Barred owls at ECWR. Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

4,000 sq. ft. facility boasts room for growth

Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge (ECWR) has been rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife in the Florida Panhandle for more than 15 years. Caring for a variety of wildlife found sick, injured or abandoned, ECWR has taken in everything from an injured osprey to orphaned beavers to abandoned exotic pets.

ECWR recently relocated to Santa Rosa Blvd. on Okaloosa Island from its formerly cramped quarters in Destin. The new 4,000 sq. ft. facility is four times the size of their previous location. The staff has also been increased now that the facility has growing room.

“We brought in more than 57 raccoons this year alone,” assistant director Patrick Gault, said.

ECWR has 17 ambassador animals and birds that are permanent residents at the facility. The ambassadors are wildlife that, for various health reasons, can no longer be reintroduced into the wild. These ambassadors serve as educational diplomats during educational presentations ECWR offers to the public. Read More…

Posted under Environment, Nature

Choctawhatchee Audubon educational program at Northwest Florida State College September 2

Choctawhatchee Audubon Society is dedicated to the protection of bird and wildlife habitat, environmental education, and a greater appreciation of Northwest Florida’s natural beauty.
Throughout the year, CAS offers a variety of educational programs at Northwest Florida State College. These events are on a wide range of topics related to our natural world and environment, and feature a guest speaker who is an expert in their field.

September 2:  “Red Tide and Other Harmful Algal Blooms” Dr Allison Beauregard, Chair of the Mattie Kelly Environmental Institute at NWFSC, will report on the occurrence of harmful algal blooms in Florida and on Ride Tide related research in Choctawhatchee Bay. NWF State College, Niceville, (NWFSC) in the Learning Resource Center, LRC Room 128.  Socializing, refreshments and conservation topics begin at 6:30 p.m. prior to the featured speaker at 7 p.m.
For more information, contact: Gary Parsons (850) 678-1461
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Choctawhatchee Audubon North American Fall Migration Count Sept. 18
North American Fall Migration Count Contact Don Ware to volunteer at (850) 862-6582

Posted under Birding, Environment, Nature

Dinner and auction to be held at Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club

The Santa Rosa Beach chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association Florida will be holding a fundraiser at the Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club Sept 2.  There will be a cocktail reception, raffle and silent auction at 6 p.m., dinner at 7:30 p.m. and live auction at 8:30 p.m. Auction items include trips, Hells Bay boat, Costa sunglasses, Yamaha engines, fishing tackle and more.

The local chapter are the sponsors of the annual Grayton Beach Kid’s Fishing tournament held every year. The CCAs objective is to conserve, promote and enhance the present and future availability of our coastal resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the general public.

Tickets are $60 per person or $110 per couple. Corporate and reserved tables begin at $700 for a table of eight. For additional information please contact Deron Strickman (850) 246-2583 or Trip Aukeman (850) 559-0060.

Download registration form at: http://www.ccaflorida.org/chapters/southwalton.html

Posted under Environment, Fishing

What better way to spend the day than exploring the outdoors!

Walton Outdoors and the Walton County 4-H Program announce Explore The Outdoors Festival at Camp Timopoochee 4-H Center on Sat. Oct. 9, 2010 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Join us for a day of fun filled activities for youth and adults. Discover the wonders of the outdoors right here in Northwest Florida. Activities will include kayaking, fishing, YOLO boarding, nature walks, archery, wildlife and sea life presentations, forest ecology, geo caching, nature based games and more.

Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and drinks will be available. This fun event is free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted at the door. Registration is required. Click here to download registration form

Camp Timpoochee 4-H Center is a camping retreat owned by the University of Florida 4-H Foundation with acres of live oaks and nature trails along the Choctawhatchee Bay on the Walton/Okaloosa County line. ::MAP::

For more information, contact Lori Ceier, event organizer via email at: info@waltonoutdoors.com or at (850) 267-2064 or Suzanne Wilson 4-H Youth Development Agent at (850) 892-8172.

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

Indigo bunting towers over the entrance to the exhibition hall at the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center.

Enjoy hiking, films and activities for all ages

The E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center at Nokuse Plantation will host its first “Annual Open House” Event on Saturday, September 11, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.  The exhibit hall will be open, guided hikes will be available, scheduled films will be featured, and activities for all ages will be scheduled.  Drop in anytime from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. or pack a lunch and stay a while.  Public is welcome.

For more information, please visit the E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center website at www.eowilsoncenter.org or call 850-835-1824.
Open House Schedule

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Environment, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun, Trails/Hiking

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

Enjoy great coastal cuisine while helping out a good cause

Surfrider Foundation announces the Clean Water Wine & Dine event on Thursday, August 5th at studio b. the beach in Alys Beach at 6:30pm.

Special guest Jim Moriarty, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, will be in attendance at the event designed to bring concerned locals together to learn more about the current efforts by the Emerald Coast Surfrider Chapter to ensure the safety of the Gulf of Mexico and area waters. Tickets to the event are $50 per person and can be purchased at www.ticketbud.com or by calling 850.225.1747. Coastal fare by Table Five Personal Chef. Please note that you must RSVP by Tuesday, August 3rd to get in the door. We hope you’ll join us!

Posted under Environment

Spring on Econfina creek. ©Lori Ceier/Walton Outdoors

Not only our most valuable water sources, spring fed waterways provide extraordinary adventure

Some of the most beautiful places to explore Northwest Florida are along our spring fed waterways. These creeks, streams and rivers provide incredible recreation and eco tourism along with the valuable drinking water our communities rely on.

Florida boasts more than 700 springs, with close to 40 in the Walton, Holmes, Washington and Bay counties. Blue Spring and Jackson spring in Holmes County feeds into the Choctawhatchee River and is Florida’s 12th largest spring with 122 million gallons per day discharge. Holmes Creek has more than a dozen springs and is the largest tributary into the Choctawhatchee River. The Gainer Springs Group on Econfina Creek (including springs locally known as McCormick and Emerald) is the most significant, measuring a first magnitude flow of 114 million gallons a day (mgd). Econfina creek feeds into Deer Point Lake which is the major source of water supply for Bay County.

Karst diagram courtesy U.S. Geological Society

What are springs?
Springs are portals where water in the earth’s aquifers, rises to the surface and escapes into our streams, lakes and coastal waters. There are two general types of springs in Florida, seeps (water-table springs) and karst springs (artesian springs). The springs in Northwest Florida are karst springs. Karst topography is a landscape created by groundwater dissolving into sedimentary rock such as limestone. This creates landforms such as shafts, tunnels, caves, and sinkholes. The Dougherty Karst Plain underlies our area.

What is a spring classification?
Springs are most often classified based upon the average discharge of water. Individual springs exhibit variable discharge depending upon rainfall, recharge and groundwater withdrawals within their recharge areas. One discharge measurement is enough to place a spring into one of the eight magnitude categories. However, springs have dynamic flows. A spring categorized as being a first-magnitude spring at one moment in time may not continue to remain in the same category. This can result in a spring being classified as a first magnitude spring at one point in time and a second magnitude at another.
Read More…

Posted under Birding, Eco tourism adventure, Environment, Kayak/Canoe, Nature, Outdoor Family Fun

Classes will be held July 27, August 3, 10

Get up-close and personal with Walton County’s coastal dune lakes. Classes will offer classroom type instruction, guided tours, and on-site discussion about different topics focused on coastal dune lakes. Topics will include: What is a coastal dune lake?, coastal morphology, water quality of coastal dune lakes, human impacts to coastal dune lakes, exotic / invasive species, and preservation areas involving coastal dune lakes.

Field trips will include visits to some of the lakes with guided tours ranging from the dunes at the outfall of a lake to descriptive history of the area, to investigating human impacts on the lakes. There is a maximum of 20 students.
 July 27, August 3,10
 – Tuesdays 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
You can register at any Northwest Florida State College registration office.

Read More…

Posted under Environment, Nature

Trail along coastal dune lake Topsail Hill State Preserve

Learn about our rare lakes Thursday, July 15 at 1:30 p.m.

Come and join an exciting interpretive on Topsail Hill Preserve State Park’s imperiled coastal dune lakes.  Learn about these important rare freshwater lakes that exist right here in Walton County.  Park at the Day-Use area off of Hwy 30A and take a short hike to the clubhouse. All programs require a $6.00 entry admission per vehicle into the park.

Outdoor tours canceled during severe weather. Call 850-267-0299 for more details. For more information about the park:

http://www.floridastateparks.org/topsailhill Click here for map

Posted under Eco tourism adventure, Environment, Parks