IN FOCUS: TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT DEP - June 16, 2016

Florida Department of Environmental Protection sent this bulletin at 06/16/2016 01:53 PM EDT
florida department of environmental protection in focus

June Proclaimed as Great Outdoors Month

GOM

 

In celebration of Florida’s natural beauty and boundless recreational opportunities, Governor Rick Scott has proclaimed June as Great Outdoors Month. Florida is home to 174 state parks, trails and historic sites, 825 miles of beach, and more than 1,500 miles of multi-use trails that attract millions of visitors each year. Getting outdoors and exploring all that Florida has to offer is the perfect opportunity to spend time with friends and family, making lasting memories while also keeping healthy.

On June 25, get in touch with nature and sleep under the stars at one of Florida’s many state parks for the Great American Camp Out. In partnership with ReserveAmerica, Florida State Parks have created a new search tool, making it easier for visitors to reserve a state park campsite or cabin for a weekend trip on short notice or even a visit up to 11 months in advance. Weekends and holidays prove to be popular camping times, so visitors are encouraged to book their camping adventures early if possible.

When boating across Florida’s beautiful waterways this month, be mindful of what’s going on under the surface. DEP’s coral reef locator map on the ESRI ArcGIS mobile app is a great tool for boaters as it uses GPS to detect reef tracts and display alternative sandy areas to anchor, ensuring that these vital habitats are protected. Be sure to download this free app from your app store and search for the “Southeast Florida Coral Reef Locator” map.

New Buoys Aim to Protect Seagrass at St. Joseph Bay

buoy

Numbered buoys guide boaters into deeper water.

As the warm summer months continue, there's no better time to be out on the water. Boaters enjoying St. Joseph Bay will now have assistance to avoid running aground and harming the local seagrass communities. The Central Panhandle Aquatic Preserve has implemented a new “Caution Shallow Seagrass Area” buoy system to steer boaters away from shallow waters and into the deep-water channel.

Seagrass beds provide a variety of services to the aquatic inhabitants of St. Joseph Bay, including shelter and food sources, and they help to maintain the bay's general health. This new system will help prevent boaters from causing irreparable harm to these vital communities.

Brochures featuring a map of the buoy system and seagrass protection information will soon be available for boaters to pick up at local marinas, the St. Joseph Bay Buffer Preserve and the Gulf County Tourist Development Council.

 

Observe Florida's Unique Aquatic Life During Aquarium Month

aq

Rookery Bay's 2,300-gallon mangrove tank enables students to become immersed in the Everglades environment.

June is Aquarium Month! Visit a Florida State Park or National Estuarine Research Reserve to learn more about Florida’s unique underwater residents.

The Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center is home to a variety of marine life housed in seven different aquarium tanks. Three 50-gallon focus tanks allow guests a glimpse of the smaller inhabitants of the estuary. Additional tanks showcase a sculpted reef, seagrass community and mangrove habitat that model Florida’s coastal areas. A crowd favorite, the marine life touch tank, engages visitors and allows for an up close and personal experience with sea stars, horseshoe crabs and mollusks.  

The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Environmental Education and Visitor Center also hosts an impressive 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium perfect for exploring. The center features six additional 100-to 200-gallon aquariums showcasing the park’s diverse marine inhabitants.

DEP Celebrates National Marina Day with
Clean & Resilient Designations

marina

Statewide events recognized environmentally friendly marinas and celebrated the benefits of boating safety.

On June 11, DEP celebrated National Marina Day with a host of fun, statewide events promoting safe boating and the protection of Florida’s waterways. Fifteen marinas participated in the festivities, providing boat rides and demonstrating safe boating techniques and vessel safety checks.

Florida currently boasts 300 Clean Marinas, a designation given to marinas that take a proactive approach to environmental stewardship and implementing best management practices. The department has launched an interactive map to help Floridians and visitors find the locations of Clean Marinas around the state.

On National Marina Day, DEP recognized Naval Air Station Pensacola’s Bayou Grande and Sherman Cove marinas as Florida’s latest Clean & Resilient Marinas. The Clean & Resilient Marina designation is awarded to facilities that not only display a proactive approach to environmental stewardship, but a proactive approach to emergency/disaster preparedness as well. Both marinas have been a part of the Florida Clean Marina Program since 2007.