[center][b][font=Impact]O[/font][/b][b][font="]ffer [/font][/b][b][font=Impact]Y[/font][/b][b][font="]our [/font][/b][b][font=Impact]S[/font][/b][b][font="]hell [/font][/b][b][font=Impact]T[/font][/b][b][font="]o [/font][/b][b][font=Impact]E[/font][/b][b][font="]nhance [/font][/b][b][font=Impact]R[/font][/b][b][font="]estoration![/font][/b] [/center] [center][font="]The Northwest Florida [/font][b][font="]OYSTER[/font][/b][font="] Project[/font][font="] needs your help![/font] [/center] [font="] The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance of Okaloosa Walton College and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection are implementing this tri-county pilot project in Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties. We are using oyster shells to create reefs in the Choctawhatchee Bay. Our first restoration site in Okaloosa County will be in Fort Walton Beach at the south end of Bay Street. We have collected oyster shells from local restaurants, which we will transport to the site. Then [/font][b][font="]we need volunteers to help by filling buckets with oyster shell from our trailer and emptying the buckets into the water at the reef site to create the new reef.[/font][/b][font="][/font] [font="] Funding for this project is provided by NOAA?s Fish America and Ocean Trust.[/font] [font="] Please contact Sarah Kalinoski (below) to RSVP.[/font] [font="] [/font][b][color=navy][font="]What: [/font][/color][/b][color=navy][font="] Help us create an oyster reef in the Choctawhatchee Bay![/font][/color] [color=navy][font="] (This event is one of two ? watch for future projects!)[/font][/color] [color=navy][font="] [/font][/color][b][color=navy][font="]Why:[/font][/color][/b][color=navy][font="] Reefs provide important habitat for fish, oysters, and other aquatic life. Adult oysters can filter 50 gallons of water a day, which helps reduce nutrient loading. This recycling of oyster shells from local restaurants also reduces waste sent to local landfills.[/font][/color] [color=navy][font="] [/font][/color][b][color=navy][font="]When: [/font][/color][/b][color=navy][font="] Monday, July 24, 2006[/font][/color] [color=navy][font="] 9am to completion (Approximately four hours)[/font][/color] [color=navy][font="] [/font][/color][b][color=navy][font="]Where:[/font][/color][/b][color=navy][font="] Fort Walton Beach, at the south end of Bay Street (see map below)[/font][/color] [color=navy][font="] [/font][/color][b][color=navy][font="]What to bring:[/font][/color][/b][color=navy][font="] Sunscreen, drinking water, water shoes and gloves if you have them[/font][/color][color=navy][font="][/font][/color] [color=navy][font="] [/font][/color] [b][color=navy][font="]Contact:[/font][/color][/b][color=navy][font="][/font][/color] [color=navy][font="]Sarah Kalinoski[/font][/color] [color=navy][font="]CBA Volunteer Coordinator[/font][/color] [color=navy][font="][email="kalinoss@owc.edu"][color=navy]kalinoss@owc.edu[/color][/email] [/font][/color] [img]file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cyarr%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_image001.gif[/img][color=navy][font="]850-729-6425[/font][/color] [color=navy][font="][/font][/color]
