|
A Huge Thank You to Old Nick's Redfish Round Up!
|
|
|
We would like to thank all the coordinators and volunteers for making this event possible. Also, a special thank you goes out to all the fishing teams that signed up for the 12th Annual Old Nick's Redfish Round Up tournament. Seventy-five teams participated on May 20th even with the choppy swells and potential rain storm looming over head.
CBA had an amazing time helping out with weigh-ins and spot counts. Those redfish really do put up a fight!
CBA received $750 in donations from the tournament entries that will be put toward conservation efforts on our local waterways.
|
|
CBA counting redfish spots for our tournament participants.
|
|
|
CBA was the beneficiary of the 12th Annual Old Nick's Redfish Round Up receiving $750 dollars toward restoration in Choctawhatchee Bay.
|
|
With great food, great music and great people, no amount of rain can dampen the love we all share for our Choctawhatchee Bay. Old Nick's Redfish Round Up is the largest redfish tournament in the Gulf of Mexico. We are looking forward to next year and hope your fishing days this season are plentiful and fair-weathered. Thank you again to everyone who made this event possible and for sharing their Saturday afternoon fun with CBA.
|
|
|
Inaugural Choctawhatchee River Festival
at Morrison Springs
|
|
|
On May 13th, 2017, Morrison Springs in Ponce De Leon, FL hosted the Inaugural Choctawhatchee River Festival. Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance was on hand to educate visitors. Swimmers, divers and paddle boarders took in the spectacular beauty of Northwest Florida in one of our most popular recreational springs. It was an intimate event that we wholeheartedly enjoyed. We look forward to seeing you all next year! For more information regarding events in Walton County, be sure to click on the link below.
|
|
|
|
National Marina Day Celebration
|
|
|
We are celebrating National Marina Day at Bluewater Bay Marina Complex on Saturday, June 10th, 2017 from 9am-12pm near L.J. Schooner's Restaurant.
L.J. Schooner's will be having oyster specials all day!
Some of our activities for guests and information on our current programs at CBA will include:
-
Choctawhatchee Oyster Gardening Program Information Session with Volunteer Sign-Ups
-
Build-An-Oyster-Garden with CBA
-
O.Y.S.T.E.R. Recycling Program information
-
Oyster Activities for Children
Our Marina Cove oyster reef has been completed by our dedicated team of staff and volunteers, but fear not, oysters are still on our mind! With the revival of the Choctawhatchee Oyster Gardening Program, we aim to enhance the oyster population of Choctawhatchee Bay with help from our volunteers and citizen scientists. To find out more, stop by and visit our booths or use the link below to contact Ali Jean, CBA's Education Technician.
|
|
|
Pictured above, boaters spending the afternoon at the marina on National Marina Day 2016.
Pictured below, an example of the page cage oyster gardens volunteers can build on National marina Day 2017!
|
|
|
Join the Alliance! Donate to CBA, Today!
Become a steward of local waterways by supporting CBA's mission in the Choctawhatchee watershed.
All monetary donations to CBA are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
|
|
|
How Does CBA Monitor the Bay?
|
|
|
Why is Monitoring Dissolved Oxygen Important?
|
|
The answer is simple, marine organisms must breathe oxygen just like land-dwelling creatures. Every marine organism can tolerate different amounts of dissolved oxygen, but if the oxygen levels become too low, fish die-off can occur.
Fish, invertebrates, bacteria and plants all depend on dissolved oxygen.
Oxygen is able to slowly diffuse across water's surface or quickly mix into the water by aeration. It can also enter the water column as a byproduct of photosynthesis from underwater vegetation and phytoplankton. Oxygen dissolves in water much the same way as sugar or salt dissolves in water. Oxygen atoms bind to each other creating oxygen molecules that can be used by organisms.
Temperature and salinity levels will affect the amount of dissolved oxygen in water. As the temperature decreases, the saturation level -amount of DO water can hold- increases. Saltwater also holds twenty percent less oxygen than freshwater.
In Choctawhatchee Bay, dissolved oxygen is higher near the river delta, than the Destin Pass due to the difference in salinity levels.
|
|
|
Photo credit to www.fondriest.com
|
|
|
CBA needs Citizen Scientists!
|
|
|
Do you have an inner scientist waiting to shine through? Join CBA in monitoring our watershed and help our scientists by gathering data in the Choctawhatchee Bay and coastal dune lakes. With over 130 sampling stations, there is plenty of "sciencing" to go around.
|
|
|
Click on the link above to find out more about our program!
|
|
|
Someone with their own boat or access to a boat to take over:
- 3 sites near Destin Harbor and Crab Island
|
|
|
June 10, 2017
- National Marina Day 9-12
Bluewater Bay Marina Complex, Bluewater Bay, FL
June 24, 2017
- Nick's Kid Catfish Tournament 3:30-6pm
Nick's Seafood Restaurant, Freeport FL
|
|
|
- Mugil cephalus or striped mullet are catadromous; meaning they spawn in saltwater, but spend most of their lives in freshwater.
- M. cephalus are diurnal feeders, meaning they feed during the day and eat mainly zooplankton, dead plant material and detritus.
- M. cephalus is found worldwide in coastal tropical to warm temperate waters.
- M. cephalus leap out of the water frequently; biologists speculate this behavior could be to avoid predators or to clear their gills and give them an oxygen boost in oxygen-poor waters.
- Major predators of M. cephalus include fishes, birds, and marine mammals. Spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), for example, will prey upon mullet up to 13.8 inches in length!
|
|
|
|
We Want to Hear From You!
|
|
|
As a fellow environmental steward, CBA wants to see Choctawhatchee Bay through your eyes! Do you have photos of Choctawhatchee River, Choctawhatchee Bay or the Coastal Dune Lakes? Upload them to Instagram or Facebook and be sure to tag:
#BasinAlliance
or
#CBAfortheBay
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
