When anyone uses the phrase “national treasure” the should have solid justification for doing so. No one would debate the significance of some of our most well known treasures, such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon or the Everglades. But can some locations in the United States be national treasures without the federal stamp of approval? Of course they can. We believe the St. Andrew Bay ecosystem is one of those, and here is why.
The ecosystem’s claim to fame is simple: biodiversity. Biodiversity refers to the number of different kinds of plant and animals that live here. There are over 6,300 species of land and aquatic plants, marine life and wildlife that have – so far – been identified as present within our ecosystem. And the list is growing as scientists continue to inventory species.
In the bay alone, over 2,900 different species are dependent on our waters. They include more than 300 species of fishes, an incredibly high number for any water body in North America. And the plant and wildlife diversity of the watershed is equally, astonishingly high.
There is no large river flowing into the bay to provide significant freshwater, which makes bay water very salty. The flow of the major water source – Econfina Creek – is about 5% of that of neighboring Apalachicola River. Just five percent. And are tides are small, very small. And because our bay never receives the water-carried sediments of a large river, it has remained very deep and very clear.
So we have a bay much like the Gulf with many marine species present, and a watershed which is equally diverse. But many species are delicate. Many are not very tolerant of pollution, and they have particular conditions required fir their survival.
We can lose a great number of species within our nationally-significant ecosystem if we don’t care for it properly. If the water becomes turbid or if sediments become contaminated, we can lose everything. Property values, recreation, and fishing are also at stake.
We don’t want to lose our biological treasure and the social benefits it provides, but we need your resources within a very special ecosystem.
Habitat Restoration: One way to restore habitat is by replacing bulkheads and seawalls with saltmarsh grasses. Bulkheads and seawalls create a detrimental situation for the shallows: as the constant waves strike these structures, the shoreline erodes under and around the bulkhead. Many homeowners have returned to natural salt marsh grass buffers when the concrete structures ultimately collapse. FSAB volunteers assist with shoreline restoration when the owners choose to remove these structures. Volunteers then plant salt marsh plugs, and with the return of salt marsh comes the return of shorebirds, crabs and fish to your backyard. Salt marsh grasses not only provide a buffer that protects sensitive upland habitats from shoreline erosion, they also provide organic material to feed sea life and are an intertidal nursery habitat for marine life. They are important bird feeding and resting habitat, and filter upland storm runoff.
Seagrass Habitat: Maintaining a healthy St. Andrew Bay, and thus a healthy and thriving fish population is dependent upon seagrass. Seagrass beds are where juvenile fishes live, feed and find cover to avoid predators. The health of our seagrasses determines the health of the bay itself – if there are no sea grass beds, there are no healthy populations of fish, scallops, shrimp, and other aquatic species. It is essential that we ensure our seagrass beds are maintained where they still exist and are restored where they have been depleted, such as in West Bay, which has lost over 1,000 acres of seagrass.
Biodiversity – the characteristic that truly elevates the St. Andrew Bay ecosystem to one of national significance and designates it as a coastal treasure. Currently over 6,300 documented species of plants, sea life and wildlife inhabit and are dependent upon our bay (estuary) and the watershed (uplands). It is believed that the actual number is significantly greater and BEST volunteer scientists, along with academic, state and federal biologists, continue to study and inventory ecosystem diversity. The bay itself has over 2,900 species which depend on it, including over 300 species of fish.
Bay County, Florida is blessed with diverse and abundant water resources. Along with our Gulf beaches, we have bays, springs, wetlands, bayous, creeks, ponds, steams, and lakes. We swim, play and boat in these waters, and marvel at their beauty. They provide us with drinking water and nourish us with food. And, our local economy is dependent upon them, too; visitors come from around the world to enjoy their beauty and abundance!
Stormwater runoff occurs during rainfall events. As rainwater flows across our lawns and streets, it picks up chemical pollutants, debris and litter, lawn fertilizers, pesticides, dirt, animal wastes, and other contaminants. The rainwater and all of the debris and contaminants it has picked up enters into our stormwater drain system, and is dumped untreated into our waterways.
The fertilizers and pesticides we use in our yards and gardens often end up in stormwater. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection estimates that nearly one third of the nitrogen pollution in our waterways is attributable to residential fertilizer use.
Our cars, trucks and other motor vehicles are sources of many pollutants in stormwater. Oil, antifreeze, petroleum, and brake fluids leak from vehicles onto parking lots and streets, or are spilled during maintenance. Heavy metal dusts from vehicle exhausts also settle onto our roads and parking lots. Washing and degreasing cars at home sends detergents and grease into our stormwater system. All of these pollutants end up in stormwater that is carried into the gulf, our bays, bayous, lakes, and creeks. These pollutants can become concentrated enough to contaminate and disrupt aquatic systems.
Held each spring, our annual Thirty Day of Green program provides speakers, events, tours, workshops and seminars to the community on such topics as sustainable development, green design and construction, walkable communities, native plant landscaping, and green technologies. Thirty Days of Green culminates with the Bay Green Expo, a free event featuring green businesses, non-profits, and government agencies offering innovative green technology, information and guidance to the general public.
Box City is one of the most exciting and important projects to date. This program allows young students to build model houses, businesses and municipal facilities such as fire stations or police station. Once the models are constructed and decorated, a model city is created under the guidance of urban planners and volunteers using smart growth planning criteria. Funding for Box City was generously provided by Marion G. & Barbara W. Nelson Foundation, Panhandle Engineering, McNeil Carroll Engineering, and Charlie Yautz.
Student field trips for secondary science classes provide an opportunity to teach young citizens about our ecosystem. Made possible through a grant from the Elizabeth Ordway Dunn Friends of St. Andrew Bay Education and OutreachFoundation, we are partnering with Bay District Schools and the St. Joe Company to provide these trips. Students participate in hands-on activities at a site on St. Andrew Bay and at St. Joe’s River Camps Development. Our guides discuss local topics including seagrass loss and salt marsh conservation, and the ecological need for controlled burns in pine forests. We expect approximately 400 students to benefit from the experience this year.
The Annual Econfina Creek Trash Bash is a popular event with robust community participation. Friends of St. Andrew Bay Education and OutreachInMay of 2007, we partnered with Bay County and initiated the 1st Annual Econfina Trash Bash. The initial Trash Bash was extremely popular and successful, with over 80 volunteers moving trash from the creek and its banks! Sponsors included Econfina Creek Canoe Livery, Publix Supermarkets, Home Depot, Panhandle Engineering, JR’s Rib Shack, Bayou George Grocery, Red Bar, E&E, Inc., USFWS, FFWCC, Buffalo rock, and the NWFWMD.