June 21, 2019 Sea Grant Notes
This Week
Jun 25 – Invasive Species in the Pensacola Bay Area
A public presentation on selected species, their issues, and solutions on solving these problems will be given by Escambia Sea Grant Agent Rick O’Connor.
Downtown Public Library
239 N. Spring Street
6:00 PM
Free
The Great Scallop Search
This annual event requires a team of no fewer than three to survey one of 11 grids within Big Lagoon. Surveys require snorkeling and volunteers must supply their own snorkels. Some locations require a boat to reach and they must supply their own boat. Other survey equipment is provided by Florida Sea Grant. If interested, contact me.
Current Articles
New Artificial Reefs for the Florida Panhandle – http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/.
Two Kites Over North Florida – http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/.
Getting Rid of Beach Vitex – http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/
Water Quality
Health Advisories
- NO HEALTH ADVISORIES THIS WEEK
- 2 stations were sampled this week; both on Jun 17
- GOOD – Bayou Texar
- MODERATE – Sanders 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 (6.3”) May (1.0”) June (6.2”)
Red Tide
- Last report issued was June 14 (FWC)
- Red tide was not reported in the Florida panhandle
- Red tide continues at background levels in Manatee County in SW Florida
Fish Kills
- No fish kills reported from the Pensacola Bay area for June 2019 (FWC).
- Dead sea turtle reports continue to be logged. Boat strikes and marine debris reported as cause.
Planting to Improve Water Quality – Escambia County Water Quality and Land Management
- The Escambia County Division of Water Quality and Land Management will be doing a series of plantings of aquatic plants in treatment islands to remove nutrients from area waterways and, later, be used in living shoreline projects in Pensacola Bay. Volunteers are needed.
- Dates of plantings are June 25 and 28; July 9, 10, 11, and 12.
- Due to heat, they will begin at 7:00 AM, there will be a canopy and water. Sun protection a must.
- For more information contact Jimmie Jarrett at jnjarrat@myescambia.com
LAKEWATCH Nutrient Data
- Report will be out in August
Killifish Report
- Project under development; 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/.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection opens their new interactive algal bloom dashboard – https://floridadep.gov/algalbloom.
Bringing Back the Bayous Program – presentation on the state of the bay and how you can help
- Aug 20 – Downtown Library, 239 N. Spring St. 6:00 PM
- Oct 9 – Margaritaville, Pensacola Beach, 165 Ft. Pickens Road, 5:00 PM
Habitat Restoration
- OCEAN HOUR Clean Ups Jun 22
- – Payne Bridge over Bayou Texar – meet at the boat ramp next to Oyster House
- – Quietwater Beach – meet at the seashell
Clean Ups begin at 9:00 and supplies are provided
- Mangrove Surveys Have Begun
- – We have surveyed 8 of the 10 selected locations – no mangroves have been found
- – If you believe you have seen this plant growing in our marshes, please let us know
- Seagrass Monitoring
- – began May 1 a full update will be posted in the fall
- Removing Invasive Species
With the help of the Pensacola Beach Advocates and members of Americorp, we removed 315 m2 of beach vitex form Pensacola Beach. More to do – stay tune for next work day.
The following invasive plants have been found on our barrier islands and estuarine coast
- – Beach vitex – http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/vitex-rotundifolia/.
- – Cogongrass – 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.
- Invasive Species Presentations
- – Jun 25 – Downtown Library, 239 N. Spring St., 6:00 PM
- – Aug 13 – Margaritaville, Pensacola Beach, 165 Ft. Pickens Road, 5:00 PM
- – Oct 22 – Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Hwy, 6:00 PM
Wildlife
- Horseshoe Crab Nesting Search
- – Sightings of horseshoe crabs continues but no reports of nesting activity yet.
- – New moon is next week, we’ll need help searching again. If you see a horseshoe crab please contact me at roc1@ufl.edu
- Diamondback terrapins
- – Trapping was completed this week. One more week of beach surveys
- – It has been a busy year for terrapins.
- Snakes
- – No snake programs planned this month.
- Manatees
- – Sightings continue around Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key.
- – We lost three manatees in Escambia County in 2018. 2 to boat strikes and 1 to cold stress
- – If you see a manatee, contact the manatee hotline at Dauphin Island Sea Lab; 1-866-493-5803 or manatee@disl.org.
- Invasive Wildlife
- – Nutria – A dead nutria was found on the side of Perdido Key Drive near the Theo Baars Bridge. It was a large one and there are probably more. If you live in the Perdido Key area and think you have seen a nutria, contact us and we can let you know how to control there.
- – 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 13 – Margaritaville, Pensacola Beach, 165 Ft. Pickens Road, 5:00 PM
- – Oct 22 – Southwest Branch Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Hwy, 6:00 PM
Fisheries
- The Great Scallop Search
- – Scallop surveys in Big Lagoon are on-going. We recommend a team of three to do these. If interested contact me.
- 2019 Scallop Season
- – Jun 15 – Sep 10: Dixie and parts of Taylor counties
- – Jul 1 – Sep 24: Franklin, parts of Taylor, Levy, Citrus, and Hernando counties
- – Jul 19-28: Pasco county
- – Aug 16 – Sep 15: Gulf county
- – Scallop harvest is currently prohibited in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties; please let us know if you do find any live scallops.
- Invasive Lionfish
- – Lionfish caught inside the Bay; lionfish was caught on hook and line from the Ft. Pickens fishing pier. We ask that any diver diving the Ft. Pickens area please report any sightings to me, or Robert Turpin with Escambia County Division of Marine Resources.
- – 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. It was a record year for the annual lionfish event.
187 divers participated – record
$48,000 in cash prizes – most ever
5,048 LF turned in during pre-tournament – record
14,119 LF turned in during the weekend tournament – record
19,167 LF harvested total – record
- – Nearshore Lionfish Surveys will begin in June. If you see a lionfish near the beach or in the bay, please let us know.
Seafood
- 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 June
- – Softshell blue crab
- – Cultured clams
- – Crawfish
- – Mahi-Mahi
- – Pink shrimp
- – Rock shrimp
- – Brown shrimp
- – White shrimp
- – Snapper (check annual regulations)
- – Yellowfin Tuna
- 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
- – 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
Upcoming Programs
- Jun 25 – Invasive Species. This presentation will discuss local invasive species issues and management. The presentation will be at the downtown library, 239 N. Spring Street. It will begin at 6:00 PM and is free.
- Jul 1 – Impacts of Oil Spills on Estuaries. Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Moss Point MS. Can watch online or visit in person. Program is free but registration is required. Find more information on program and registration at https://gulfseagrant.org/impacts-of-oil-spills-on-estuaries/.
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 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |
| Sanders Beach | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Bayou Chico | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Bayou Grande | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Big Lagoon SP | 3 | ||||
| Casino Beach | 3 | ||||
| Park East | 3 | ||||
| Park West | 2 | ||||
| Perdido Key SP | 2 | ||||
| Quietwater | 3 | 1 | |||
| Opal Beach | 1 | ||||
| Ft. Pickens | 1 | ||||
| May | Bayou Texar | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Sanders Beach | 3 | 1 | |||
| Bayou Chico | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Bayou Grande | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Big Lagoon SP | 2 | ||||
| Casino Beach | 2 | ||||
| Park East | 2 | ||||
| Park West | 2 | ||||
| Perdido Key SP | 2 | ||||
| Quietwater | 1 | 1 | |||
| Opal Beach | 1 | ||||
| Ft. Pickens | 1 | ||||
| June | Bayou Texar | 3 | |||
| Sanders Beach | 2 | 1 | |||
| Bayou Chico | 1 | ||||
| Bayou Grande | 1 | ||||
| Big Lagoon SP | 1 | ||||
| Casino Beach | 1 | ||||
| Park East | 1 | ||||
| Park West | 1 | ||||
| Perdido Key SP | 1 | ||||
| Quietwater | 1 | ||||
| Opal Beach | 1 | ||||
| Ft. Pickens | 1 | ||||
| TOTAL | 123 | 83 | 15 | 25 | 21 |
| % OF SAMPLES | .17 |
Health Advisory Frequency
| Body of Water | # of samples taken | # of advisories issued | % frequency of advisories |
| Bayou Texar | 25 | 10 | .40 |
| Sanders Beach | 27 | 5 | .19 |
| Bayou Chico | 8 | 4 | .50 |
| Bayou Grande | 8 | 2 | .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 | |
| May | 0 | 0 |
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