Become a CBA Supporter
Across the Choctawhatchee Bay, CBA works to improve swimmable, fishable waterways through education, research, monitoring, and restoration. We could not fulfill our mission without dedicated supporters like you, becoming CBA sponsors through monetary gifts of $25 or more.
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Locals Supporting CBA - We Thank You From Our Hearts
Newman-Dailey Resort Properties
We love this "#socialdistancing" check presentation from our friends at Newman-Dailey Resort Properties! This generous Earth Day gift was dropped off by CBA and Earth supporter, Tracy Louthain, whose own TLC Pubic Relations firm matched the gift. We adore our watershed champions!
CBA on the Bay
Hard Work on the Water
Our circumstances have changed, but our mission is steadfast. With schools closed and oyster recycling on hold, CBA was able to reassign staff time to complete 117 out of 132 monitoring sites last month. Our team of seven accomplished so much, but we can't wait until our citizen scientists are back on the water. We miss you!
Social Distancing With Native Plants
CBA spent a beautiful morning planting smooth cordgrass, saltmeadow cordgrass and sea oats at Marler Park near a previously constructed oyster reef. We had special permission from the Okaloosa County Parks Department to conduct our restoration work. We were accompanied by photographer Sean Murphy who documented our work towards enhancing living shorelines along our coast. Smooth cordgrass exists along the water's edge within the intertidal zone, while saltmeadow cordgrass thrives just beyond the high tide line. Marler Park is unique among our restoration sites in that it also hosts dune habitat that benefits from sea oats grown in our Dunes in Schools program. These plants will stabilize the accumulated sand and filter stormwater runoff from the park before it enters Santa Rosa Sound. Photos by: Sean Murphy
Virtual Lessons are Coming!
Video recording has begun! AmeriCorps NWF Environmental Stewards members, along with CBA staff, are filming virtual lessons to finish this year's Grasses in Classes program with students at home. We are currently working on the final two monthly Grasses in Classes lessons and a virtual field trip for 3rd and 5th-grade students. CBA is so grateful for such dedicated AmeriCorps members keeping our curriculum exciting and accessible.
News You Can Use
Species Spotlight: Bigclaw Snapping Shrimp ( Alpheus heterochaelis)
The Bigclaw Snapping Shrimp inhabits shallow marine habitats such as reefs, oyster beds, seagrass meadows, salt marshes, and mudflats.  A. heterochaelis  is the largest and most colorful of the snapping shrimps of the southeastern United States. They are monogamous and most often found as mated pairs. The most well-known and studied behavior of Bigclaw Snapping Shrimp is their ability to create loud "pops" with their modified snapping claw. These "pops" are used in communication and during the hunting of prey. Worms, small shrimp, crabs, other crustaceans, and even small fish such as gobies may be stunned or killed by the concussive claw snaps of Alpheus heterochaelis .

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