. We will have a short orientation and then begin work. We will work no later than 1:00 PM. Please wear closed-toed shoes, bring loppers, a water bottle, gloves, and snacks. For questions, contact me.
• Mar 2 – Project Learning Tree – Project Learning Tree (PLT) is an award-winning, interdisciplinary, environmental education program designed for formal and non-formal educators working with students in pre-kindergarten through grade twelve.

Pensacola State College – Milton Campus room #4309

5988 Highway 90, Milton FL, 32570

9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Register at www.2019plt.evenbrite.com.

• 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
• Mar 14 Science Hour; Emmanuel Point Shipwrecks – Nicole Grinnan, from Public Archeology, will discuss urban coyote populations and their issues; SCIENCE HOUR; Escambia County Central Office Complex – 3363 West Park Place; 6:00 PM; free
• Apr 10 Seagrass and Terrapin Monitoring Training – This is for volunteers in the Perdido Key area. We will meet at the SW Branch Library on Gulf Beach highway across from the State Park entrance at 10:00 AM. Seagrass training will be first, the trainings will end no later than 12:00 PM. Contact me for more information.
• Apr 11 – Science Hour; Beach Safety – Dave Greenwood from Escambia County Water Safety will discuss water safety issues as we enter the swimming season. Program will be held at the Escambia County Central Office Complex – 3363 West Park Place; 6:00 PM and is free.
• Apr 13 – Earth Day – Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center – Lots of information tables, activities, and education on local natural resources. Fun for kids. 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM.
• Apr 15 – Diamondback Terrapin Monitoring Training – This is for volunteers on Navarre Beach, Pensacola Beach, and the Garcon area. We will meet at the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center on Navarre Beach from 9:00 – 10:00 AM.

 

 

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
Feb	Bayou Texar	1	1	0	0
	Sanders Beach	0	1	2	1

Health Advisory Frequency

Body of Water	# of samples taken	# of advisories issued	% frequency of advisories
Bayou Texar	7	1	.14
Sanders Beach	8	3	.38

Fish Kill Data provided by FWC

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