Emerald Coast Surfrider Foundation members at fundraiser Aug. 5: Phillip McDonald, Madra McDonald, Michael Sturdivant, Tony De'Eramo, John Slattery, Bobby Johnson. Photo courtesy Modus Photography

Local chapter of Surfrider hopes to continue to test, raise awareness

On July 10, Emerald Coast Surfrider Foundation members took Gulf water samples from Okaloosa Island Pier, Miramar Beach at Pompano Joes, Blue Mountain Beach and Seaside. The local surfing organization started going the extra mile beyond government agency testing to acquire specific results to determine if DOSS (Dioctyl Sulfosuccinate Sodium Salt), was present in the water. DOSS is used in corexit dispersants.

On Aug. 4 the test results came back negative. Although good news, the local Surfriders want to continue testing as the DOSS is very elusive to detection in water samples according to member Mike Sturdivant who is cautious about the results.

“It is our intention to initiate weekly testing. This can provide real data that can help us decide if it is safe to get back in the water.  One experiment is insufficient to really know what is present in the water. We encourage everyone to first -use your own senses.  Then add that good information to what you know (or do not know) from available testing,”  Sturdivant said.

The testing is expensive with costs at $1,000 per sampling day as the Foundation will be adding two additional testing locations. For more information or to donate to the efforts, go to http://www.surfrideremeraldcoast.org

Posted under Beaches, Environment

South Walton Turtle Watch volunteers Jennifer Jones and Bobby Stuart excavate a loggerhead turtle nest July 26. ©Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

South Walton Turtle Watch Group assists USFWS, NOAA and FWC in relocation program

It was a busy morning on South Walton beaches July 26 as South Walton Turtle Watch assisted U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration biologists in relocating sea turtle nests.

The nests are being relocated to the east coast to ensure the sea turtle hatchlings do not encounter oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

The eggs are removed within a week of hatching from the nest, placed in coolers with dampened sand from the nest, transported in a specially designed, temperature-controlled truck to the east coast. The eggs are then held under monitored conditions until the hatchlings emerge. When they hatch, they are being released into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Canaveral.
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Posted under Beaches, Environment, Nature

Full moon in the sky over the Gulf. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Lavender clouds across the skies over the Gulf of Mexico

With a full moon setting, a colorful morning awakes on July 26 on South Walton beach in Seagrove.

Posted under Beaches

Red flag warning at Blue Mountain Beach. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Storm causes small surf action, rip currents

Tropical depression Bonnie had little impact on South Walton Beaches July 24. The storm action did, however created rip currents and 2-4 foot seas along South Walton’s beaches.

With wind speeds less than 30 m.p.h. and dissipating, there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect at this time.

South Walton Fire District lifeguards warn of the hazards of rip current:
Rip currents have the potential to form very quickly at any location across the Beaches of South Walton. Please check with a lifeguard, they are more than happy to point out where the channels (potential for rip currents) are for you to avoid. Waves breaking evenly over a sandbar are most often the safest place to swim. Deep channels between the sand bars are where the water brought in from the wave action funnels back out. If you are unsure if rip currents are present, stay on the shore. Always check the beach safety flags, for current Santa Rosa Beach weather conditions and our live beach cam please visit http://www.swfd.org/weather.php

Posted under Beaches

Photo courtesy Jamie Conley.

Beach path a canvas of color

Local resident Jamie Conley snapped this beautiful photo of a path to the beach near Seagrove in South Walton County. The colorful flowers are part of the Asteraceae (aster or daisy) family, native to our coastal beaches.

“This world is but a canvas to our imagination.” ~ Henry David Thoreau

Posted under Beaches, Home/Garden

Learn about preserving these ancient and majestic creatures

Location: Topsail Hill Preserve State Park on Scenic Road 30A

Thursday, July 22 – 1:30 p.m.

The majestic sea turtles are in the midst of another reproductive season.  Learn the facts about common Sea Turtles at Topsail.  Be a part of an enlightening program and see what you can do to help preserve these awe inspiring creatures of the sea. Park at the Day-Use area on Hwy 30A and take a short walk with park staff to the clubhouse. $6.00 entry admission per vehicle into the park. Outside tours canceled during severe weather. Call 850-267-8330 for more information.
Topsail Hill State Preserve is located at the western end of Scenic 30A in Santa Rosa Beach. ::MAP::

Posted under Beaches, Eco tourism adventure, Nature, Parks

A trail to the beach at Camp Helen. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Celebrate Recreation and Parks month with swimming, hiking or sitting  under a shade tree!

Recognizing the benefits of time spent outdoors in Florida’s environment, Governor Charlie Crist recently signed a proclamation highlighting July as Recreation and Parks Month in Florida.

Saturday, July 17 the Florida Park Service (FPS) will offer FREE entry to all state parks, excluding the Skyway Fishing Pier. Canoe rentals, camping and other activities will be available at the regular price.

With Florida’s famous sunshine and hot temperatures, Florida’s state parks offer a welcome relief and an opportunity for fun with family and friends. Swim at the beach, snorkel in a crystal clear freshwater spring, float along on a lazy river, take a boat tour, splash in a pool at Hillsborough River or take a thrilling flume ride or tranquil tube ride at Weeki Wachee Springs’ Buccaneer Bay.

Sit under a shade tree or hike a nature trail. Pack a picnic lunch and cooler. Bring a fishing pole and bait. All are fun, cool and perfect activities for a hot summer’s day. Invite family and friends to make it an extra special day to remember.

Here is a list of local state parks:
Topsail Hill Preserve – Click here for info
Grayton Beach – Click here for info
Eden Gardens – Click here for info
Deer Lake – Click here for info
Camp Helen – Click here for info
Rocky Bayou – Click here for info
Ponce deLeon Springs – Click here for info

Posted under Beaches, Birding, Eco tourism adventure, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Parks, Trails/Hiking

Birds like this snowy plover are abundant in the Panhandle at sites along the Great Fla. Birding Trails. Photo by Jeff Gore and Nancy Douglass

Be a part of the Audubon bird count!

Choctawhatchee Audubon Society, encouraged by Audubon of Florida, is organizing weekly surveys of certain shorebirds along the Gulf Coast. Currently they are in need of volunteers for the State Park areas in Walton County.

A good pair of binoculars or a scope will allow counting of our shorebirds with minimum requirement for long walks in the sand.  The 28 species on the form attached will not be difficult to learn to identify, even for the inexperienced birder lover.  Please RSVP to Don Ware, bird count coordinator at donware@embarqmail.com

Use the following form to report your bird sightings: CAS Shorebird Survey Field Form

For more information call Don Ware at 850-862-6582.

Posted under Beaches, Biking

A T-6 Texan similar to this file photo crashes into the Gulf of Mexico July 2.

Second T-6 in six months to crash near South Walton coastline

A T-6 Texan aircraft crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off of Miramar Beach July 2. The crash happened at approximately 12:30 p.m. about 400 yards offshore near Pompano Joe’s just outside the Walton County line.

Witnesses said the plane was doing stunt maneuvers all morning in the area when it ran into trouble.

“It was doing tricks all morning, it saw there was another plane carrying a banner in the area. It noticed it but it wasn’t as if it was trying to get out of its way.  You thought it was trying to do another trick and it then headed towards the water. It took a nose dive into the water. After about 30 seconds in the water it was all in flames” Amy Morris of Nashville, Tenn. stated.

The U.S. Coast Guard has vessels on the scene.

This is the second plane crash within the last six months involving a T-6 Texan WW II trainer aircraft. On March 6, 2010 Dr. Herman and Peggy Zeiger Jr., of Birmingham, perished when their T-6 Texan crashed into the gulf in South Walton County near Topsail Hill Preserve State Park.

About the T-6 Texan
The North American T-6 Texan two-place advanced trainer was the classroom for most of the Allied pilots who flew in World War II. Called the SNJ by the Navy and the Harvard by the British Royal Air Force, the AT-6 (advanced trainer) was designed as a transition trainer between basic trainers and first-line tactical aircraft. It was redesignated T-6 in 1948.
In all, the T-6 trained several hundred thousand pilots in 34 different countries over a period of 25 years. A total of 15,495 of the planes were made. Though most famous as a trainer, the T-6 Texan also won honors in World War II and in the early days of the Korean War.
The Texan was an evolution of the company’s BC-1 basic combat trainer, which was first produced for the U.S. Army Air Corps with fixed landing gear in 1937 under a contract that called for 174 planes. North American Aviation designed the NA-49 prototype as a low-cost trainer with all the characteristics of a high-speed fighter.
Although not as fast as a fighter, it was easy to maintain and repair, had more maneuverability and was easier to handle. A pilot’s airplane, it could roll, Immelmann, loop, spin, snap and vertical roll. It was designed to give the best possible training in all types of tactics, from ground strafing to bombardment and aerial dogfighting. It contained such versatile equipment as bomb racks, blind flying instrumentation, gun and standard cameras, fixed and flexible guns, and just about every other device that military pilots had to operate.
Information courtesy boeing.com

Posted under Beaches

Rip currents keep SWFD lifeguards busy with rescues on July 2. ©Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

More than a dozen people rescued from the Gulf July 2

The SWFD responded to four water rescue calls involving eight distressed swimmers by 11:30 a.m. July 2 and four more by 2 p.m.

As SWFD lifeguards worked tirelessly to warn beach goers of the inherent dangers that the surf conditions presented, many times their warnings were ignored requiring the lifeguards to perform rescues.

The South Walton Fire District (SWFD) would strongly encourage all beach goers to familiarize themselves with the beach flag warning system, the color of the flag and heed the warnings and directions of SWFD lifeguards.

The present surf conditions, remnants of Hurricane Alex, are very deceptive; while the waves and clear water look very inviting, due to the widespread locations, total number and strength of the rip currents, swimming in the Gulf extremely dangerous at this time.

“Knee deep is too deep,” Sean Hughes, Deputy Chief of SWFD said as a warning to anyone entering the gulf in these conditions.

“We take every measure to be proactive and not reactive, preventing a situation from developing is far better and safer than having to responding to a swimmer in distress.” said Sean Hughes, Deputy Chief.

“We are very fortunate that no one was seriously injured this morning” said Gary Wise, Beach Safety Director, “we need beach goers to monitor and follow the beach flags and direction of our lifeguards, under the current conditions knee deep is to deep.” Lifeguards will be out in force this holiday weekend to ensure that everyone has an enjoyable and safe 4th of July at the beach.

Posted under Beaches