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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We had a great turn out at our participating libraries: Niceville Public Library, Fort Walton Beach Library, and Walton County Coastal Branch Library. Families learned about Smooth Cordgrass and how it helps the intertidal ecosystem of our Bay. Children ended with a field trip at 3 of our living shoreline locations to plant these important salt marsh grasses, play fun games and discover marine life.

 

If you would like your local library to host Shelves to Shores next summer please contact our Education Coordinator Amanda Briant at brianta@nwfsc.edu . 

AmeriCorps members, CBA staff, and local volunteers have been working hard to make major progress removing invasive reeds from our coastal dune lakes! The phragmites forms dense bamboo-like stands that can choke out waterways. The channel that connects Western Lake to the Grayton portion of the lake is being restricted. The restoration team has been cutting back the invasive vegetation, loading into ghenoes, and towing it back by kayak to an area where it can be hauled away and destroyed. See photos of the removal process at Western Lake below.

The  Destin Forward  Class of 2019 chose to refurbish CBA boats as their class project. In addition to volunteering with us to build living shorelines at Marler Park, and using good old-fashioned elbow grease to clean and polish the boats, the class was able to raise enough funds to buy a new trailer for our Mako, re-upholster the seats, and purchase accessories and decals for both boats. We extend a big thanks to  Destin Forward , a program presented by our friends at the  Destin Chamber of Commerce !

Photo by Sean Murphy

This fish earns its common name through the pin-like rays on its dorsal fin. Adults prefer waters between 30-50 feet deep, while juveniles are more common in seagrass beds, rocky bottoms, jetties, pilings, and mangroves. They are often used as bait by anglers targeting red drum, spotted sea trout, and flounder.

CBA's summer seagrass research is well underway in the Bay! Check out this photo of seagrass propeller scarring, caused by boat props digging into the sand, taken near Crab Island. Once scarred like this, it can take up to 10 years for seagrass to recover. Why does it matter? Seagrass is not only a great food source for marine life, but also acts as a nursery for many creatures. Our staff has spotted plentiful juvenile bait fish, needlefish, lizardfish, toadfish, sting rays, blue crabs, and more here in Choctawhatchee Bay. Help us protect our seagrass meadows by slowing down and trimming up your motor when entering shallow areas around the Bay.