Rotating
News Article
For: Week
of August 30, 2004
By: Chris
Verlinde, Extension Marine Agent
Santa Rosa County Extension Service
Telephone: 850-623-3868
Learn about Coastal Resources at
upcoming events!
September 11, the Navarre Garden Club will present “Maintaining Paradise” at the Navarre
community center form 9:00 am until 11:30 am. Join UF/IFAS
extension agents and Garden club members, for a look at coastal resources and
landscaping techniques to help prevent stormwater impacts
to area waterbodies.
For more
information contact Jimmie Jarratt at 850-623-3868.
September 18, thousands of people all over the world
will participate in the 19th annual International Coastal Cleanup!
The international coastal cleanup is coordinated by the Ocean Conservancy (formerly
the Center for Marine Conservation), an organization dedicated to the
conservation of marine resources.
Marine debris is
a serious problem throughout the world. Trash such as plastic bags and
wrappers, cups, straws, bottles, Styrofoam, glass, cigarette butts, cans, used
diapers, fishing line, balloons, rope, plastic and metal strapping material,
hazardous medical waste, and more all have an impact on marine life, birds, and
humans. Plastic bags and wrappers can be ingested by marine mammals and sea
turtles and cause death. Fish, crabs, marine mammals, turtles and birds can
become entangled in fishing line, stringers, pieces of discarded old nets and
rope. Impact upon humans includes disease spread from medical waste, broken
glass and other sharp objects may be hidden in the sand, and damage to
recreational and commercial boat engines can be caused by monofilament and
discarded pieces of net. Additionally,
trash is aesthetically unappealing!
From 8 am until
noon, meet at various locations along the Gulf Coast such as: Navarre Beach at
the fishing pier parking area, Opal and Langdon Beaches at Gulf Islands National
Seashore, Casino Beach parking lot, Pensacola Beach and Big Lagoon State
Recreation Area and Johnson Beach. For
more information contact
September 18-October 18, take part in the World Water Monitoring
day. Pick a site and take a water quality sample, register the data on the
website. Check out http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/ for more information.
This is a worldwide opportunity to positively impact the health of rivers,
lakes, estuaries and other waterbodies. Volunteer
monitoring groups, water quality agencies, students, and the general public are
invited to test four key indicators of water quality: temperature, pH,
dissolved oxygen, and turbidity.
Sept 20-26 is Pollution Prevention Week, on September 25 join the Escambia County Neighborhood
& Environmental Services Department and UF/IFAS
Extension for "Stormwater Solutions for Florida Yards," at
the Escambia County Extension Office from 9 am until 12 pm. For more
information contact
September 25, National Estuaries Day is an interagency
campaign to celebrate the importance of estuaries and the need to protect them.
Check out http://www.estuaries.gov/elive.html and take an internet field
trip of 7 National Estuarine Research Reserves. Teachers, sign for up curriculum
and interactive field trips!
October 2, Join representative Holly Bensen, the Pensacola Bay Environmental Education
Coordination Team and the Santa Rosa Beaches to Woodlands coordinators as they
present the 2nd annual “Coastal
Encounters” celebration at the Navarre Nature Walk park from 10 am until 3
pm. Coastal encounters will focus on learning about our coastal resources!
Activities will include: animal encounters with the ZOO, Nonie’s Ark, and
local marine life will be on display. In addition, arts and crafts and
environmental education hands-on activities will be provided by local
organizations, agencies, and schools. The Escambia County Astronomers
Association will set up telescopes, Blue Dolphin eco-tours will provide
inexpensive kayak rentals and free lessons, and several displays will focus on
various issues such as protecting our area’s waterways, safe boating,
restoration projects, and other local coastal issues. Coastal Encounters will
also be taking donations to benefit the Northwest Florida Wildlife Sanctuary
and the Emerald
Coast Wildlife Refuge. For more information contact
October 2, the Northwest
Florida Wildlife Sanctuary will hold an open house and supply drive from 12 pm
until 3:00 pm at the sanctuary. This is a great opportunity to learn about
local wildlife that is found injured and often rehabilated
by wildlife sanctuary staff. For more information contact the Wildlife
Sanctuary at 850-433-9453.
October 9, UF/IFAS Santa Rosa County Master Gardeners will
host “Harvest Happenings” at the
Santa Rosa County Extension Office. Come and learn about local gardening
techniques and Master Gardener projects. In addition, purchase plants, enjoy
food, presentations and displays. This is a fund raising event for a future greenhouse! Contact Theresa Friday at
850-623-3868.
For more
information on these and other coastal opportunities, contact Chris Verlinde, UF/IFAS Santa Rosa Sea
Grant Extension, 850-623-3868 or
e-mail christinav@co.santa-rosa.fl.us.
Extension
Service programs are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex,
age, handicap or national origin.