HURRICANE SALLY UPDATES.

• 1) Have not been on the water this week but would imagine there is still debris in the area. Please be cautious when boating.
• 2) The health department did sample some swimming beaches this week. There are health advisories for all three bayous, Big Lagoon SP, and Sanders Beach. Casino Beach, Quietwater, Park East, Park West, and Perdido Key SP have been given the green light.
• 3) We have not seen any fish kills in the area. There were two reports from local ponds. If you do see any, please me or the Escambia County Division of Marine Resources.
• 4) Many marinas have damage and roadways may have debris – be careful. We have posted an article on our blog page – https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2020/09/25/oh-what-a-night-sally-storms-into-the-panhandle/. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at roc1@ufl.edu. I will be in the field continuing assessments but will get to your concern ASAP.

Extension offices across the district are opened on a limited basis. Some essential programs are being provided with limited attendance and social distancing. It is still best to contact us by phone or email.

Oil Covered Seabirds

As you might guess, there are plenty of pelicans and other seabirds contacting oil and fuel in the water from sunken vessels. The Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida is geared up and ready for them. If you are willing to bring them, please do.

Horseshoe Crab Nesting Surveys Begin in October

It is fall and time to begin our first ever surveys for horseshoe crab nesting activity. If you are interested in participating, contact Rick O’Connor at the Escambia County Extension office – roc1@ufl.edu and we will explain to you how, and where, to do this.

Invasive Beach Vitex is About to Go to Seed.

If you have this plant in your yard and willing to remove it, please do so. If you need advice, contact me at roc1@ufl.edu. If you do not want to remove it, please consider removing the seeds to reduce dispersal of this plant.

Science Hour – Facebook LIVE – Rescheduled for Wed Sep 30

This month we will be with Dr. Matt Deitch (UF/Milton) in the field discussing water and water quality issues. Join us at 12:00 PM CDT on the Escambia County Extension Facebook

YOU CAN SEE THE RECORDING OF THIS BROADCAST ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE

Youth Science Lessons – October The Water Planet

LESSON 1 – THE WORLD OF WATER

September Lessons – The Nature of Science

You can find these lessons by scrolling through the natural resource page of the Escambia County Extension website. There should be four lessons for each topic – one topic for each month.

https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/category/natural-resources/.

Panhandle Outdoors LIVE – Webinar – Wednesday Oct 7

Bats: A Misunderstood and Beneficial Mammal

You can find a calendar of all presentations at the link below.

You can register for a talk by clicking on the title.

http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/panhandle-outdoors-live-online/.

Water Quality Updates

Health Advisories

• Sep 28
• POOR ADVISORY ISSUED: Bayou’s Chico, Texar, Grande, Big Lagoon SP, Sanders Beach
• GOOD: Casino Beach, Park East, Park West, Quietwater, and Perdido Key SP
• See all data below

Rainfall

• Rainfall collected weekly from East Hill (UF IFAS)
• Jan (4.0) Feb (2.8) Mar (0.6) – Winter (7.4”)
• Apr (3.2) May (1.6) Jun (6.5) – Spring (11.3”)
• Jul (9.1”) Aug (13.9”) Sep (21.2”) – Summer (44.2”) – HURRICANE SALLY
• Oct (0.0”)

Salinity

• The objective to see who has a MEAN, MEDIAN, and MODE 20‰ of higher for seagrass and scallop restoration. Our goal is to get at least 100 readings (n = 100) from each location.
• 2020 3^rd Quarter Update

• Body of Water	(n=)	Surface
  		Mean	Median	Mode
  Bayou Grande *	24	20	20	21
  Bayou Texar	4	9.4	8.4	NA
  Big Lagoon *	15	23	23	20
  Big Sabine *	24	21	21	22
  Bruce Beach	1	18	18
  Kees Bayou *	55	19	20	14
  Little Sabine *	21	23	24	25
  Lower Perdido Bay	71	15	15	14
  Old River *	36	23	23	25
  Sanders Beach	1	18	18	NA
  Shoreline Park	1	18	18	NA

• Red Tide & Harmful Algal Blooms
  • Report Date – Sep 25
  • Red tide was NOT reported anywhere in Florida during the week of Sep 20 – Sep 26
  • Harmful Algal Blooms not detected in panhandle this week

  Fish Kills

  • No fish kills reported this week.
  • See 2020 numbers at the end of this newsletter
  • Report fish kills to FWC at – https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/health/fish-kills-hotline/.

  Habitat Restoration Updates

  • Living Shorelines
  • – The living shorelines did very well during Hurricane Sally
  • – All living shorelines have been monitored. Report coming very soon. If interested in a living shoreline contact me.
  • Seagrass Monitoring
  • – Monitoring has stopped due to poor water quality from Hurricane Sally. Report coming later this year
  • Mangrove Surveys
  • – Our last survey has been postponed due to Hurricane Sally
  • OCEAN HOUR –

  Ocean Hour will have clean ups on both sides of the bridge this week – Oct 3

  Bartram Park downtown Pensacola – 211 Bayfront Parkway

  Bruce Beach – 601 Main Street

  Live Oaks Shopping Center – 1134 Gulf Breeze Parkway

  BACK TO REGULAR HOURS – Meet at 8:45 – Clean up from 9:00 – 10:00 AM

   

  Wildlife Monitoring Updates

   

  • Terrapin Surveys – Surveys are completed. Report coming out in the fall.
  • Horseshoe Crabs – HORSESHOE CRAB SURVEYS TO BEGIN IN OCTOBER!
  • Barrier Island Cottonmouth Survey – Surveys ongoing until Halloween – 15 snakes found / 8 were cottonmouths – update report in fall. 6 addition juvenile cottonmouths have been found since Hurricane Sally.
  • The Great Scallop Search – Surveys are completed due to poor water quality. Report coming.
  • Manatee Watch – More of reports this week. Reports coming from all over the bay area.
  • 62 reports since Jan 1
  • – PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH SIGHTINGS (roc1@ufl.edu)
  • – ALSO, APPROACH SHORE AND DOCKS SLOWLY WITH A LOOKOUT IF YOU CAN

   

  Invasive Species Updates

   

  • Beach vitex – this is an invasive plant we are trying to stay ahead of. This time of year the lavender blossoms are falling and the spherical smoky gray seed pods are forming. THESE SEED PODS ARE VIABLE IN SEAWATER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS – PLEASE REMOVE THEM IF YOU HAVE THIS PLANT GROWING ON YOUR PROPERTY. If you would like information on how to remove this invasive plant, please contact me.
  • Cuban Treefrog Records – there has been an increase in reports of these animals in our area. Read the following article to find out where and how to manage this before they become a bigger problem –

  https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2020/07/02/are-we-being-invaded-by-cuban-treefrogs-maybe/.

  We had a webinar on this topic Aug 19 – you can view this by visiting the Panhandle Outdoors Facebook page – be sure to follow us!

  • Halloweed – coming in October – We will be removing beach vitex from Naval Live Oaks in Gulf Breeze if COVID will allow. More to come.
  • Lionfish
  • – Small lionfish have once again been reported from the Ft. Pickens jetties. Please contact us if you see any while diving there

   

  Seafood in Peak Season for September

  • Rolling out of peak season
  • – King Mackerel – children, pregnant women should only consume one serving a week
  • – Brown shrimp (bay shrimp)
  • – Rock shrimp
  • – Spanish mackerel
  • In peak season
  • – Clams
  • – Mullet
  • – Oyster
  • – White shrimp (Gulf shrimp)
  • – Snapper – check state limits and accessibility; change frequently
  • – Spiny lobster
  • – Swordfish
  • – Yellowfin tuna
  • Beginning peak season
  • – Flounder
  • – Oyster
  • – Stone crab
  • Seafood Safety Guidelines – Escambia County Division of Marine Resources – https://www.myescambia.com/our-services/natural-resources-management/marine-resources/seafood-safety.

  Upcoming Programs

   

  YOUTH SCIENCE LESSONS – every week

  October focus – The Water Planet

  September focus – The Nature of Science

  One a week posted early in the week

  You can find any of them by scrolling through the natural resource page of our website

  https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/category/natural-resources/.

   

  SCIENCE HOUR – FACEBOOK LIVE – Oct 15

  This month we will be with Jim Roberts (ECUA) discussing our drinking water. Join us at 12:00 PM CDT on the Escambia County Extension Facebook

   

  PANHANDLE OUTDOORS LIVE – WEBINAR – Oct 7

  Bats: A Misunderstood Beneficial Mammal

  12:00 – 12:30 CDT

  1:00 – 1:30 EDT

  Register, and see other webinars, at

  http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/panhandle-outdoors-live-online/.

  BITE SIZED SCIENCE WEBINARS – Fall Semester

  We will begin this month – the Spanish versions on Tuesdays and English on Thursdays

  The programs will begin at 3:00 PM CDT

  October Programs

  Tue Oct 6 – Los Manglares

  Thu Oct 8 – The Cost of Invasive Reptiles and Amphibians

  Tue Oct 13 – Litorales Vivientes

  Thu Oct 15 – Caribbean Spinty Lobster Biology & Ecology

  Tue Oct 20 – Praderes de Pastos marinos y Navegacion Segura

  Thu Oct 22 – Seagrass Biology

  Tue Oct 27 – La Enfermedad de Perdida de Tejido de Corales Duros

  Thu Oct 29 – Ocean Inspired Halloween

  Pre-register is required, you can register at the link below.

  http://bit.ly/bite-sizedscience

  SEAFOOD @ YOUR FINGERTIPS

  MORE COOL RECIPES AND SEAFOOD DISHES FOR YOU TO TRY

  5:00 PM CDT

  Oct 7 – Blackened Shrimp & Corn Tacos with cilantro jalepeno cole slaw

  Oct 14 – Oysters Empenadas Oysters in Pablomo Peppers

  Oct 21 – Cozumel Red Snapper Vera Cruz

  You can view these, and any of the past programs, by visiting the Florida Sea Grant Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/floridaseagrant/.

  Or get the recipes at our website – https://www.flseagrant.org/.

  Current Articles

   

  Weekly “What is it?” – Resurrection Ferns

  Carrie Stevenson – Escambia County

  https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/category/natural-resources/.

   

  Weekly “What is it?” – Gallberry

  Carrie Stevenson – Escambia County

  https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/category/natural-resources/.

   

  Drifting Marine Fish of the Florida Panhandle

  Rick O’Connor – Escambia County

  http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/

   

  After Flooding, Test Your Well Water

  Dr. Andrea Albertin – UF IFAS Northwest District Water Specialist

  http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/

   

  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

   

  Health Advisory Frequency

  Data provided by the Florida Department of Health’s Healthy Beaches Program

  Body of Water	# of samples collected	# of POOR reports	# of advisories issued	% frequency of advisories
  Bayou Texar	33	12	12	.36
  Sanders Beach	30	5	2	.07
  Bayou Chico	24	7	7	.29
  Bayou Grande	23	9	9	.39
  Big Lagoon SP	20	1	1	.05
  Perdido Key SP	22	0	0	.00
  Casino Beach	22	1	1	.04
  Park East	22	2	1	.04
  Park West	22	2	1	.04
  Quietwater Beach	22	1	1	.04
  Ft. Pickens	7	0	0	.00
  Opal Beach	7	0	0	.00
  TOTAL	254	42	35	.14

  NOTE: SEVERAL OF THESE WERE DUE TO HURRICANE SALLY

   

  Fish Kill Data provided by FWC (Escambia and Santa Rosa counties)

  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
  Jun	0	0
  Jul	2	NR	Baitfish at Navarre Beach and Perdido Key; probably a discard
  Aug	0	0
  Sep	2	NR	Fish kills occurred in two ponds (one in Pensacola and one in Gulf Breeze) during Hurricane Sally
  Oct	0	0
  TOTAL	4	0

0