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Natural Resources Management Quarterly News aims to reflect on quarterly progress and to share pictures, key statistics, and updates from NRM Divisions and Environmental Programs. The digital newsletter will be published quarterly to review important work supporting our natural resources in Escambia County. Click here to sign up for future newsletters.
Sea Turtle Nesting Season Ends on High Note
The 2022 Sea Turtle Nesting Season officially ended on Nov. 1, 2022. The county celebrated 39 nests this season, the highest since 2016 with an average success rate of 63%. A quiet hurricane season contributed to above-average numbers, with fewer nests lost to erosion and tidal impacts than in previous years. However, artificial lighting still negatively impacted 65% of nests, causing hatchling disorientation.
Sea Turtle Conservation Program volunteers contributed over 1,200 hours, including 540 morning patrols and countless hours spent monitoring and assessing nests. Volunteers also engaged 966 people in sea turtle education and conservation through public events across the county, and sea turtle educational messages reached over one million people through online and digital channels.
Volunteers will take a much-needed break over the winter months before training for the 2023 season gets underway in the spring. For more information on the Sea Turtle Conservation Program or to read the full 2022 Escambia County Sea Turtle Nest Monitoring Report, visit MyEscambia.com/seaturtles.
Disoriented leatherback sea turtle hatchlings are collected prior to release by permitted volunteers. All marine turtle work performed under MTP #32A.
Marine Resources Division Removes Seven Derelict Vessels in 2022
Marine Resources staff received $57,000 in grant funds and removed seven derelict vessels from county waters in 2022 in partnership with local law enforcement and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Two vessels remain pending removal, with an additional $15,000 in grants from FWC.
Derelict vessels pose serious environmental and safety risks and create navigational hazards. For this reason, abandoning a vessel or allowing it to become derelict are considered criminal offenses and can have serious penalties, including jail time. Once a vessel is officially declared derelict or abandoned, Marine Resources staff works with local marine contractors to remove the vessel and pursues restitution in coordination with law enforcement and state agencies.
Salvage team raising a derelict sailboat in Bayou Grande.
Winter Mosquitoes
It's likely we won't mosquitos in December and January in Escambia County, with the exception of those unseasonably warm Florida days. Many mosquitoes make it through the winter months by remaining in the larval stage. Female mosquitoes lay eggs toward the end of the fall, and those eggs will remain dormant until spring. The eggs are carefully placed in damp soil and will not hatch until conditions become favorable again, when the temperature rises and plenty of rain begins to fall. There are even quite a few species of mosquitoes that can live as adults through winter. Our typical winter temperatures average above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which is above minimum threshold for keeping mosquitoes warm enough to mate, reproduce and thrive.
Mosquito eggs are almost invisible in deep wet grass, small puddles, and large leaves that can hold water. They can ride out the cold in ponds and neglected swimming pools, and can be found along the edges of containers.
To reduce the number of mosquitoes that are able to make it back when the warm weather does occur, empty any standing water that collects in tarps, toys, birdbaths, gutters, machinery, and pots. Be sure to also rake and dispose of leaves to ensure small pockets of water are emptied.
Mosquito Larvae found by Escambia County Mosquito Control in January 2023.
Debbie Williams Receives November Employee of the Month
We are proud to recognize Debbie Williams, Environmental Specialist, as the November Employee of the Month for Escambia County. Learn more about Debbie and her accomplishments here.
Congratulations, Debbie!
November Employee of the Month Debbie Williams.
Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District Partnership
On May 23, 1940, the Perdido Soil and Water Conservation District was established. The name formally was changed to the Escambia Soil and Water Conservation District on May 16, 1995. The District was formed by residents for the purpose of promoting and encouraging the wise use, management and general conservation of the soil, water and related natural resources of Escambia County.
The Florida legislation passed SB 1078 earlier this year, which now requires each member of the Board to have a minimum of 10 years of agricultural related experience. As we move into 2023 and the new board members assume their roles, it is the goal of the Escambia County Natural Resources Conservation (NRC) Division to assist in a smooth transition of leadership, as well as assist in any future projects that the board might endeavor. NRC has taken the first step in making this a lasting partnership by updating the Memorandum of Understanding with the Escambia County Soil and Water Conservation District. This accomplishment allows NRC to clearly define how they can and will help the District when needed. With all the new faces and changes being made within the District, NRC is eagerly looking forward to all that will be accomplished together.
B. Glen Wiggins Jr. (left) and Michael Todd Wiggins (right) were presented the 2022 Conservation Farmers of the Year Award by Chairwoman Betty Wilson (center). Photo courtesy of Debbie Williams.
Prescribed Fire Management at Jones Swamp Wetland Preserve
NRC is preparing for the upcoming winter prescribed burn season in the Jones Swamp Wetland Preserve. The staff successfully burned 43 acres of an upland longleaf/slash pine stand in Jones Swamp last winter and is targeting a similar amount this coming winter. A Florida Certified Prescribed Burn Manager on staff will oversee the burn with assistance from the Florida Forest Service. The public will be notified in advance of any potential burn days, weather permitting.
Winter is an ideal time for prescribed burns, where land managers intentionally set small, low-intensity fires that mimic natural fires caused by lighting. Prescribed burns keep the understory open to allow grasses and other small plants to dominate the landscape. Ash keeps the soil fertile and encourages new plant growth in the spring. By reducing fuel loads and keeping the understory clear, land managers reduce the chances of a larger, more dangerous wildfire.
For more information about the Jones Swamp Wetland Preserve and the proposed prescribed burns, please call 850-595-3496 or 850-840-9089.
Successful prescribed burn at Jones Swamp Wetland Preserve in January 2022. Picture courtesy of Samantha Bolduc.
Jackson Creek Stream Restoration Project
The RESTORE Team is happy to report that the Jackson Creek Restoration Project is nearing completion. This creek restoration is another one of the critical projects contributing to the remediation of Bayou Chico. Jackson Creek waters lead directly into Bayou Chico. Once Complete, this project with improve water quality and habitat within Jackson Creek. The project is expected to be complete in early spring of 2023.
Floating litter trap in Jackson Creek, courtesy of Madison O’Toole.
Data Portal
Escambia County Water Quality and Land Management opened a new web-based portal in December 2022. The new portal proves public access to much of the surface water quality data routinely collected by the county. Samples are samples at over 50 unique surface water stations located throughout the county. Stations are monitored monthly for fecal indicator bacteria (Enterococci or E. coli) and field parameters (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, dissolved oxygen saturation, specific conductance, salinity, and turbidity). At least 40 of these stations are also being monitored every other month for nutrients (Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, nitrate/nitrite, total nitrogen, total phosphorus), residuals (total suspended solids), and chlorophyll-a. The public data poral is still a beta version. We are very much interested in public comments and feedback. Check it out and let us know what you think!
Click here for data portal access and FAQs.
Screenshot of the data portal displaying temperature trends in Carpenter Creek Watershed.
Results from the Archaeological Survey of Navy Outlying Field 8
In December 2022, a cultural resources assessment survey was completed at the Navy Outlying Landing Field (NOLF) 8, by the cultural resource consulting firm SEARCH. The project included archaeological survey and historic architectural resources survey of the entire 525-acre property.
The archaeologists documented one late nineteenth to early twentieth century home site (8ES05596), which produced historic period architectural remains, bottle and jar fragments, ceramic vessel fragments, and various metal hardware. The investigation also documented the NOLF 8 itself as a mid-to late-twentieth century historic landscape (8ES05595) along with a previously identified fire and rescue station (8ES04107) associated with the landing field.
SEARCH field team conducting a cultural resources assessment survey at NOLF 8
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