CBA Newsletter

[CBA]

Volume 9.1 January—March 2005
N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E CHOCT AWH A T C H E E B A S I N A L L IANCE

The Alliance
Many readers of this newsletter have watched with keen interest as the Choctawhatchee
Basin Alliance has developed from a concern within the community
in 1996 to the operational structure that exists within our organization today. Over
the years CBA has taken major strides in establishing a strong foundation for realizing
the vision of its founders. As CBA determines its goals for the new year and
confronts the numerous environmental obstacles in maintaining a healthy watershed,
the tasks seem unending. While all of us are making efforts to protect the
watershed, the heavy growth in development and the huge infrastructure demands
created by the explosion in population have greatly increased the threats
to our beloved waterbodies. To truly be effective in offsetting these enormous
pressures, an organization must have the resources necessary to counterbalance
the enormous effort this requires. CBA recognizes this fact and is primed to take
the next organizational step in its ongoing efforts to be stewards of the Choctawhatchee
Watershed.
With this in mind, CBA recently launched a campaign to increase awareness
and participation with members of the community that can assist CBA in reaching
this next level. An event was hosted in December to communicate CBA’s outlook
and needs for the upcoming year in order to garner involvement in board
membership and fundraising. The evening began by acknowledging past efforts
to assist CBA; most notable was Senator Clary’s generous involvement. The event
progressed to a presentation by Board Chair, Dennis Peters, on the current status
of CBA, our ambitious agenda for the upcoming year and the objectives necessary
to achieve it. The presentation was graciously welcomed by the audience,
and was instrumental in sparking more interest for CBA. The evening was a
great success and ended with many promises of assistance for CBA in the
upcoming years.
To fulfill our founders’ vision of being stewards of the Choctawhatchee Watershed,
it will take an organization that has deep roots within the community as well
as the resources to accomplish their many wishes. CBA is anxious to be the organization
that assumes this role and is developing a strategic plan to accomplish
this task. However, these ambitious goals can only be realized if the community
truly supports our effort. If you have not been involved with CBA lately, we
encourage you to contact us and see how you can participate in this
important endeavor.

Volunteer Spotlight
Hal Rhodes

This month’s volunteer spotlight is focused on Mr. Hal Rhodes of the Coastal Dune Lake
Program. Hal was one of the first people to volunteer for the Coastal Dune Lake Program
and has been an instrumental addition since 2002. Hal believes “what CBA is doing for the
lakes needs to be done.” Hal further adds in his trademark, dry tone “besides, because of
my past experience as a research chemist for the Texaco Company, I did not have to learn
a whole lot to monitor the lakes.” Hal has certainly displayed his expertise in being the lead
volunteer for both Campbell and Morris Lake of the Tops’l Hill Preserve. His most recent efforts
have been to coordinate with the Park Service (Tova Spector and Leda Sudan) to
document the changes in Morris Lake caused by Hurricane Ivan.
Hal has long had an affinity for the environment and has expressed this passion through
years of volunteer work in this field. Since moving to the area in 1994, Hal and his wife, Myra,
have taken an active role in environmental organizations such as the Friends of Emerald
Coast State Park, which he was named president in 2001-2002, and as current president of
the Friends of Tops’l Hill Preserve. “The Florida State Park System has provided some amazing
experiences for my wife and I,” states Hal. He continues by adding that “the parks are
vital because they preserve the natural state of our environment while providing public access
to these valuable treasures.” While exploring his favorite state parks, Hal has developed
a great interest in native plants. He is a member of the Native Plant Society, and is
one of the parks’ experts on local flora.
Through his many volunteer efforts within the community, Hal has proven his dedication to
the natural environment in the Panhandle. More importantly, he has become a valuable
asset to both CBA and the Florida State Park Service.

Board Spotlight
Jane Roberts
5/22/28 – 11/20/04

CBA says goodbye to a beloved friend and board member,
Jane Roberts. During her six years of dedication to
CBA Jane served as the Public Outreach Chair and
played a key role in the organization’s growth and direction.
Ms. Roberts served on the Technical Advisory Committee,
helping to develop CBA’s foundational guidance
of goals and objectives; “Breaking New Ground”. Jane
was an active participant in four of CBA’s annual Bay Day
celebrations, servings as the lead media spokesperson.
Associated with the Bay Day events were the Technical
Symposia, where she developed materials for public education
and environmental awareness to support discussions
of key environmental issues associated with the economic
stability of the Basin’s resources.
Contributions may be made to the Arthritis Foundation in
Jane’s name.

Choctawhatchee Bay
Monitoring

CBA has been sampling the two
freshwater sites, Black Creek and
the Choctawhatchee River, since
January 2003. Currently these are
the only fresh water sites in the Bay
Rally program and ideally in the
future the monitoring will extend all
the way up the contributing waters
to the Alabama state line. The
Choctawhatchee River and the
smaller streams, rivers and creeks
that comprise the watershed are
very important to the health of the
Choctawhatchee Bay ecosystem.
The Bass Pro Shop in Destin along with the SUPERBASS Club have created a Florida Panhandle
Division. The SUPERBASS Tournament Trail began on January 15th at the Black Creek
Lodge in Freeport and will continue with seven other events extending through July. Each
tournament ends with the fish weigh-in and prize presentation. Numerous sponsors have donated
excellent prizes that will be raffled
off at the end of each tournament
with all the proceeds from the
raffle being donated to the Choctawhatchee
Bain Alliance. CBA will
work with the tournament directors to
collect information about the fish
along with physical parameters of
the waters in which they were
caught. The turn out for this first tournament
was small, but the sponsors
hope to increase the attendance at
each event. For more information on
the SUPERBASS Panhandle Tournaments
contact Joy Brown at (850)
650-9330 or bayrally@owc.edu.

Coastal Dune Lakes
Monitoring
The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) developed the
Coastal Dune Lake Program (Program) in the latter part of 2001
from a desire within the community to address the ecological
needs of the globally rare and imperiled Coastal Dune Lakes. CBA
began the program as a periodic monitoring effort with limited
educational opportunities, but quickly realized the enormous task
of ensuring the stability of these lakes. Since then the Program has
rapidly grown to a monthly volunteer monitoring effort; an information
source for the community; and a provider of restoration
projects to enhance the lakes.
The past year was the most successful one yet. During 2004, over
40 volunteers contributed more than 1,200 hours to the Program;
exceeding the total hours provided in 2003 by 33% and increasing
the number of volunteers by over 10. To date, 2,500 hours have
been donated to the community through CBA’s efforts. If this is
calculated with the Federal Rate for volunteer hours ($17.35),
then approximately $43,000 of community service is being committed
to ensure the future of the globally rare and imperiled
Coastal Dune Lakes in volunteer hours alone.
The upcoming year looks to build upon 2004’s success. The volunteer
program and outreach efforts will continue to be a central
priority for the Program. In addition, CBA will increase its
efforts to coordinate with established partnerships in acquiring the
funds necessary for projects to make a significant difference in the lakes such as invasive/exotic species
removal, shoreline restoration and stormwater retrofits. Identifying the problem areas through volunteer
efforts, developing a strategic fix through scientific analysis and acquiring the funds necessary
to fix the problem through established partnerships have been and will continue to be the key priority
for the Coastal Dune Lake Program in the upcoming year.
I would like to extend a special thanks to all of the volunteers who put up with me in 2004. You are
truly what makes the Coastal Dune Lake Program so special.
Hal Rhodes
Katherine Kennard
and Family
Brenda Rees
Sammi Samora
George and Kitty
Cottingham
Bill Wade
Leda Sudan
Tova Spector
Bill Lewis
Larry Livingston
Carl Kirst
The Burnette Family
The Poundstone Family
Bill Rock and Family
Caroling Geary
Earl Day
Elyse Haug
Jennifer Jones and Family
The Sroufe Family
Scott Jackson
Rebecca Coley
Candi Ellis
The Liles Family
The Hartman Family
Ann Quinn
Fay Belshe
Matt LaBo
Mooncreek Studios
Mooncreek Studios




Membership Sign up and Renewal Form“Striving to Protect and Enhance the Resources of the Choctawhatchee Basin”
Name ___________________________
Address__________________________
City _____________St____Zip________
Telephone (H) _____________________
Telephone (W)_____________________
E-mail Address _____________________
Additional Donations:
Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance
100 East College Boulevard
Niceville, Florida 32578
□ Choctawhatchee Bay $_________
Monitoring Program
□ Costal Dune Lakes $_________
Monitoring Program
Total Enclosed $_________
□Individual/Family $25 Annually
□Bronze Alligator $250 Annually
Sponsor
□Silver Osprey $500 Annually
Sponsor
□Golden Dolphin $1,000 Annually
Sponsor
□Platinum Sturgeon $2,500 Annually
Sponsor
Page 5 The Alliance Volume 8.4
Volunteer
Opportunities
Welcome
□ Water Quality Monitoring
□ Marsh Grass Restoration
□ Speakers Bureau
□ CBA Information Booth
□ Children’s Educational
Activities
□ General Education
□ Newsletters/Brochures
□ Grant Writing
□ Fundraising
□ CBA Office
□ Whatever

office:
850-650-9330

website:
www.basinalliance.org

Board Officers
Dennis Peters
Chair
Taylor Kirschenfeld
Secretary
Ross Hamilton
Treasurer
Board Directors
Richard Griswold, P.E.
Mike Flynt
Brian Squire
Dan Robeen
Ex officio
(Eglin AFB)
Staff
Lizette Lennon
Administrative
Assistant
Joy Brown
Bay Monitoring
Coordinator
Phillip Ellis
Coastal Dune Lakes
Coordinator

To our new and renewed members
Gail Baker
Craig Barker
Bryan Bruns
Tom Burns
Larry Casey
Marianne Croze-Perry
Guy Donaldson
Andy S. Dula
Vaughan & Frank Greene
James & Sandra Griffiths
Raymond Guth
Carol Haass
John Hazelton
William Helferich
George Hoffman
Connie Hogan
Gloria Hovorka
Nancy James
Deborah Keller
Deanna Kinnard
Margaret & Keith Landry
Cindy Meadows
Chuck (Charles) Meister
Gary & Kay Parsons
Brad Pickel
April Newlin Rieveschle
Mary Ruth
Danielle Slaterpryce
Dr. Forrest Townsend Jr.
Joan Vienot
Sheila Waldner
City of Destin
Hartman & Associates
Mid-Bay Bridge Authority
Town of Shalimar

A special thank you to SAIC & the SAIC-GCO Employees
for their donation in memory of Betty Bernhard Borthwick.

Thank you to the local sponsors of our recent events:
PALMS Silent Auction
Bass Pro Shops
Brian Haugen – UBS Financial Services, Inc.
Camp Creek Golf Course
Captain Anderson’s Restaurant
Capt. Brian Cawood – Destin Harbor Charters
For the Health of It
Kayak Experience
The Nature Conservancy
Paul Brent Designer, Inc.
Silver Sands Factory Stores
Annual Meeting
Big City – An American Bistro
Breitenfeld Development Services
Charming Baby
Noveau Flowers
SUPERBASS Raffle
Bass Pro Shops
CellTec
Kwik Drop
U.S. Postage Paid
NON-PROFIT ORG.
Permit NO. 28
Niceville, FL
Taste of 30A & Susan Lucas


The CBA office is located at the Mattie M. Kelly
Cultural and Environmental Institute of OWC in
Destin, Florida. The CBA is a program of OWC.

For further
information on
projects and
volunteer
opportunities,
please contact us.
OFFICE:
850-650-9330
EMAIL:
cba@owc.edu
WEBSITE:
www.basinalliance.org

Mission Statement
“The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance is an organization committed
to sustaining and providing optimum utilization of Choctawhatchee
Bay. The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, under the auspices of
the Okaloosa-Walton College, provides opportunities for citizens,
educators, and technical experts to promote the health of the
Choctawhatchee Basin”.

[Rita]

Thanks for the post! :)