Excess aquatic weeds can be a source of frustration for pond owners.
Privately owned ponds and lakes are common across the Panhandle. Ponds can be a source of great enjoyment and frustration for their owners. When all is well a pond is a welcome addition to most any landscape. However, when problems arise pond owners are often times at a loss for how to rectify the situation. Unwanted or excess weeds in a pond is a one of the most common frustrations for pond owners. Luckily, aquatic weed control, an otherwise daunting task, can be manageable if some basic principles are understood.
UF/IFAS extension faculty from Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington counties will be presenting a workshop on Thursday, June 12th to help educate pond owners regarding some of the principles of effectively controlling unwanted weeds in their ponds. Topics covered will include pond weed identification, weed control options, aquatic herbicide selection and application, and the use of grass carp for weed control.
The workshop will be held in Chipley at the Washington County Agricultural Center, starting at 6:30 the evening of the 12th. There is a $5 registration fee for this event. Space is limited so early registration is highly encouraged. To register call the Washington County Extension Office at (850)638-6180 or email Mark Mauldin mdm83@ufl.edu
An exciting new event is coming to our area. Northwest Florida’s first Artificial Reef Workshop since 2006 will be held February 19 – 20, 2013 at the Niceville Community Center. The community center is centrally located in the Panhandle and located at 204 N Partin Dr, Niceville, FL 32578. Sessions and guest speakers will provide the latest information regarding Reef Designs, Artificial Reefs and Fisheries Management, Monitoring Tools, Artificial Reef Construction Issues in Inshore and Nearshore State Waters, The Economic Benefits and Impacts of Artificial Reefs in NW Florida, and other artificial reef topics of local interest.
Workshop organizers are seeking additional vendors, sponsors, and/or donations of promotional items. Showcase your business to federal, state and local government, local reef building associations and private reef builders. If you would like to participate as a vendor or contribute as a sponsor please contact Candy Hansard by email candy@ecreef.org or call Scott Jackson at 850-784-6105 to check for space availability. Space is limited, please act soon.
Note: Previous advertised date of workshop has been changed to avoid potential schedule conflict with Gulf Council Meeting.
Sessions and quest speakers will discuss subjects including reef design, fisheries management, monitoring, goals and strategies, construction issues in state waters, economic benefits and impacts, and other topics of interest.
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!
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:
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 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!
