Emerald Coast Chapter
We are the beach people. The surfers, paddle boarders, kayakers, fishermen, swimmers, beach runners, and walkers. We are activists who want to protect the ocean environment, and our access to it! The ocean and beaches are our playground! More Details
New Coastal Monitoring Training Session!
The Surfrider Foundation’s Emerald Coast Chapter is partnering with knowledgeable and experienced coastal monitoring experts to bring you a first of its kind training session. Find out important information on endangered coastal species, beach pollution, coastal erosion, post-storm observations, and oil related impacts.
What: Beach monitoring training session
When: Saturday, July 18th, 9:30-11:00a.m.
Where: Perdido Key Visitor’s Center & Chamber of Commerce
15500 Perdido Key Dr.
Pensacola, FL 32507
Get Directions
Who: Everyone!
International Surfing Day
Join the Emerald Coast Chapter and Fluid Surf Shop as we celebrate International Surfing Day on June 20th!
WHAT: International Surfing Day Celebration: pot luck BBQ, picnic, and beach evening, surf, SUP, skim.
WHERE: Seashore Beachwalk, 530 Santa Rosa Boulevard, Fort Walton Beach (Okaloosa Island at County Beach Access #3)
WHEN: June 20th, 6pm ’till….
WHO: Everyone! Bring your friends and family!
Coastal Monitoring Coalition
Participate in a free, fun beach monitoring training session and be a part of citizen science!
What: Beach monitoring training session
When: Saturday, April 18th, 10am-12pm
Where: Gulf Shores Adult Activity Center
260 Clubhouse Drive,
Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Who: Everyone!
The Surfrider Foundation’s Emerald Coast Chapter is partnering with knowledgeable and experienced coastal monitoring experts to bring you a first of its kind training session. Find out important information on endangered coastal species, beach pollution, coastal erosion, post-storm observations, and oil related impacts. Here’s a look at what to expect:
Petty Officer Paul Burnett, USCG
Our current DWH responder will discuss how to report a pollution indecent to the NRC. He will share photos of unique coastal species and how to properly report injured or dead marine life.
Joey Whibbs
Former DEP SCAT member with exceptional oil spill response experience. Joey will share his extensive knowledge regarding oil spills. He will also discuss the differentiation between oil, peat, discolored sand, and other frequently misreported substances.
Roy Collins
Roy Collins with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management will present post response monitoring efforts which will include impacted areas along Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, and Ft. Morgan. He will have samples of current oil removed from the beaches so attendees can understand what the current weathered oil from the 2010 incident looks like today.
Surfrider Foundation Emerald Coast:
Chapter leaders will share information regarding other common sources of beach pollution, including threats to the health of our oceans and sea life by plastics, cigarette butts, balloons, cans, fishing line, etc. They will introduce you to a mobile app that can facilitate the reporting of pollution and wildlife concerns.
Coastal Monitoring Resources
The Emerald Coast Chapter is organizing a volunteer-run, coastal monitoring coalition to help patrol and protect our beaches. As part of the coalition creation, the Chapter is hosting a series of public coastal monitoring training sessions. These are some of the resources that are discussed, and that you may find are helpful as you monitor our local beaches.
Oil Protocol:
First of all, it is NOT suggested that you deliberately pick up the oil. Generally gloves are needed for that, as well as proper zip-loc bags for storage and sharing with responders. NITRILE gloves can be purchased at various dollar or grocery stores if you feel inclined to mitigate the MC252 oil from our Gulf waters or shoreline. If you find oil, make a note of the date, time and location (use GPS, compass coordinates, or use a landmark such as a crosswalk or access point). You’ll need this information later when you report the oil to the Coast Guard. If you find oil, please take a moment to call the USCG NRC at 800-424-8802 then Press 1 to make a report. This might take 3 minutes or so to do.
Eventually, we are hoping for a tar/oil “drop station” which could be placed at the EXIT of the Parks, or just after the exit, where one could conveniently drop it into some type of small box or unit.
If you find oily debris and are unsure of whether or not to report it, please feel free to reach out to Susan Forsyth with the Emerald Coast Surfrider Chapter. You can text her photos, and she will discuss your findings if you are on the fence about it. Susan Forsyth Vice Chair, Emerald Coast Chapter Surfrider Foundation: 630-624-0040
Identifying Oil:
MC252 is generally brownish rust in color, not always, but generally in that tone. Black or glossy dark globs of oil substance often are result of bilge or other oiling activity.
Peat will be crumbly, and often leaves black flecks on the sand it is sitting on. Not that all peat is merely organic roots and vegetation, but more times than not, the dark peat will not have oil inside.
However it has been documented that MC252 (BP) oil has been inside of the peat. The only way to know is to break it open, and you might see a brownish-rust soft crude-oil smelling debris inside.
It is not suggested that you go to that extensive investigation unless you have proper gloves on to avoid oil contact to your skin. There are also rocks, charred wood, minerals that sit on our beaches which can resemble oil too.
The oil will often stick to shells or since it weighs the same as a shell, you will find it mixed in with shell hash, or in the wrack line, where you see the shorebirds eat or crab resting- an area full of rich resources for our beach system.
Photo documentation:
Generally it is suggested to take photos when you find the pollution on the ground/surf. Then take a photo of your surroundings of where you are for this pollution incident. Then take a screen shot of the specific place-either with Google Earth or Maps. This is discussed at the end of this post. If you see birds, crab, children, dogs at the place of the incident, please document that as well.
If you see that people are causing problems around a sea turtle nest, or harassing any marine life/beach wildlife, please photo document that incident along with the Latitude/Longitude if possible.
If you notice what could be sea turtle tracks- which look like scoot marks from large feet, or from some type of beach chairs, etc… try to take photos of that to share with officials, along with GPS/Lat-Long.
Trash:
Cigarette butts are one of the top pieces of pollution found on our beaches. The cigarettes also contain dangerous compounds, and if you have gloves and a way to dispose of them, the turtles and fish certainly don’t need that as part of their diet plan!
Cans- it takes 400 years for an aluminum can to deteriorate.
Plastics- We’ve all heard of the dangers of plastic, plastic rings used for cans etc… removing these things from our beach creates a healthy environment for all.
Fishing lines- Again, we’ve seen the tragic results of fishing line inside marine mammals, or injuring shorebirds. Disposal is always appreciated.
Balloons- These latex and mylar pieces of trash are very dangerous to sea life. Removing these items from our beaches is always a plus!
More here on eliminating single use plastics!
Wildlife:
Please DO NOT attempt to assist the animals.
Permit holders are the only ones who are able to touch any of the wildlife.
First contact the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to report the animal and for information on how to proceed.
Call the FWC regarding:
Sea Turtle Observations- nesting, harassment, strandings.
Shorebirds- disruptions of nesting areas, harassment, injuries.
Marine Mammal strandings or death.
888-404-FWCC (888-404-3922) Press 7.
To report fish kills, contact the Fish Kill Hotline: 800-636-0511
For more FWC reporting resources click here.
Key Contact Information:
Susan Forsyth Vice Chair, Emerald Coast Chapter of Surfrider Foundation
vicechair@emeraldcoast.surfrider.org
Please text or call Susan if you have pictures of suspect oil, or peat, or to report anything unusual along the beach. Please contact Susan to discuss any concerns or suggestions on the Coastal Monitoring Coalition, as this program is in its beginning stages.
Communication Tools:
Twitter:
Follow us on Twitter @GulfCMC and use the hashtag #gulfcmc to track all pollution on our Gulf beaches.
You can take a photo, and immediately upload it to twitter as a “tweet” on your own page. If you add @GulfCMC it will also be on our page. If you can hashtag it #gulfcmc this will allow your report or photo to be tracked and accessible. If you have an NRC number, you can add that to your tweet too.
Sample Tweet:
NRC 111 1012 Tar balls in wrack line at Santa Rosa Beach Florida 3/17/15. Pelicans/terns fishing too. #gulfcmc @GulfCMC
Then in the same tweet, press the little rectangle box with a mountain-scape on it, to add a photo of the oil onto twitter too.
When you add a photo, this will reduce the number of letters you can use in your tweet to about 117 instead of the 140 characters allowed per tweet.
SkyTruth:
If you want to add to the formal “documentation process” please go to: http://oilspill.skytruth.
We have been using this web based gulf oil spill tracking site since June 2010.
If you scroll backwards through the pages, you will see a number of NRC Reports and oil sightings made from the Florida panhandle. Many include photos.
These are from citizens such as yourself.
Google Earth:
You can add this to your phone if it is not a pre-loaded App.
I will take a “screen shot” of the map which will show Latitude/Longitude. This is helpful if you have multiple areas to report oiling and document
impacts along a stretch of beach. Taking a screen shot varies on each device, but often you will hit 2 buttons at the same time to get a photo of your screen. This is usually the ON/OFF button and what
they refer to as the HOME button on the bottom center of your mobile device. Press both of them at the same time, and it should take a photo of your screen!
Compass:
Most Android and iPhones have this pre-loaded. It might not be on your first page, so scroll through your Apps to see where yours might be and calibrate it so it can be ready for beach use.
Generally it should immediately show your Latitude and Longitude.
Google Maps:
You should have this on your device already, but most MAPPING will have the Latitude and Longitude of your location. in the least, it will have address to give for your NRC Report.
Coastal Monitoring Training
The Surfrider Foundation’s Emerald Coast Chapter is partnering with knowledgeable and experienced coastal monitoring experts to bring you a first of its kind training session. Find out important information on endangered coastal species, beach pollution, coastal erosion, post-storm observations, and oil related impacts.
What: Beach monitoring training session
When: Wednesday, March 25th, 6:30-9:00PM
Where: Escambia County Central Office Complex
3363 West Park Place, Room 104
Pensacola, FL 32505
Who: Everyone!
Here’s a look at what to expect:
Petty Officer Paul Burnett, USCG
Our current DWH responder will discuss how to report a pollution incident to the NRC. He will share photos of unique coastal species and how to properly report injured or dead marine life.
Joey Whibbs
Former DEP SCAT member with exceptional oil spill response experience. Joey will share his extensive knowledge regarding oil spills. He will also discuss the differentiation between oil, peat, discolored sand, and other frequently misreported substances.
Surfrider Foundation Emerald Coast:
Chapter leaders will share information regarding other common sources of beach pollution, including threats to the health of our oceans and sea life by plastics, cigarette butts, balloons, cans, fishing line, etc. They will introduce you to a mobile app that can facilitate the reporting of pollution and wildlife concerns.
Join us for Florida Coasts & Oceans Day
Join the Surfrider Foundation and Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition on March 24th and 25th at the Florida Capitol for Florida Coasts & Oceans Day!
We’ll kick things off with a lobbying training session on March 24th from 6:00-7:30pm at 621 Gallery, followed by a reception and mixer at Grasslands Brewery!
On March 25th we’ll have educational displays from other environmental causes and will spend the day meeting with legislators and attending committee meetings, touring the capitol, and networking with other ocean champions from across the state!
Call for Volunteers!
Surfrider is all about grassroots volunteering, that means getting people involved in activities and outreach in our local community and state, and helping them take the lead on creating change! There’s always something you can do to help, and if you have a good idea or know of an opportunity, let us know. For volunteer opportunities contact Mike Sturdivant or Susan Forsyth.
We are actively looking for new members for our Executive Committee, and need new committee members to help lead beach cleanups, plan social events, or implement any other ideas you might have!
New drilling off the Atlantic Coast?
The federal government has proposed new offshore drilling for oil off the Atlantic coast. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) Draft Five Year Drilling Program includes plans for oil drilling in the Mid- and South Atlantic, as well as the Arctic Ocean. New offshore drilling would pollute our oceans and cause major impacts to marine wildlife including whales, dolphins, and fish populations. Tell BOEM that we don’t need another Deepwater Horizon on the Atlantic Coast! No to new oil and gas drilling and expanded seismic testing in the Atlantic! Click here to send in your comments!
Emerald Coast Chapter to Lead Volunteer Monitoring Efforts
The Emerald Coast Chapter is continuing to monitor our Florida Panhandle beaches for ongoing impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. As of the end of December, the Florida DEP and U.S. Coast Guard have completed their monitoring programs. It’s now up to the public and volunteers to report oiling, tar balls, and tar mats. Here’s a bit more information on our Vice Chair, Susan Forsyth’s volunteer efforts:
Susan Forsythe with the Emerald Coast Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to the protection of the ocean, waves and beaches through an activist network, has spent 3,000 hours volunteering to monitor beaches from Bay County to Baldwin County, Ala., and documenting and reporting tar balls to the NRC since the oil spill.
She said she and other members will stay vigilant in that mission. They also are looking into recruiting other beachgoers to help fill the void left by DEP.
“We are talking with the Coast Guard, and they said they would have a training session with locals from the beach community and train them to know how to identify MC-252 oil,” she said. “It has a distinct color and look.”
Surfrider will alert the public when and if this training materializes.
Click here to read the full article. The Chapter is looking for volunteers to help with their monitoring efforts. To find out how you can get involved or to learn more, please contact Vice Chair Susan Forsyth.
Today's Coastal Factoid
