Apr 26, 2019 Sea Grant Notes
This Week
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
Apr 29 – Training for the Great Scallop Search in Big Lagoon
Volunteers of at least three/team will be needed to survey 11 grids within Big Lagoon.
Southwest Branch Library – 12248 Gulf Beach Highway
5:00 PM
May 2 – Spring Research Presentation by the Marine Science Academy at Washington High School
Join others to hear the marine science student presentations on shoreline restoration, water quality, aquaponics, and lionfish research projects.
Washington High School Bennett Auditorium (please check in at front desk)
12:00 PM
Florida Master Naturalist Coastal Course Registration is now open!
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.
Register at https://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/fmnp/cs19-09.html
Water Quality
Health Advisories
- NO HEALTH ADVISORIES
- 2 stations were sampled on Apr 22 – Bayou Texar and Sanders Beach (FDOH) – both were GOOD
- 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 (6.3”)
Red Tide
- Last report issued was Apr 19 (FWC)
- Red tide was not reported anywhere in Florida
Fish Kills
- No fish kills reported from the Pensacola Bay area for April 2019 (FWC).
LAKEWATCH Nutrient Data
- Report will be out in August
Killifish Report
- We are in the process of developing a killifish project that will help indicate problem stormwater issues. These surveys will occur once a season. More soon.
REMEMBER
- Maintain your septic tank
- Do not pour fats, oils, or grease down drains – http://www.ecua.fl.gov/green/fats-oils-and-grease.
- Consider a Florida Friendly Landscaped yard – https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/.
Bringing Back the Bayous Program – presentation on the state of the bay and how you can help
- May 23 – Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, 6:00 PM
- Aug 20 – Downtown Library, 239 N. Spring St. 6:00 PM
- Oct 15 – Drowsy Poet, Pensacola Beach Marina (upstairs), 655 Pensacola Beach Blvd, 11:00 AM
Habitat Restoration
- OCEAN HOUR Clean Ups Apr 26
- – Park East – large parking between Portofino and the National Seashore on Hwy 399
- – Dog Park East – just past Portofino Towers on Hwy 399
Clean Ups begin at 9:00 and supplies are provided
- Removing Invasive Species
The following invasive plants have been found on our barrier islands and estuarine coast
- – Beach vitex – http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/vitex-rotundifolia/.
- – Cogon grass – http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/imperata-cylindrica/.
- – Chinese tallow – http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/triadica-sebifera/.
- – Torpedo grass – http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/panicum-repens/.
- – Giant salvinia – http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/salvinia-molesta/.
- – Phragmites – the variety we have is not considered invasive, but the invasive variety has been noted in MS – https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in898.
- Monitoring Projects Begin in May
- – Seagrass
- – Mangroves
- Invasive Species Presentations
- – Jun 25 – Downtown Library, 239 N. Spring St., 6:00 PM
- – Aug 6 – Drowsy Poet, Pensacola Beach Marina (upstairs), 655 Pensacola Beach Blvd 11:00 AM
- – Oct 22 – Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Hwy, 6:00 PM
Wildlife
- Horseshoe Crab Nesting Search
- – New moon is Saturday May 4; the strongest high tides will be the following week around noon at the beginning of the week and 4:00 PM later in the week.
- – Help us search for nesting horseshoe crabs. Contact me if you find one.
- Diamondback terrapins
- – All trainings have been completed; we will begin surveying in May
- Snakes
- – Spring breeding season is still ongoing and encounters are still high. Remember they move more during rain events.
- Invasive Wildlife
- – Brown (Cuban Anoles) – best time to deal with them is in winter. More then.
- – Cuban Treefrogs – The have been reported in the New Orleans area. We can show you how to set up a treefrog collector and assist monitoring for the presence of this invasive frog in our area. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw259.
- Invasive Species Presentations
- – Jun 25 – Downtown Library, 239 N. Spring St., 6:00 PM
- – Aug 6 – Drowsy Poet, Pensacola Beach Marina (upstairs), 655 Pensacola Beach Blvd 11:00 AM
- – Oct 22 – Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Hwy, 6:00 PM
Fisheries
- The Great Scallop Search
- – Training for scallop searches in Big Lagoon will be Monday Apr 29, Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, 5:00 PM
- – Training for Santa Rosa Sound will be in May; more to come
- 2019 Port St. Joe Scallop Season set for Aug 16-Sep15.
- Invasive Lionfish
- – Report Skin Ulcerated 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.
- – Nearshore Lionfish Surveys will begin in May. If you see a lionfish near the beach or in the bay, please let us know.
Seafood
- HACCP Training for Seafood Processors
- – The 2-day face-to-face course will be June 5-6 in downtown Pensacola
- – The online class and 1-day face-to-face course begins now and the face-to-face will be June 7 at the Escambia County Extension Office.
- – Register at http://reg.conferences.dce.ufl.edu/SSP/1400069938
- Seafood @ Your Fingertips
- – Presentation on local seafood, with samples
- – August 6, Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, 6:00 PM
- – October 15, Downtown Library, 239 N. Spring Street, 6:00 PM
- Local Seafood in Peak Season for May
- – Softshell blue crab
- – Cultured clams
- – Crawfish season!
- – Mahi-Mahi
- – Pink shrimp
- – Brown shrimp
- – White 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
- The 2019 Great Scallop Search
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2019/04/24/the-2019-great-scallop-search/.
- Tracking the Ancient Mariner – Horseshoe Crabs
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2019/04/24/tracking-the-ancient-mariner/.
Upcoming Programs
- 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. Register at https://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/fmnp/cs19-09.html
- 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 | 1 | 3 | 3 | |
| Sanders Beach | 2 | 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 | 35 | 11 | 20 | 17 |
| % OF SAMPLES | .26 |
Health Advisory Frequency
| Body of Water | # of samples taken | # of advisories issued | % frequency of advisories |
| Bayou Texar | 17 | 8 | .47 |
| Sanders Beach | 19 | 5 | .26 |
| 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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