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Perdido Key Coastal Demonstration Garden Now Open
The new Perdido Key Coastal Demonstration Garden at 15500 Perdido Key Drive officially opened to the public on June 8 in celebration of World Ocean Day. The garden was funded by a $10,000 Community Grant from the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program and engaged over 45 volunteers through project activities. The garden showcases native coastal species, including those approved for use under the Perdido Key Habitat Conservation Plan. A free landscaping guide was also developed as a part of the project and is available on MyEscambia.com.
Fun in the Sun: Marine Resources Education Programs
Summer education programs are moving full steam ahead. Staff and volunteers have already engaged 600 people through programs and community events in the first half of 2022. Program topics include how to be Sea turtle-friendly while visiting our beaches, the importance of conserving coastal habitats, and how to keep you and your family safe on the beach and in the water this summer. Marine Resources staff and interns have partnered with the West Florida Public Libraries for their Summer Reading Program: Oceans of Possibilities and continue to work with partners to offer educational opportunities across the county.
Sea Turtle Nesting Season in Full Swing.
The Escambia County Sea Turtle Conservation Program has recorded 23 sea turtle nests this summer; 19 on Pensacola Beach and four on Perdido Key. All nests are Loggerhead, except for one very rare Leatherback nest, the first in over 20 years on county beaches. Nesting activity is expected to slow down in the coming weeks, but staff and volunteers will be busy preparing to welcome the first hatchlings of the season in mid-July. Read a news release about the first nest to hatch on Pensacola Beach here.
Cogon Grass Eradication
This spring, the Natural Resources Conservation division continued its battle to eradicate cogon grass located on county-owned property. Cogon grass is a highly invasive species that is ranked as the seventh worst weed in the world. If left unchecked, it outcompetes other native plant species and will soon become the dominant understory. This causes the destruction of native wildlife habitat required for endangered/protected animals, such as gopher tortoises. It’s also a major hazard when prescribed burning, as it can burn hot enough to stress mature pines and kill seedlings and other desirable native species.
In the months of May and June, NRC treated cogon grass infestations at the following locations:
Cogon grass spots, totaling approximately 10 acres, were treated at the various locations. This is the first time some of these locations have ever been treated and many of them had significant cogon grass infestations. Because of this, one treatment alone cannot dispel all of the cogon grass present and it will take multiple treatments to be able to eradicate all of it. Throughout the course of the next few years, it will be one of the main goals to effectively rid all cogon grass on county owned land.
Water Quality and Land Management Inspiring Young Scientists
The Water Quality and Land Management division is participating in the 2022 Summer Youth Employment Program. The division is hosting two interns this year. WQLM interns get hands on experience while learning marketable skills within the environmental field. The program runs through mid-July.
Cleanup Efforts Underway in Bayou Chico
The Bayou Chico Contaminated Sediment Remediation Project is underway! The initial sampling phase collected numerous surface grabs and sediment cores. Samples are being analyzed for heavy metals, nutrients, hydrocarbon, and other semi-volatiles organic compounds. Students from the University of West Florida, under the direction of Dr. Johan Liebens, conducted much of the field work. Results will drive the development of a remediation plan for the bayou. A public presentation is planned for the August Marine Advisory Committee meeting. A second round of sampling is anticipated this fall.
Bacteria Source Tracking in Carpenter Creek
Carpenter Creek remains impaired for fecal bacteria. Data also shows elevated levels of nutrients (mostly nitrogen) in the creek. The Water Quality and Land Management division has started a new effort to track, identify, and eliminate sources of fecal bacteria and elevated nutrients within the system. This work is part of the Collaborative Assessment and Monitoring Program mandated as a requirement of the county’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The effort builds on a recent water quality assessment completed for the Carpenter Creek & Bayou Texar Watershed Master Plan Project. Work will include the application of new methods and technologies developed to identify sources of pollution based on the presence of genetic markers, pharmaceuticals, and nutrient isotopes.
Supporting National Pollution Elimination Efforts
The National Pollution Discharge Elimination System is a program established by the Federal Clean Water Act. In Florida, the U.S. EPA has delegated the federal program to Department of Environmental Protection. Escambia County maintains an active Phase I NPDES permit for stormwater discharges from the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) to waters of the state. In past years, the Water Quality & Land Management Division has supported the county effort by conducting all the required monitoring requirements for the county and its co-permitees. Starting in July 2022, WQLM will also be coordinating, drafting, and submitting the annual county-wide report. The next report is due January 2023.
Escambia County Resiliency Program Kick-off
The Resiliency Program is a newly-formed program under NRM’s Administration division, which combines the duties of Brownfields coordination with new initiatives supporting community resilience in Escambia County. Learn more about the Resiliency Program here: https://myescambia.com/our-services/natural-resources-management/resiliency-program
Board of County Commissioners Votes to Accept a Brownfields Assessment Award of $300,000
On June 16, the Board of County Commissioners accepted EPA funding to assess Brownfield sites in Escambia County. The award is intended to inventory Brownfields of interest, assess the sites for potential contamination, and to make plans for re-development.
Brownfields are pieces of land waiting to be redeveloped. Escambia County classifies all nine of its Community Redevelopment Areas as Brownfields. While Brownfields are commonly associated with toxic contamination, it is not a criteria for classification as a Brownfield. The goal of Escambia County’s Brownfields program is to assess previously developed sites for contamination, conduct clean-up if necessary and feasible, and make plans to re-develop the sites with input from the community. This process supports local sustainability efforts by giving previously-developed a piece of land a new purpose. Urban infill project such as brownfield redevelopment help to reduce the demand for deforestation and habitat destruction in undeveloped areas of Escambia County.
Escambia County Resiliency Program Awarded Resilient Florida Program Planning Grant of $272,930
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection awarded NRM with a Planning Grant to update Escambia County’s Coastal Vulnerability Analysis, and to conduct a fine scale social vulnerability analysis to direct tree canopy planning in unincorporated areas of Escambia County. The coastal vulnerability analysis will include an examination of critical assets and exposure and sensitivity analyses. Vulnerability assessment reports and project findings will fulfill compliance with Perils of Flood requirements and contribute to amendments to Escambia County’s Local Mitigation Strategy. Tree canopy planning will support long term heat mitigation efforts in unincorporated areas of Escambia County.
The mission of Escambia County government is to provide efficient, responsive services that enhance our quality of life, meet common needs and promote a safe and healthy community.
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