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

Tony D'eramo, Emerald Coast Surfrider board member and marine biologist takes water samples on July 10. Photo courtesy Michael Sturdivant

Organization hopes to enlighten on water health, seeks public support

With concerns of the oil and dispersant’s effects reaching the Florida Panhandle shores, both surfers and beach goers are anxious to know if it is safe to enter the Gulf of Mexico.

Local surfing organization, Emerald Coast Surfrider Foundation started going the extra mile on July 10 to acquire a specific testing called DOS (details below).

The DOS test checks for the chemical compounds present in dispersant and can serve as an indicator of its presence. As of yet, no federal Environmental Protection Agency tests for DOS have been reported for Florida.

“We want to surf and know if the water is safe,” Michael Sturdivant said as he explained the motivation behind Surfrider to use the organization’s limited funds to do this specific testing.

“The earlier tests for dispersants had been looking for alcohol and ethanol associated with dispersants but according to the labs we spoke with, these would rarely show in any test as they evaporate very quickly” Mike said in referring to the EPA’s tests.

“I am not completely certain that these tests will be more accurate, but with multiple reports of illness in our surfing community, we must move forward and at least try to provide this vital health information. We asked the DEP, state, and county to do this over a month ago and they have been very slow to respond,” Sturdivant said.

Surfrider took samples from Okaloosa Island Pier, Miramar Beach at Pompano Joes, Blue Mountain Beach and Seaside on July 10. It takes two weeks for the results.

“We would like to test for other substances like oil, vanadium, benzene, and others, but our budget is very small, Sturdivant continued.

Each test cost $350.00, and with four tests in one day, Emerald Coast Surfrider will soon deplete their organization’s funds, and  are seeking contributions to help offset the costs of the tests.

Emerald Coast Surfrider is a local non-profit organization and is funded entirely by donations. Anyone interested in helping out can contact Surfrider at http://www.surfrideremeraldcoast.org/

Links to local water testing results from EPA and DEP:

http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/water.html

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon/water.htm#walton

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Posted under Environment, paddle/surf/boat

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

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

Advisory issued for Stallworth Lake outfall to the western edge of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

UPDATE: Health Advisory rescinded July 2

From the Walton County Sheriff’s office: The Walton County Health Department issued a health advisory this afternoon, following a report by the Walton County Emergency Operations Center of oil substances coming ashore along a section of Walton County beaches.

The advisory covers beaches from the Stallworth Lake outfall to the western edge of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park.
The health department will continue to work with the Emergency Operations Center, and will notify the public, through the media and its website www.waltonso.org when the health advisory is no longer in effect.
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Posted under Beaches, Environment

Dave Rauschkolb, right and his wife Carol and daughter Carlin participated in the Hands Across The Sand event at Seaside Florida. ©Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Seaside drew more than 400 participants in global event

Thousands of people across the globe participated in the Hands Across The Sand event on June 26, 2010. Dave Rauschkolb, founder of the event and his family participated along with more than 400 supporters at Seaside Florida.

Hands Across the Sand is a movement to oppose offshore oil drilling and champion clean energy and renewables.

There were 797 events organized in the U.S. in 537 cities including 104 events outside the U.S. in 37 countries. The gatherings were a metaphorical and actual line n the sand; human lines in the sand against the threat oil drilling poses to America’s coastal economies and marine environment.

Posted under Environment