Apr 19, 2019 Sea Grant Notes
Apr 19-21 – Horseshoe Crab Time
It is a full moon and if there are any horseshoe crabs in our bay, they should be looking for a nesting beach this week. High tides are running in the morning. If you see one, please contact me.
Apr 19 – Earth Day Clean Up
Northwest Florida Association of Environmental Professionals and Keep Pensacola Beautiful will sponsor an Earth Day Clean Up at Park West on Pensacola Beach. KPB will provide supplies. The clean up will occur between 1:00 – 3:00 PM. You can register for this event at http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07eg91g7kpb8a751fe&llr=ad5i4leab.
Apr 23 – Seafood @ Your Fingertips / Lunch & Learn
Join Sea Grant for lunch at the Drowsy Poet Coffee Shop in the Upper Room at the Pensacola Beach Marina Tuesday April 23. We will be discussing a variety of topics focused on local seafood.
11:00 – 12:00
Drowsy Poet Coffee Shop – Pensacola Beach Marina
Free (lunch on your own)
Apr 27 – Escambia County Extension Office Open House
Join Escambia County Extension as we host our annual plant sale and open house. There will be information tables by each of the department programs (including Sea Grant) and short presentations. The Master Gardeners will be having their annual plant sale as well.
8:30 – 11:30
Free
Apr 27 – Born to be Wild
Join us at the spring open house for the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida. Extension, among many others, will have an information table. The sanctuary will be seeking donations to support the young critters of spring.
4:30 – 7:30
Free
Water Quality
Health Advisories
- HEALTH ADVISORIES ISSUED FOR BOTH BAYOU TEXAR AND SANDERS BEACH
- 6 stations were sampled on Apr 15 – Bayou’s Chico, Grande, and Texar; Big Lagoon SP and Sanders Beach (FDOH)
- 4 stations were sampled on Apr 16 – Casino Beach, Park East, Park West, Quietwater
- POOR – Bayou’s Chico, Grande, and Texar
- MODERATE – Sanders Beach
- GOOD – Big Lagoon SP, Casino Beach, Park East, Park West, Quietwater Beach
- 2019 data at end of these notes
Rainfall
- Rainfall collected weekly from East Hill (UF IFAS)
- Jan (2.1”) Feb (1.5”) Mar (0.7”) – winter = 4.3”
- Apr (5.1”)
Red Tide
- Last report issued was Apr 12 (FWC)
- Red tide was not reported anywhere in Florida
Fish Kills
- No fish kills reported from the Pensacola Bay area for April 2019 (FWC).
Habitat Restoration
- OCEAN HOUR Clean Ups Apr 20
- – Wayside Park & Graffiti Bridge at the 3-mile bridge
- – Bartram Park across from Seville Square
Clean Ups begin at 9:00 and supplies are provided
Wildlife & Fisheries
- Horseshoe Crab Nesting has Begun – they nest along the shoreline during high tides of the new and full moons each month. If you spot one, please contact us.
- Diamondback terrapin survey trainings – Port St. Joe – Apr 22 – Forgotten Coast Sea Turtle Center – 1001 10th Street – 1:00 PM
- Scallop Survey Training – Apr 29 – SW Branch Library on Gulf Beach Highway; 5:00-7:00 PM
- Killifish survey training – TBA
- 2019 Port St. Joe Scallop Season set for Aug 16-Sep15.
Invasive Species
- REPORT SKIN ULCERATIONS IN LIONFISH. The University of Florida is asking divers to report any cases of lionfish with skin ulcers to the FWC. You can do this buy calling the FWC Hotline (1-800-636-0511), or visit public.myFWC.com/FWRI/FishKillReport/Submit.aspx, or use the FWC reporter app. Information needed includes: (1) date of occurrence, (2) location, (3) water temperature, and (4) photos. Read more at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa209.
- 2019 Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day / Emerald Coast Open: The Largest Lionfish Tournament in History. This is the classic Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day (LRAD) we have had in Pensacola the last four years – this year, it moves to Destin. There will be cash, gear, and other prizes for spearfishing tournament participants. The pre-tournament submission in lionfish has begun and will continue until May 15. Entry fee is $75 before April 1 and $100 after. Learn more at http://emeraldcoastopen.com. The public event will be May 18-19 at AJ’s on the HarborWalk Village at Destin Harbor. 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM each day. There will be education and kid booths, lionfish tasting, and live music. Follow the festival on Facebook.
- Beach vitex – We are still trying to remove beach vitex from Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. If you believe you have this plant – let us know.
- 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/.
- Cuban Treefrogs – It is warming and time for frogs to be moving. Cuban treefrogs have toe pads, like other treefrogs, except they are much larger – up to 5”. You can place PVC pipe next to your home near lights and check for treefrogs to see if you have Cuban Treefrogs. Read the following on how to set up the PVC and what to do if you find a CTF. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw259.
Seafood
- Local Seafood in Peak Season for April
- – Softshell blue crab
- – Cultured clams
- – Crawfish season!
- – Oysters
- – Pompano
- – Pink shrimp
- – Snapper (check annual regulations)
- – Spanish mackerel (no more than one serving per week)
- Seafood Safety Guidelines – Escambia County Division of Marine Resources – https://www.myescambia.com/our-services/natural-resources-management/marine-resources/seafood-safety.
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
- – 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 Agnotology Chris Fenner, UWF
- – 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
- Exploring Oyster Cultivation
http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/2019/04/18/exploring-with-oyster-cultivation/.
- Grow Native Milkweed to Support the Monarchs http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/2019/04/18/grow-native-milkweed-to-support-the-monarchs/.
- Pines of Florida
http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/2019/04/18/pines-of-florida/.
- Diamondback Terrapin & Mangrove Surveys Kicking Off in Gulf County http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/2019/04/17/diamondback-terrapin-mangrove-surveys-kicking-off-in-gulf-county/.
Upcoming Programs
- Apr 23 – Sea Grant Lunch & Learn / Seafood – Join Sea Grant for a discussion on local seafood. We will be discussing local sources, peak seasons, safety, and how to prepare. Drowsy Poet @ Innerlight at Pensacola Beach. 11:00 AM. Free, but enjoy lunch at the coffee shop.
- Apr 27 – Escambia County Extension Open House – Come see and hear about all the programs that your local extension office puts on. There will be short presentations throughout the morning, as well as information tables, and the Escambia County Master Gardener Plant Sale. 8:30 – 11:30 AM. 3740 Stefani Road Cantonment FL. Free.
- Apr 27 – Born to Be Wild Celebration – The spring open house for the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida. 4:30 – 7:30 PM. 105 N. “S” Street. Free.
- Apr 29 – Scallop Survey Training – This is for surveys being conducted in Big Lagoon. The training will take place at the SW Branch Library on Gulf Beach Highway. 5:00 – 7:00 PM.
- May 16 – Science Hour; Florida Department of Environmental Protections Aquatic Preserves – Beth Fugate and Zach Schang will discuss the mission and projects with the Aquatic Preserve section of FDEP. Escambia County Central Office Complex – 3363 West Park Place; 6:00 PM. Free.
- May 18-19 – Lionfish Removal and Awareness Day; This annual two day event will be held at the Harbor Docks in Destin this year.
- May 21 – Florida Master Naturalist Program / Coastal Course – This 40 hour course will be held on Tuesday from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM from May 21 – Jun 25. There will be classroom sessions and field trips. Cost is $275. Registration is not open yet but we will post when it is.
- May 23 – Bringing Back the Bayous; A presentation on the health of our bay system and what residents can do to help improve it. The presentation will begin at 6:00 PM. Will be at the SW Branch Library on Gulf Beach Highway near Perdido Key. Free.
- May 31 – Invasive Species and Air Potato Beetles – We will hold another lunch & learn at the Escambia County Central Office Complex. We will have information tables on a variety of invasive species, a guest speaker, and provide air potato beetles for those who are battling air potato. 11:00 – 1:00.
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 | 2 | 2 |
| Sanders Beach | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| Mar | Bayou Texar | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Sanders Beach | 3 | 1 | |||
| Bayou Chico | 2 | 2 | |||
| Bayou Grande | 2 | ||||
| Big Lagoon SP | 2 | ||||
| Casino Beach | 2 | ||||
| Park East | 2 | ||||
| Park West | 2 | ||||
| Perdido Key SP | 1 | 1 | |||
| Quietwater | 1 | 1 | |||
| Apr | Bayou Texar | 3 | 3 | ||
| Sanders Beach | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Bayou Chico | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Bayou Grande | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Big Lagoon SP | 2 | ||||
| Casino Beach | 2 | ||||
| Park East | 2 | ||||
| Park West | 1 | ||||
| Perdido Key SP | 1 | ||||
| Quietwater | 2 | ||||
| TOTAL | 53 samples | 33 | 11 | 20 | 17 |
| % OF SAMPLES | .27 |
Health Advisory Frequency
| Body of Water | # of samples taken | # of advisories issued | % frequency of advisories |
| Bayou Texar | 16 | 8 | .50 |
| Sanders Beach | 18 | 5 | .28 |
| Bayou Chico | 4 | 3 | .75 |
| Bayou Grande | 4 | 1 | .25 |
Fish Kill Data provided by FWC
| Month | # of Fish Kills reported | # of Dead Fish reported | Cause |
| Jan | 0 | 0 | |
| Feb | 0 | 0 | |
| Mar | 0 | 0 | |
| Apr | 0 | 0 |
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