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 [b]The Alliance[/b] 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. [b] Volunteer Spotlight Hal Rhodes[/b] 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. [b]Board Spotlight Jane Roberts 5/22/28 ? 11/20/04[/b] 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. [b]Choctawhatchee Bay Monitoring[/b] 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 [email]bayrally@owc.edu[/email]. [b]Coastal Dune Lakes Monitoring[/b] 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 [b]Membership Sign up and Renewal Form[/b]?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: [url]www.basinalliance.org[/url] [b]Board Officers[/b] Dennis Peters [b]Chair[/b] Taylor Kirschenfeld [b]Secretary[/b] Ross Hamilton Treasurer [b]Board Directors[/b] Richard Griswold, P.E. Mike Flynt Brian Squire Dan Robeen Ex officio (Eglin AFB) [b]Staff[/b] 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: [email]cba@owc.edu[/email] WEBSITE: [url]www.basinalliance.org[/url] [b]Mission Statement[/b] ?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?.
