Sunbelt Ag Expo – 10/13/14 – Setup Day LIVE Feed
Local county agents are working hard to set up at the Sunbelt Ag Expo. You can watch our live feed below!
University of Florida IFAS Extension Needs You!
The University of Florida IFAS Extension works towards agricultural, environmental, and economic sustainability in our rapidly growing state and communities. We accomplish this through research-based educational programs, publications, and opportunities provided to you locally.
Please consider donating to the UF IFAS County Extension office in your county. Your monetary gift is greatly appreciated, and will be used to continue our efforts at providing information and education you want and need. To find out more about making donations and endowments to University of Florida IFAS Extension, please contact your County Extension office, or
Joe Mandernach, IFAS Development Office at 352-392-5457 or jmandern@ufl.edu . Thank you!
NW Florida Regional Boating and Waterways Management Workshop
| Chris Verlinde Florida Sea Grant Extension Agent Santa Rosa County chrismv@ufl.edu |
The NW Florida Regional Workshop on boating and waterways management will be held in Milton, Florida, August 16 and 17, 2011. The workshop will examine innovative strategies that will assist managers, planners, policy-makers, and other marine interests as they attempt to balance economic vitality with ecologically sound management practices along Northwest Florida’s waterways.
Boat refueling at a recognized Florida Clean Marina. Photo Credits: Andrew Diller
The first day of the workshop will consist of presentations by local and state experts. The second day of the workshop will be half day facilitated planning session designed to allow participants to conduct strategic planning for boating and waterways in Northwest Florida.
Boating and waterways management consists of many aspects including: mooring sites, identification and assessment of boat ramps, characterization of what boaters do when they go boating, endangered and threatened species management, natural resource protection, best management practices to maintain water quality, boating safety, sea level rise, derelict vessels and much more. Waterway and boating issues are important issues that need to be addressed in order to balance the economic impact from our water dependent uses and the health and safety of our water resources.
To make this workshop relevant to participants in NW Florida, please help us determine the topics for the workshop by taking this short survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GQHVXZ7
Make plans now to attend this exciting workshop!! For more information, check out the Florida Sea Grant Website http://www.flseagrant.org and click on the NW Boating Workshop icon.
Seagrass Awareness Festival
Chris Verlinde
Florida Sea Grant Extension Agent
Santa Rosa County
chrismv@ufl.edu
What: 11th Annual Seagrass Awareness Celebration
You never know who you’ll meet at the Seagrass Awareness Festival! Photo Credits: Andrew Diller
When: March 26, 2011
See and touch the animals that live in seagrass! Photo Credits: Andrew Diller
10:00 am until 2:00 pm
Where: Shoreline Park South, Gulf Breeze (Across from the Recreation center on Shoreline Drive)
Contact: Chris Verlinde 850-623-3868
Visit http://santarosa.ifas.ufl.edu and click on marine for more information!
Seagrass Awareness is an annual family event held at Shoreline Park South in Gulf Breeze, Florida. This year activities will include live marine life in touch tanks, “eat a seagrass bed,” make a shark tooth necklace, seining, games, fishing, marine creatures, arts and crafts, food, displays, explore a seagrass bed, boating safety, fishing, kayaking and more! In addition, we will have information on scallop and oyster gardening!
Bring your family and friends, water, sunscreen, hat, water shoes, lawn chairs and join us for a fun filled day!
Participating organizations include: The Environmental Education Coordination Team, University of Florida IFAS Extension: Florida Sea Grant Extension, Florida Master Naturalists, Florida Department of Environmental Protection: Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA), Ecosystem Restoration; Resource Rangers, the Wildlife Sanctuary of NW Florida, Mil Flores, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, the Pensacola Recreational Fishing Association and more!
Seagrass Awareness in Florida
| Chris Verlinde Florida Sea Grant Extension Agent Santa Rosa County chrismv@ufl.edu |
Seagrasses are a valuable part of the marine environment and support a thriving million-dollar fishery. Most commercial and recreationally important fish, crabs and shrimp spend some time of their lives in seagrass beds. These grass beds help to filter toxins from the water, contribute to water clarity by trapping suspended sediments, provide food and shelter for juvenile fish, shrimp and crabs. In addition, endangered species such as manatees and green sea turtles depend on seagrass beds for food! Migratory birds depend on seagrass beds for foraging needs! Threats to these important resources include: degraded water quality, dredge and fill projects and physical impacts from boat propellers.
Turtle grass and manatee grass. Photo Credits: Lauren M. Hall, SJRWMD
“Seagrass …..it’s alive” is the motto for this initiative. Get involved, and help spread the word about seagrasses! Be creative and provide educational opportunities for your friends, neighbors, fisher-people, boaters and those concerned about water quality.
Many different types of animals live in seagrass beds. Photo Credits: Andrew Diller
What can you do to protect seagrasses?
While boating:
- If you run aground in a seagrass bed, turn off your engine, tilt up the engine and walk or pole your boat out of the shallow water.
- Know water depths and locations of seagrass beds by studying navigational charts.
- Seagrasses are usually found in shallow water and appear as dark spots on the water. Wear polarized sunglasses (to reduce glare) to help to locate these areas.
- Always use a pump-out station.
- Stay in marked channels.
At home:
- To reduce toxins and sediment from entering our waterways, keep a buffer of natural vegetation along your shoreline. This will also reduce erosion and slow flood waters during storm events, which will help protect your property!
- To reduce excess nutrients, plant native plants that don’t require high amounts of fertilizers and pesticides.
- Avoid seagrass beds when planning for dredging activities or pier construction.
- Maintain septic tanks.
In the community:
- Get out and snorkel these incredibly diverse areas! Many sites are easy to access from public parks.
- Get involved with local organizations that promote water quality.
- Tell others what you have learned.
- Don’t litter!