U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and Congressman Jeff Miller submitted legislation March 18 which could provide fee simple ownership to certain Santa Rosa Island leaseholders.
Sign pollution, a contingency plan for beach renourishment funding and adding lifeguard coverage west of Navarre Beach Fishing Pier are top concerns for some island residents.
After a 70-day journey from the Florida Everglades, participants in the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition March 19 paddled up to Fort Pickens, ending a 1,000-mile trek aimed to improve the state’s wildlife areas.
America the Beautiful Passes – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass – is a convenient way to visit more than 2,000 sites, from Grand Canyon National Park to Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. If visiting several areas, the pass can save travelers money. There is no limit on the number of sites you can see, and each pass covers entrance fee or standard amenity fees for a driver and passengers in a personal vehicle at a per-vehicle fee area, such as Gulf Islands National Seashore.
Last October, Santa Rosa County received nearly $1.84 million in the final phase of early restoration funding resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Planned projects include new beach access boardwalks and a canoe/kayak launch at Navarre Beach Marine Park.
The Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center (NBSTCC) hosts a Trash Bash each month, collecting debris found along the beach in order to protect sea turtles that nest on the beach as well as other forms of marine life.
Only two proposals have been submitted so far for roughly $4.3 million in local funding available through the first round of RESTORE Act funding – monies aimed toward 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill recovery efforts.
Lifeguard season on Navarre Beach begins Saturday, March 14. Initially, four lifeguards will be on duty from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Staff will monitor the number of swimmers at the public Gulf-side beach areas, manning the one or two towers with the greatest need. As the number of swimmers increase, lifeguard staffing will increase to 10 or 12 providing coverage seven days a week at all four lifeguard towers. Lifeguard season ends Sunday, Oct. 25.
