Multi-County Private Well and Water Quality Workshop
Private well system in Florida. Image: C. Wofford, UF/IFAS Photography As a private well owner, you are responsible for ensuring that your water is safe to drink. What do you know about where well water comes from? Do you know how well water can become contaminated?...
Turkeys in the Sunshine State
Florida is home to 2 subspecies of the wild turkey, the Eastern and the Osceola. One might think turkeys in Florida live at the beach. However, Turkeys prefer forested habitats such as hardwoods, pines, and cypress swamps. Their diet, depending on time of year and...
Reducing Health Advisories in Our Coastal Waters; Part 4 Maintaining Your Sewage System
It seems odd that we would be talking about maintaining your sewer system; that was a selling point to convert from septic. But there are things we do that can cause clogs in the lines that initiate what we call Sanitary Sewage Overflows (SSOs). These...
Wildflowers 101
Planting Wildflowers A Florida native wildflower is a flowering herbaceous species that had grown wild in the state’s natural ecosystems in the 1560s when Florida’s first botanical records were created. Planting native wildflowers in Florida benefits natural...
Recreate Responsibly
Spring break is upon us and this often includes trips to the beach. Encountering dolphins and other marine life in the wild can be a once-in-a lifetime experience. There are a few simple guidelines that you can follow to prevent human/wildlife conflict while...
Reducing Health Advisories in Our Coastal Waters; Part 3 How Sewage Treatment Works
Part of the 2019 UF IFAS social media survey across Florida found that many Floridians understood how septic systems worked, but fewer understood how sewer systems functioned. This article is going to try and tell you the basics of how sewage treatment...
NISAW 2023: Final Wrap Up
Over the course of the last week, we have been discussing invasive species issues from across the panhandle. The primary purpose was to provide information for local decision makers to develop management plans for these species. The second was to educate...
NISAW: Working Across Boundary Lines: Because Invasive Species Do Not Recognize Your Posted Sign
Ken Langeland, left, and Martha Monroe, University of Florida environmental educators, examine an invasive tallow tree on Paynes Prairie near Gainesville, Thursday 10-19. They're part of a team of researchers from UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and...
NISAW: A Spreading Menace in Gulf County, known as Cogongrass
Ray Bodrey, Gulf County Extension Director Cogongrass continues to be a thorn in the side of many landowners and municipal public works departments, as it spreads in areas across the Panhandle, with Gulf County being no exception. Thankfully, there are ways to combat...
NISAW: Wild Hogs, an invasive species to Escambia County
Wild hogs, also known as feral pigs, are a common group known throughout Florida, including Escambia County. Brought in by early settlers, these beasts have become an invasive species that cause serious damage to whatever environment they enter. In Escambia County...