PRSRT STD ECRWSS - EDDM ocals U.S. POSTAGE PAID L Santa Rosa Beach, FL get it! PERMIT NO. #11 JUNE 2021 Postal Customer Local VOL. 3, NO. 11 DESTIN Protecting One of Our Community’s Greatest Assets: The Choctawhatchee Bay BY BRIAN L. UNDERWOOD, Breakfast | Lunch | Espresso CBEP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 985 Highway 98, Destin AND LORI SMITH, PUBLISHER (850) 424 6777 | CafeDestin.com One of our area’s most beautiful, coveted and useful Newly Reopened! See coupon pg. 43. resources has been experienc- ing significant challenges— ones that affect water quality, natural systems and benefits Saving the provided by our own Choc- tawhatchee Bay. And, wheth- er you think about it or not, Sea Turtles this massive body of water is BY RITA L. SHERWOOD woven into our everyday lives Whether you’re a local or not, as we come and go…to work, one major issue with our beautiful to fish, to boat, to play, to re- beaches here on the Emerald Coast ceive goods, to experience is helping the sea turtles. If you’ve magnificent views, nature and been to the beach, I bet you’ve ei- wildlife, and the list goes on. ther seen an area roped off for a sea A defining characteris- PHOTOS BY CHELSEA CONLEY turtle’s nest, seen a sign to fill in any tic of the coastal reaches of holes on the beach, or maybe even the Choctawhatchee River will bring continuing chang- our region, the contributions encountered a volunteer asking you and Bay watershed has been es in land use and increasing from this natural environment to pick up your trash. growth and development in demands on wastewater and to our economy and quality We all know the phrase: “Clean, our region. Our population stormwater management sys- of life cannot be overstated. dark, flat.” Clean: We can all do has increased significantly tems. (source: 850 Business) Ecologically diverse, the water- our part to protect the sea turtles by over the last several decades Encompassing more than shed, land areas that drain into keeping the beach clean by remov- with a projected 21.24 percent 5,000 square miles, the Choc- the Bay, includes one of Flor- ing all of your belongings, including growth over the next 20 years. tawhatchee Bay watershed ida’s largest alluvial rivers, an trash when you leave the beach; leave Some of the greatest growth extends through six counties no trace. Dark: Artificial light dis- is in Okaloosa, Walton, Santa in Northwest Florida and 10 BAY turbs nesting sea turtles and hatch- Rosa and Bay counties, which counties in Alabama. Within continued on page 2 C.A.R.E. continued on page 2 YEAR ROUND DEEP SEA FISHING Individual Tickets or Private Charters Available $95 per Person for a 6-Hour Trip • Multiple Voyage Selections FAST • CLEAN • AIR CONDITIONED • RESTROOMS Book online at www.DestinPartyBoatFishing.com or Call Us at (850) 837-5088 | (888) 837-5088 Experience You Can Trust • The Locals’ Real Estate Pro MaryCCIM, CRB, CRS, GRI, RRS, Anne e-PRO. Windes www.Destin-Real-Estate.com | 210A Harbor Blvd. | 850.837.2211 Page 2 Destin Life www.mydestinlife.com June 2021 Community BAY To help preserve the Bay organized technical advisory, continued from page 1 qualities we hold dear, the Choc- education and outreach com- tawhatchee Bay Estuary Pro- mittees comprised of region- expansive riverine floodplain, gram (CBEP) was recently es- al partners, who provide local a 129-square mile estuary, tid- tablished as a community-based, knowledge and information on al marshes and seagrass beds non-regulatory organization to watershed issues. “We are hop- as well as coastal dune lakes, coordinate stewardship initia- ing to build our partnerships to Floridan aquifer springs, barrier tives for the Choctawhatchee include a Community Advisory islands and longleaf-wiregrass Bay and its watershed, aspiring Committee and a Business and forests. It also includes some to protect and enhance these Industry Committee comprised of Northwest Florida’s fastest valuable assets for our enjoy- tance award to the Gulf Con- vation and Management Plan of business owners, land owners growing communities, including ment and benefit. These include sortium and Okaloosa County, (CCMP) is currently being draft- or other members of the com- ours, as well as extensive public restoring water quality, restor- on behalf of the Estuary Pro- ed for the Choctawhatchee Bay, munity interested in becoming and private conservation lands. ing and conserving its habitat, gram, consistent with criteria River and headwaters. Consis- involved in the Estuary Program The water resources that replenishing and protecting set out in the RESTORE Act tent with the U.S. EPA’s Nation- and the CCMP development,” comprise the Choctawhatchee living coastal and marine re- at 33 U.S.C. 1321(t)(3)(B)(i). al Estuary Program standards, says Chelsea Conley, CBEP River and Bay provide numer- sources, enhancing community Governance is provided by the the Choctawhatchee’s CCMP Outreach Specialist. ous functions critical to our resilience and revitalizing our Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary will highlight priority resource If you would like to learn quality of life. The watershed’s diverse coastal economy. Grants Coalition Board of Directors, groups along with strategies to more about the Choctawhatchee wetlands and floodplains store and funds raised allow groups represented by County Com- mitigate many of the known Bay Estuary Program, visit and regulate stormwater run- who have long worked on these missioners from Okaloosa, Wal- challenges. Some of these strat- MyOkaloosa.com/cbec/pro- off, protecting water quality, assets to coordinate their efforts, ton, Holmes and Washington egies include best practices for gram_overview.html or Face- providing flood protection, and educate, steward, strengthen Counties in Florida. Other or- community resilience, water book.com/Choctawhatchee- recharging aquifers and potable and maintain this vibrant con- ganizations represented on the quality protection, natural re- BayEstuaryProgram. For water supplies. Its lakes, streams tribution to our economy. Board include the State of Al- sources management and land additional information, contact and coastal waters sustain nu- In 2019, the Choctawhatchee abama’s Choctawhatchee, Pea use planning. Chelsea Conley, Outreach Spe- merous species of fish, shellfish Bay Estuary Program was the and Yellow Rivers Watershed Initial planning strategies cialist, at 850-609-5390 or ccon- and wildlife. Its springs provide beneficiary of grant funding Management Authority, the have been successful, yielding [email protected]. windows to the aquifer, and its from The Nature Conservancy. Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance positive stakeholder engage- wetlands and coastal barriers Additional Program funds have and Eglin Air Force Base as an ment. Reflecting the National provide resiliency against storms been received through a federal ex-officio participant. Estuary Program model, the and coastal change. RESTORE Act financial assis- A Comprehensive Conser- Choctawhatchee program has DESTIN Published Monthly C.A.R.E. marine animal rescue and reha- Although every effort is made Mailed FREE to the communities bilitation—encouraging aware- to release the turtle back to the continued from page 1 of Destin, FL (32541) ness through public education ocean, occasionally a sea turtle lings; so, turn off all lights on or as well as opportunities for lo- is deemed non-releasable due to P.O. Box 1424 near the beach. Flat: When you cals to actively participate. medical or physical limitations. Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 leave the beach each day, please If you break it down further, These turtles are given a perma- Editor & Publisher to conserve is to ensure the fu- nent home and full-time care at knock down any sandcastles and Lori Leath Smith fill in any holes. itation for many years through ture of marine animals and the Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center. [email protected] We’re so passionate about the the C.A.R.E. Center. Devel- their habitats. To act is to play Along with the turtles being sea turtles that we even have a lo- oped in 2015 as a non-profit to an active role in marine con- rehabilitated for release, the Director, Advertising Sales cal celebrity named Theo. Who facilitate and further its contin- servation. To rehabilitate is to Gulfarium’s C.A.R.E. Center is Scott Miller is Theo? Theo is a lovable, plush ued coastal conservation efforts, support marine animal rescue, also permanently caring for two [email protected] turtle with a mission—to help the program has helped to reha- recovery and release. And to ed- Loggerhead sea turtles. They protect and sustain the threat- bilitate and release various spe- ucate is to inspire awareness for both were stranded along the Production & Layout ened sea turtle population along cies of sea turtles found on the marine conservation issues. beaches of the Emerald Coast Kim Harper the Gulf Coast of Florida. “I’m Gulf Coast, from the Logger- Rehabilitation starts when originally and have now been Contributing Writers a little turtle on a big mission. head, Green, Kemp’s Ridley, to a sea turtle patient arrives; it is deemed non-releasable due to Rita Sherwood I’m here to save my fellow threat- the Leatherback. Through the evaluated by animal care and medical or physical limitations. ened sea turtles,” says Theo. years, hundreds of sea turtles veterinary staff using guidelines On the website Gulfarium.com, To Advertise One of Theo’s favorite plac- have been rehabilitated and re- from the Florida Fish and Wild- click on “Meet Our Animals” 850.688.9886 es is our very own Gulfarium on leased back into the wild by the life Conservation Commission. and learn about rescued sea Destin Life assumes no financial liability for errors Okaloosa Island known as the Gulfarium. These guidelines give staff the turtles and other animals that or omissions in printed advertising and reserves the right to reject/edit advertising or editorial Gulfarium Marine Adventure In fact, the C.A.R.E.