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Friends of St. Andrew Bay Focus Areas

Home Friends of St. Andrew Bay Focus Areas
friends st andrew bay focus areasWhen 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.

The efforts of the Friends of St. Andrew Bay can be divided in to five focus areas:

Habitat
Biodiversity
Stormwater
Sustainable Community
Education & Outreach
Habitat

The habitats of the St. Andrew Bay ecosystem are typical of a coastal community – open bay waters, seagrass beds, shorelines, intertidal mud flats, salt marsh wetlands, bogs and swamps, and upland meadows and forests. Each of these habitats supports a variety of plants and animals, some of which are only found here in the St. Andrew Bay system. We work to identify sensitive areas in need of conservation, preservation or restoration.

habitats St Andrew Bay ecosystemHabitat 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.

St. Andrew Bay Seagrass HabitatSeagrass 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.

Habitat Websites & Publications

The Big Picture: The St. Andrew Bay Watershed

The Big Picture: Econfina Creek

Emerging Waters: The Springs of Northwest Florida

Ecosystems

Wildlife and Habitats

Project GreenShores

Seagrass Restoration

Saltmarsh Restoration

Shoreline Restoration

Coastal Dune Restoration

Biodiversity
St Andrew Bay BiodiversityBiodiversity – 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.

BEST scientist and volunteers understand both the high diversity of the ecosystem, and the fragile nature of it.  Many wonderful – but sensitive- species of plants, marine invertebrates, insects, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals are among our diversity.  These species could be the first lost and eliminated if our ecosystem is not properly cared for and our natural resources conserved.

Biodiversity Websites

St. Andrew Bay Virtual Library

Endangered and Threatened Species in NW Florida

FWC Species Information

Audubon of Florida

Nature Conservancy Florida

EO Wilson Biodiversity Foundation

Stormwater
St. Andrew Bay StormwaterBay 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!

One of the challenges we face in preserving these treasures is managing stormwater runoff.  The Friends of St. Andrew Bay  recognize that one of the most important ways to conserve the resources of St. Andrew Bay, Deer Point Lake, and other surface waters is to properly manage stormwater, and help educate our community about the impact stormwater has upon our watershed.

What is stormwater runoff?

What Is Stormwater RunoffStormwater 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.

Polluted stormwater runoff adversely affects the animals and plant life in our gulf, our bays, lakes, creeks, springs, streams, bayous, and ponds.  It adversely affects humans, too! Polluted stormwater runoff can contaminate our drinking water sources, negatively impacts and diminishes our fisheries, and can shut down our beaches for swimming and fishing.

Some common sources of stormwater pollution
Pet waste, septic and sewer systems: Stormwater runoff washes pathogens like coliform bacteria, viruses, and protozoa into our swimming areas and shellfish harvesting areas, creating health hazards and leading to beach and shellfish harvesting closures.  In cities and towns, the primary sources of these disease-causing pathogens in stormwater runoff are improperly maintained and poorly functioning septic systems, leaks in the sanitary sewer systems, and pet waste.

Fertilizers & Pesticides

St Andrew Bay Stormwater Fertilizers PesticidesThe 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.

Fertilizers, also known as nutrients, harm water quality and aquatic ecosystems by causing algae to grow, leading to algae blooms.  These algae blooms use up much of the dissolved oxygen in the water, making the water hypoxic (low or lacking in oxygen). When waters become hypoxic from algae blooms, the fish cannot survive, leading to fish kills.

Pesticides are also harmful to harm aquatic systems.  Pesticides in stormwater runoff can contaminate aquatic ecosystems, injure sea life, interrupt their normal reproduction, and compromise their immune systems.  Accumulation of certain pesticide contaminants in the fish tissues can pose a health threat to humans.

Vehicles

St Andrew Bay Stormwater VehiclesOur 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.

Our health, our environment, and our economy all rely upon clean water.  Working together, we can reduce stormwater pollution!  If you or your organization would like to know more about our stormwater challenges, please contact us. We will be happy to speak to your group or organization!

Small Changes to Reduce Stormwater Pollution

Keep bacteria, viruses and other pathogens out of our waterways: 

Clean up pet waste and dispose of it properly.

Maintain your septic system, having it inspected at least every three years, and pumped every 3-5 years.

Never drive or park your vehicle on your septic drain field.

Never pour automotive fluids or hazardous waste into your septic system.

For more info on your septic system check out EPA’s booklet A Homeowner’s Guide to Septic Systems

Practice Florida Friendly Lawn Care:

Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly, and avoid using if the weather forecast calls for rain.

Use fertilizer with slow release or water-soluble nitrogen, and little or no phosphorus.  Better yet, use organic or natural fertilizers, and pesticides!

Choose drought resistant native grasses and plants for your lawn and garden, and native plants. Native plants are Florida friendly and require little or no fertilizer, pesticides, and water.   For great ideas on drought resistant and Florida native plants check out Florida Friendly Landscaping

Create a rain garden around your home. Rain gardens help to lock rainwater in the ground, reducing the flow of fertilizers and other pollutants flowing into stormwater drains.  Here’s a great site on the benefits of rain gardens and rain barrels: Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels

Keep yard waste and dirt out of stormwater gutters and storm drains.

Vehicle Care

Maintain your vehicle and repair fluid leaks as soon as discovered.

Dispose of used automobile fluids properly–don’t pour them down stormwater drains or into ditches. Contact Bay County for information on recycling and disposal sites.

Use a commercial carwash that treats or recycles its wastewater, or wash your car on the lawn rather than on pavement.

More Helpful Websites, resources, and publications

OOOH, Not in My Water! The Scoop on Pet Waste and Water Quality

Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure

Polluted Runoff

Reduce Stormwater Runoff: Landscaping Principles for Florida Friendly Yards

Making a Rain Barrel

Stormwater Systems in Your Neighborhood

Think About Personal Pollution

Sustainable Community

Well-planned and managed growth is critical to preserving our natural resources, stimulating a viable economy and retaining our quality of life.  Smart, sustainable growth preserves not only our natural resources, our critical environmental areas, and our watershed’s natural beauty; it also benefits our economy, and makes for a healthier community.

The mission of FSAB’s Sustainable Community Team is to share knowledge, promote and advocate sustainable principles to benefit our ecosystem and community, today and into the future.

Thirty Days of Green

Friends of St. Andrew Bay Thirty Days of GreenHeld 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

Friends of St. Andrew Bay Box CityBox 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.

Green Growth & Green Living Websites

Find out about Smart Growth, New Urbanism and Sustainable Communities:

Congress for New Urbanism (CNU), Florida Chapter

This is Smart Growth (pdf) from The Smart Growth Network

Sustainable Communities Network

CNU’s K-12 Teacher resources

Recycling tips and locations:

Recycling Locations in Bay County

Freecycling n Bay County

Earth911

Going Green!  Practicing sustainably in everyday life:

National Geographic’s Green Guide for Everyday Living

The Daily Green

Sustain Lane

Inhabitat: Green Design is Good Design

Low Impact Living

REgreen

TIP:  Eat seasonal, locally grown fruits and vegetables! Check out local farmers markets, such as  Panama City’s Downtown Farmers Market on Harrison Ave for locally grown, seasonal fruits and vegetables, local honey, home crafts, and more!   Every Saturday, 8 am-12 Pm May-August.  Also, check out the Bay County Farmers Market.  On the Westside? Try The Seaside Farmers Market, every Saturday 8 am-12 Pm April-September at Seaside, in Walton County.

Native Plant Gardening, Xeriscaping, and Organic Gardening:

Florida Native Plant Society

WasterWise Florida Landscapes

Xeriscape Guide from the NWFWMD (pdf)

UF IFAS Organic Gardening

Organic Gardening Guru

iVillage Organic Gardening Web

Education & Outreach

Education and outreach are of paramount importance to us. For nearly 20 years, BEST and the Friends of St. Andrew Bay have been hosting quarterly public seminars at Gulf Coast community College about issues of importance to our community and ecosystem. We present balanced information on many local environmental challenges, always trying to present both sides of an issue in order to properly inform attendees.

Student Field Trips

Friends of St Adrew Bay Student Field TripsStudent 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

Friends of St Adrew Bay Education OutreachThe 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.

The Econfina Trash Bash is just one of our annual events. To learn more about this and other FSAB events, email us with your request to be placed on our email distribution list. You’ll not only receive invitations to FSAB events and seminars, you’ll also receive digital copies of our quarterly newsletter.

Coastal Ecology Education Program – Coastal Complex

The new Coastal Complex, a result of our partnerships with NMFS and GCCC, offers a unique marine and terrestrial tour site for our Coastal Ecology Education Program. During the Seaside Safaris, volunteers and staff from BEST, Inc. provide instruction to students in the use of marine field equipment (loaned to us by USFWS) and assist them in using the equipment to collect and release marine animals in the St. Andrew Bay.  Recent improvements to the Coastal Complex include the new trail marker system on the Coastal Forest Trail. With the help of a group of volunteers, we re-surveyed the trails and created descriptive trail markers. Current needs for the CEEP program include securing funding for future years and increasing the number of trained tour guides.  For more information on how you can get involved, please contact our office.

Click here to see the specimens found along the Coastal Forest Trail (Trail Markers file)

Environmental EducationWebsites

www.education.noaa.gov

www.fws.gov/educators/educators.html

www.classroomearth.org

www.epa.gov/students

http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov

Volunteer with The Friends of St. Andrew Bay!

If you want to become more active in restoring and maintaining the biodiversity and beauty of St. Andrew Bay and its watershed, consider joining the Friends of St. Andrew Bay Volunteer Team!

Volunteering for Friends of St. Andrew Bay and our partners can be as easy as submitting a photo for the Friends of St.  Andrew Bay Newsletter, or as complex as scuba diving or computer programming! Whatever your talents, volunteer opportunities are available through Friends of St. Andrew Bay that will allow you to participate in preserving and maintaining the beauty and biodiversity of the St. Andrew Bay Watershed for generations to come.

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