November 1, 2019 Sea Grant Notes
FLORIDA MASTER NATURALIST – HABITAT EVALUATION SHORT COURSE
This 3-day class will teach the basics of habitat evaluation. The three classes will include large scale assessments, local scale assessments, and water quality assessments. The classes will be all day Nov 19-21 and taught at the Santa Rosa County Extension office in Milton. Field experince will be included in each class. You can review the agenda and register for the course at https://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/fmnp/E19-11.html.
This Week
Wednesday Nov 6
Harmful Algal Bloom Stakeholders Roundtable. Join panelist and community members for a discussion on harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The meeting is free and open to the public. Register at this link – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ushab-stakeholders-scientists-community-meeting-roundtable-tickets-74710185175.
Perdido Beach Resort – Ballroom
27200 Perdido Beach Blvd
Orange Beach AL
4:00 – 6:00 PM
Current Articles
No new articles this week
Water Quality
Health Advisories
- 10 stations sampled last week
- Mon Oct 28 Chico, Grande, Texar, Big Lagoon SP, Perdido Key SP, Sanders Beach
- Tue Oct 29 Casino Beach, Park East, Park West, and Quietwater Beach
- ALL STATIONS 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”) May (1.0”) June (7.4”) – spring = 14.7”
- Jul (5.0’*) Aug (8.0”) Sep (0.0”) – summer = 13.0”*
- Oct (6.2”) Nov (
- * Sea Grant was not available to monitor rain gauge in July – gauge indicated 5” during the month in East Hill
Red Tide
- Last report was posted Oct 30 (FWC)
- Red tide was not detected in the Florida panhandle this week.
- Very low in Pinellas Co.
- Background to medium in Sarasota Co. Respiratory problems
- Very low to medium in Charlotte Co. Fish kills, respiratory problems
- Background to high in Lee and Collier counties. Fish kills respiratory problems
- Red tide was not detected along the east coast of Florida
Fish Kills
- NO FISH KILLS REPORTED THIS WEEK
- Oct 3 5 reports – all from Bayou Chico – all menhaden
- Oct 4 2 reports from Bayou Chico – menhaden
- Oct 5 1 report from Bayou Chico – menhaden
- Oct 7 2 reports from Bayou Chico – menhaden
- Oct 8 1 report from Bayou Chico – menhaden
1 report from Ramsey Beach on Perdido Bay – species unknown
- 2 fish kills reported in August.
- 3 fish kills reported in September
- No other reports this year.
- Report fish kills to FWC at – https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/health/fish-kills-hotline/.
Citizen Science Water Quality Data Report coming soon
Habitat Restoration
- OCEAN HOUR Clean Ups Nov 2
- – Naval Live Oaks – Gulf Breeze Parkway – meet at Visitors Center
- – Bob Sikes Bridge – meet at the Grand Marlin
Clean Ups begin at 9:00 and supplies are provided
- Living Shorelines
The best time to have a living shoreline planted is the fall and winter. However, we can assist any coastal property owner with this anytime of the year. Contact me if interested in learning more.
- Seagrass Monitoring Report Coming Soon
Wildlife & Fisheries
- Horseshoe Crab Nesting Search
- – October begins the fall survey season for nesting horseshoe crabs. They nest along shore during the high tides of the full and new moons. Best days and times to search:
- – Oct 3, 4, 5, 18, 19, 21, 22, 29, 30, 31
- – Nov 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, 17, 18, 26, 27, 28
- – Dec 13, 14, 24, 25, 26
- Diamondback terrapin survey report coming soon
- The Great Scallop Search results coming soon
Invasive Species
- Beach Vitex
- – Two vitex removal work days are planned for November.
- – November 13 Pensacola Beach – meeting location TBD
- – November 18 Perdido Key Drive – meeting location TBD
- Invasive Lionfish
- – 4 Lionfish were found near the Ft. Pickens fishing pier while they were conducting an underwater clean-up there. We continue to survey for lionfish in the Ft. Pickens area. If anyone finds lionfish inside Pensacola Bay, please report location to us.
- Regal Damselfish – Is an invasive species that FWC and UF are watching for. Reports of this species on local reefs have been occurring (along with video). These are difficult to capture and remove. Hand nets are probably best bet at this time. Please let us know if you see any of these while diving.
Seafood
- Local Seafood in Peak Season for November
- – Cultured clams
- – Flounder
- – Mullet
- – Oysters
- – White shrimp
- – Snapper (check annual regulations)
- – Spiny lobster
- – Stone crab
- – Swordfish
- – 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
- – Nov 14 Bay Bridge & Artificial Reefs Robert Turpin, Escambia County
- FLORIDA MASTER NATURALIST PROGRAM – Habitat Evaluation (short course)
- – This 3-day class will cover the basics of evaluating habitats. The three classes will include large scale assessments, local scale assessments, and water quality. All classes will be taught at the Santa Rosa County Extension office in Milton and each will include field experience.
- – To review agenda and register for the class, visit https://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/fmnp/E19-11.html.
Upcoming Programs
- Nov 13 – Beach Vitex Removal Work Day – Pensacola Beach. Meeting location TBD.
- Nov 14 – Science Hour – Local Artificial Reefs. Escambia County Central Office Complex. 3363 West Park Place. 6:00 PM
- Nov 18 – Beach Vitex Removal Work Day – Perdido Key. Meeting location TBD.
- Nov 18 – Escambia County Marine Advisory Committee – Escambia County Central Office Complex – 3363 West Park Place – 5:30 PM.
- Nov 19-21 – Florida Master Naturalist Short Course: Habitat Evaluation. Santa Rosa County Extension Office and field practice.
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 | 10 | 3 | |||
| Bayou Texar | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Sanders Beach | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Feb | 9 | 4 | |||
| Bayou Texar | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| Sanders Beach | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| Mar | 24 | 4 | |||
| 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 | 35 | 6 | |||
| 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 | 26 | 4 | |||
| 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 | ||||
| Jun | 28 | 0 | |||
| Bayou Texar | 3 | 1 | |||
| Sanders Beach | 3 | 1 | |||
| Bayou Chico | 1 | 1 | |||
| Bayou Grande | 2 | ||||
| Big Lagoon SP | 2 | ||||
| Casino Beach | 2 | ||||
| Park East | 2 | ||||
| Park West | 2 | ||||
| Perdido Key SP | 2 | ||||
| Quietwater | 2 | ||||
| Opal Beach | 2 | ||||
| Ft. Pickens | 2 | ||||
| Jul | 44 | 4 | |||
| Bayou Texar | 3 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Sanders Beach | 3 | 1 | |||
| Bayou Chico | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Bayou Grande | 3 | ||||
| Big Lagoon SP | 2 | 1 | |||
| Casino Beach | 3 | ||||
| Park East | 3 | ||||
| Park West | 3 | 2 | 1 | ||
| Perdido Key SP | 3 | ||||
| Quietwater | 3 | ||||
| Opal Beach | 3 | 1 | |||
| Ft. Pickens | 1 | 1 | |||
| Johnsons Beach | 3 | ||||
| Aug | 57 | 7 | |||
| Bayou Texar | 1 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Sanders Beach | 4 | 3 | |||
| Bayou Chico | 1 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Bayou Grande | 3 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Big Lagoon SP | 3 | 1 | |||
| Casino Beach | 4 | 1 | |||
| Park East | 4 | ||||
| Park West | 4 | ||||
| Perdido Key SP | 4 | ||||
| Quietwater | 3 | 2 | |||
| Opal Beach | 4 | ||||
| Ft. Pickens | 3 | 1 | |||
| Johnsons Beach | 2 | 2 | |||
| Sep | 46 | 4 | |||
| Bayou Texar | 4 | ||||
| Sanders Beach | 3 | 1 | |||
| Bayou Chico | 4 | 3 | |||
| Bayou Grande | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Big Lagoon SP | 2 | 2 | |||
| Casino Beach | 3 | 1 | |||
| Park East | 4 | ||||
| Park West | 3 | 1 | |||
| Perdido Key SP | 4 | ||||
| Quietwater | 4 | ||||
| Opal Beach | 2 | ||||
| Ft. Pickens | 1 | 1 | |||
| Johnsons Beach | 1 | ||||
| Oct | 11 | 1 | |||
| Bayou Texar | 5 | ||||
| Sanders Beach | 4 | 1 | |||
| Bayou Chico | 2 | 3 | 3 | ||
| Bayou Grande | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | |
| Big Lagoon SP | 5 | ||||
| Casino Beach | 5 | ||||
| Park East | 5 | ||||
| Park West | 5 | ||||
| Perdido Key SP | 5 | ||||
| Quietwater | 5 | 2 | |||
| TOTAL | 289 | 206 | 31 | 55 | 38 |
| % OF SAMPLES | .13 |
Health Advisory Frequency
| Body of Water | # of samples taken | # of advisories issued | % frequency of advisories |
| Bayou Texar | 44 | 15 | .34 |
| Sanders Beach | 48 | 5 | .10 |
| Bayou Chico | 25 | 14 | .56 |
| Bayou Grande | 25 | 7 | .28 |
| Park West | 27 | 1 | .04 |
| Casino Beach | 26 | 1 | .04 |
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 | |
| June | 0 | 0 | |
| July – | Johns Beach report – # unknown | Unknown | May have been discolored water |
| Aug | 2 | Unknown | Dead catfish in lower Perdido Bay
Multiple species from Emerald Beach Park in Navarre |
| Sep | 3 | Unknown | Unknown
Tarpon Perdido Key Beach Mullet.Blue Crab. Sea Turtle @ Herron Bayou Pond @ Tiger Point golf course |
| Oct | 12 | Unknown | 11 reports of menhaden in Bayou Chico
1 report from Ramsey Beach on Perdido Bay |
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