Friends of South Walton Sea Turtles (FOSWST)

Newsletter - September 2023

REMINDER!!

INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP

International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) day is Saturday, September 16. ICC is one of the world's largest annual events devoted to the preservation and protection of our oceans, waves, and beaches. Come out, bring your family and friends and be a part of this major volunteer event!

When: Saturday, September 16

Time: 9:00a.m. - 11:00a.m.

Registration opens at 8:45

Participant Cost: Free

Who: Everyone is invited, including VBAs, friends, families, and visitors

Where: 5 South Walton Regional Beach Accesses

An important goal of ICC is to document and study the type of trash collected during the global cleanup. In 2022, Walton County volunteers collected 4,293 items. The top 4 items collected in 2022 were: cigarette butts (855), plastic bottle caps (523), other plastic waste (497), and food wrappers (489).

Collection data for 2023 can either be collected on Paper Cards that will be provided at each site or using the Clean Swell App on a Smart device. You can access the Clean Swell App by clicking the following link. oceanconservancy.org/clean-swell-faq

2022 ICC MEMORIES

The pictures above show some of the VBAs, along with student and family volunteers that participated in the 2022 ICC event. As you can see, families, friends, and even basketball teams came out in Walton County to help in this national event.

Check out the fishing hook that was found! It is hard to believe that a hook of this size was found on the beach. Seeing this threat may help to encourage VBAs to bring their families and friends out on September 16 to help keep our beaches safe for wildlife as well as visitors.

EXTRA FACTS

Since its inception, ICC day has seen over 6 million cleanup volunteers.

ICC Day focuses on awareness about pollution, particularly in the oceans that make up over 70% of the planet.

An important goal is to document and study the type of trash collected during the global cleanup.

ICC is held on the third Saturday in September in over 100 countries worldwide.

VBA OF THE MONTH

Nick Taras

Nick and his wife Donna come here monthly from Nashville. Nick has been a VBA for six years and enjoys walking the beaches near the Santa Clara Beach access.

Nick's outgoing personality makes it easy for him to talk with visitors and is the reason Nick is a real asset to the FOSWST organization. He welcomes visitors and does all he can to educate them as to why the beaches need to be #CleanDarkFlat.

Nick is a valued VBA. We thank him for all he has done in his six years as a VBA.

SPOTLIGHT ON VISITORS

August's featured visitors to our beaches included families from Michigan, Indiana, Montana, and North Carolina. The first picture shows 12 members of a three generational family that gathered from Michigan and Indiana in Inlet Beach. Walton County beaches are not new to this family and the memories from this year will add to the many happy memories from past 30+ years.

The two lower pictures are families that came to Walton County beaches for the first-time during August. The family on the left is from Montana. VBAs were told that this family heard about the Emerald Coast from several friends and that a visit here was on their "bucket list." The North Carolina family on the right told VBAs that our beaches are the most beautiful they have ever seen and that they were surprised to find out the beaches are made of quartz. VBAs found these three friendly families eager to learn some sea turtle trivia including why our beaches need to be #CleanDarkFlat.

WHERE'S THEO?

Theo products include small and giant plush turtles, key chains, books, ornaments, caps, paintings, pillows, and placemats. Here are a few more of the locations where the Theo items can be purchased: Live Well 30A Gear and Apparel, Marble Slab Creamery & Great American Cookies, Hibiscus Coffee and Guest House, and Clint Eagar Design. For more information about each location, click on the pictures to connect to their website. Note, links are enabled for locations which have a secured website.

COASTAL DUNE LAKES

A coastal dune lake is a rare phenomenon only found in the panhandle of Florida, Australia, Madagascar, New Zealand, the Pacific NW of the US, and South Carolina. They are formed over time as high winds move sand to form shallow basins near the shore.

In Walton County, there are 17 named coastal dune lakes. They are (moving from west to east): Stewart Lake, Horseshoe Lake, Fuller Lake, Morris Lake, Campbell Lake, Stallworth Lake, Allen Lake, Oyster Lake, Draper Lake, Big Redfish Lake, Little Redfish Lake, Alligator Lake, Western Lake, Eastern Lake, Deer Lake, Camp Creek Lake, and Lake Powell which is adjacent to Camp Helen and Inlet Beach. The count could be higher if named sections of defined dune lakes are considered. The largest dune lake in Florida is Lake Powell which is in both Walton and Bay Counties.

Dune lakes are typically shallow and irregular in shape and are found within two miles of the Gulf Coast. The lakes are connected to the gulf by an "outflow" which helps to control the flood-level of the lake. The water can flow in both directions, to the gulf or away from the gulf. Depending on the climatic conditions, the water in a dune lake can be freshwater, salty, or brackish. The water is usually the color of tea or black.

When the water in the dune lake is released into the gulf, it can cause the emerald-green water of the gulf to turn brown. VBAs can feel free to let visitors know that this brownish water is not harmful and that the water will return to the beautiful emerald-green color in a short while.

Source: University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

A THREATENED SPECIES - THE FLORIDA MANATEE

A subspecies of the West Indian manatee, the Florida manatee is a slow-moving marine mammal. Florida manatees can be found as far west as Texas and as far north as Massachusetts. However, since they need warm water, the manatee returns to Florida for the winter. Manatees typically travel in small groups called aggregations. An aggregation usually contains up to six mammals.

Although they are typically 9-10 feet long, the Florida manatee can grow to over 13 feet. The average weight of a Florida manatee is 1,000 pounds but there are recorded manatee weights of over 3,500 pounds. A manatee eats seagrass, algae, and other vegetation.

Previously on the endangered species list, the population of the Florida manatee has increased over the last 30 years and the status has been changed from "endangered" to "threatened." Circumstances that place manatees at risk are the loss of warm water habitats, the red tide, and unusually cold weather. The human threat to manatees is primarily getting hit by boats. This occurs because the manatee is slow moving and swims close to the water's surface.

Source: University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences

RECENT VBA EDUCATION TEAM ACTIVITIES

SOUTHERN ORTHOPEDIC ASSOCIATION

On July 28, VBA volunteers presented a Turtle Education Program to 50 parents as well as 25 children and students from 3 years old to 15 years old visiting Sandestin as part of the Southern Orthopedic Association. VBAs read a Theo short story to the children 5 years old and under and used our famous "TIP" turtle to show bad things turtles can ingest such as plastic and hooks. The students over 5 years old completed the obstacle course which shows how nesting turtles can run into obstacles on the beach at night. VBAs spoke to the adults about the 3 species of turtles that nest in Walton County and how to protect these turtles from extinction. Handouts were provided.

OHANA SUMMER CAMP

Members of FOSWST conducted sea turtle training for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders that attended Camp Ohana on August 2-3, 2023. On Wednesday, August 2nd, VBA volunteers provided classroom training. Due to the exceptionally high temperatures, the outside activities scheduled for Thursday, August 3rd, were canceled.

REMINDERS

VBAs are no longer allowed to use their Blue whistles on the beach.

Don't forget to turn in your VBA hours. Click here to enter your hours VBA Hours

2023 TURTLE SEASON IS

MAY 1 THROUGH OCTOBER 31

WE MUST DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP OUR BEACHES #CleanDarkFlat

Please send your comments and photos of VBAs in action to vba@foswst.com. We would love to hear from you!

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