November 22, 2019 Sea Grant Notes
2019 HEALTHY BAY REPORT CARD IS OUT
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2019/11/14/2019-healthy-bay-report-card/.
SHINING A LIGHT ON DEEPWATER HORIZON IMPACTS TO THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill reached 178 miles of Florida panhandle beaches. Come to a free presentation on how this impacted local marine life and more. Register at https://usmuw.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9vmreHLxgSFVfBr.
HORSESHOE CRAB WATCH
Next best days for finding horseshoe crabs will be Nov 26, 27, 28.
High tides will be running between 9:00 PM and Midnight those days, but you may catch a glimpse of one near the shore during daylight hours. Contact me if you do.
This Week
No programs this week – HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Current Articles
Wild Turkey Biology and Habitat Management
http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/.
Water Quality
Health Advisories
- AS WE MOVE INTO NOVEMBER FDOH ONLY MONITORS SANDERS BEACH AND BAYOU TEXAR
- Sanders Beach – GOOD
- Bayou Texar – 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 (1.3”)
- * 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 Nov 20 (FWC)
- Panhandle – Red tide was detected at background levels in Escambia and Bay counties.
- SW Florida – detected in Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties; FISH KILLS in Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties; RESPIRATORY ISSUES in Sarasota, Lee, and Collier counties.
- East Coast of FL – not detected.
Fish Kills
- No Fish Kills reported in November
- 12 fish kills reported in October
- 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 is out https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2019/11/14/2019-healthy-bay-report-card/.
Habitat Restoration
- OCEAN HOUR Clean Ups Nov 23
- – Quitewater to Morgan Park – meet at Seashell at Quietwater Boardkwalk
- – Sanders Beach Corrine Center – 913 “I” Street
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. Contact me if interested in learning more.
- Seagrass Monitoring Report is out https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2019/11/14/2019-healthy-bay-report-card/.
Wildlife & Fisheries
- Horseshoe Crab Watch
- – 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: Contact me if you find one.
- – Nov 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, 17, 18, 26, 27, 28
- – Dec 13, 14, 24, 25, 26
- Diamondback terrapin survey report https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2019/11/14/2019-healthy-bay-report-card/.
- The Great Scallop Search results https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2019/11/14/2019-healthy-bay-report-card/.
Invasive Species
- Beach Vitex
- – For 2019 we have identified 68 sites from Pensacola Beach, Gulf Breeze, Perdido Key, and Perdido Bay.
- – 81% have either been removed or are under treatment at this time.
- – 2020 we will continue to survey and have removal workdays. If you think you may have this plant on your property, please contact us.
- 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
- Seafood Safety Guidelines – Escambia County Division of Marine Resources – https://www.myescambia.com/our-services/natural-resources-management/marine-resources/seafood-safety.
Environmental Literacy
- SHINING A LIGHT ON DEEPWATER HORIZON IMPACTS TO THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE
- The Deepwater Horizon oil spill reached 178 miles of Florida panhandle beaches. Come to a free presentation on how this impacted local marine life and more. Register at https://usmuw.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9vmreHLxgSFVfBr.
Upcoming Programs
- We have no more programs scheduled for 2019. We will post the 2020 Science Hour line up next week.
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 | 52 | 6 | |||
| 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 | |||
| Nov | 9 | 0 | |||
| Bayou Texar | 6 | 1 | |||
| Sanders Beach | 6 | 1 | |||
| TOTAL | 295 | 210 | 33 | 55 | 38 |
| % OF SAMPLES | .13 |
Health Advisory Frequency
| Body of Water | # of samples taken | # of advisories issued | % frequency of advisories |
| Bayou Texar | 47 | 15 | .32 |
| Sanders Beach | 51 | 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 |
| Nov | 0 | 0 |
0
