If you’ve spent any time on the coast, you know we’ve got plenty of marine mammals. Dolphins will surface in pods, delighting beachgoers; they’ll bow-ride along boats and occasionally treat onlookers to a full Sea World-style leap ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water, Wildlife
Each year we conduct surveys, water quality is one of the top concerns of citizens. There are numerous water quality issues out there, but health advisories are ones that are of high interest. Health advisories are issued by the Department ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water
Here in northwest Florida, salt marshes ring the bays. Common in brackish and salty water, these grassy meadows form a protective ring around the shorelines where rivers and bayous empty out into larger bodies of water. While there are numerous ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water
One of the top concerns with residents in our communities is water quality. Surveys I have conducted with the public support this statement. One of the top concerns with water quality in the coastal areas is health advisories. These are ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, WaterIntroduction Since I was selected to be the Sea Grant Extension Agent in Escambia County, water quality has been a top priority with both my advisory committee and the public I have had contact with. There are numerous issues impacting ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water
While it doesn’t feel like it lately, northwest Florida gets a LOT of rain. And when I say a lot, I mean the highest average rainfall in the Southeast (tying with Mobile, AL at over 65"), which rivals pretty much the rest of the country. ... READ MORE
Category: Conservation, Natural Resources, Water
People have a lot of strong feelings about snakes. Whether it be fear, alarm, hatred, or wonder, it’s rare someone doesn’t react at all to seeing a snake in front of them. I will say, though, that when one of our volunteers sent a photo ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water, WildlifeSince my taking the position with Florida Sea Grant in Escambia County, health advisories have been a concern with many in the community. Health advisories are issued for bodies of water where fecal bacteria levels are high enough to be a ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Water
In the early 1800’s, the Spanish divided us into East and West Florida. St. Augustine was the capital of East Florida, while Pensacola was the capital of West Florida. The peninsula was Seminole territory, and very few European settlers ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, Recreation, Water
Watching early-season Hurricane Beryl barrel her way through the Caribbean and Gulf as a Category 5 storm has been a bit of a wake-up call. While Floridians are no strangers to hurricanes, this storm is proof of the climatologists’ warnings ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources, Water