A new link has been added to the right side of the web page: Navarre Pier/Beach Cams. Here you’ll get a daily fishing report with pictures and excellent views of Beach Colony. The Navarre Pier is now the most visited site on our beach and a great draw for tourism. If you haven’t yet visited the Pier, you won’t be disappointed when you do so–it’s awesome!
It's a beautiful day at Beach Colony! The water is emerald green with gorgeous waves. No oil so far–there were some tar balls reported a few mornings ago which were picked up by a BP crew. However, as a precaution on July 4th, fireworks which are to begin at 9pm, will be displayed from a barge on the Sound instead of the new pier.
It was a beautiful morning at the ribbon cutting ceremony, attended by many dignitaries, which opened the longest pier in Florida. Although dime-sized tar balls were spotted yesterday at the far west end of the beach, no oil was observed at the pier today. A large crowd attended the ceremony and fishing was free. The regular charge for walking the pier will be $1.00 and $7.00 for fishing. When you get a chance, check out the pier….understand the views are incredible.
Intellicast is another web site you may want to investigate that is tracking the oil spill. Just click on the blue hypertext “Hurricane Tracking” on the right side of our web page to follow the progression of the spill.
Commissioner Gordon Goodin was the guest speaker at the May Navarre Beach Leaseholders and Residents monthly meeting. He provided information about the oil spill threatening our coast line and eco system. The Unified Command Center is located in Mobile. This includes BP, Environmental Protection and the Coast Guard. BP has given each state involved $25 million for protection efforts. Florida has 16 counties and more than 200 miles of coast line. This is more coast line than Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana combined. Commissioner Goodin believes that Gov. Crist should immediately ask for more funds. The individual counties cannot request additional money-it must come from the Governor.
BP has set up a claims center in Midway. Small Business Administration (SBA) will be setting up a center at the Visitors Information Center. Commissioner Goodin urged anyone who has a claim or thinks they might have a claim to call the BP hotline number (1-800-440-0858). These claims can involve lost reservations, loss of rental income, lost wages, lost income for businesses, etc. Business owners should also file for a low interest rate loan with the SBA. Homeowners Associations can also file claims for damages.
NAS has the booms and they will be put across the Pensacola pass hoping to prevent the oil from getting into the bays and estuaries. There will be skimmer ships to skim any oil that gets past the booms. Commissioner Goodin said this oil is not thick, black crude. It will be a dark brown color and the consistency of Vaseline. He said it is easy to clean from the beaches such as scraping the sand but is impossible to clean from the sea grasses, shrimp and oyster beds. He said if we do not stop the oil and it gets into the bays and sound, it could kill them. A question was asked about using hay bales-he said hay bales will not stop this type of oil.
He also reminded us that hurricane season starts June 1. He said the county is fully prepared to deal with any hurricanes but dealing with this oil spill is another matter.
BP has also sent money to social services such as United Way. Psychologists have seen that people react differently to man-made disasters than natural disasters. After Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis, everyone pitched in and helped in any way because citizens were all in the same situation. With a man-made disaster, some people will file claims and wait for the money. Other people will work for the oil company and others will volunteer to do clean up. There will be anger and resentment to deal with and friends and neighbors may not be willing to help each other.
Other issues discussed were Commissioner Goodin running again for county commissioner from our district. He said he has some projects he is interested in finishing such as getting Highway 87 four-laned to Interstate 10, trying to get the bond refinanced for Garcon Point Bridge to reduce toll fees which are increasing to $4.00 each way and checking the aquifer that furnishes the water for our wells for our drinking water.
On a lighter note, Coastal Tech and DEP nominated Navarre Beach as one of the best restored beaches.
Marine Sanctuary Presentation
Navarre Beach Monthly Leaseholders Meeting
Saturday, April 17, 2010 at NB Marine Science Station
Mike and Nancy Sandler, both avid divers – and he, a retired Chief, Air Force Special Operations Diver, doing scientific research around the world – were kind enough to provide an overview of the proposed Sanctuary. The Marine Sanctuary Committee falls under the auspices of the NB Chamber of Commerce Foundation so that charitable donations may be received.
In 1999, the idea for an artificial underwater reef and marine sanctuary surfaced during planning for the new State Park. Unfortunately, the Park Service ran low on funding and it was decided to repair the old pier instead. After Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis, the NB County Park was established in 2008 and the sanctuary plan was revitalized.
There are three phases to the Plan: I) Gulf side snorkeling and diving reefs; II) Two Soundside snorkeling and diving reefs; and III) a Gulf side observation pier.
DEP permits are completed and at the County; they are now waiting for the Army Corp of Engineers permitting. After that, the reefs can be finished within six months if they have funding. The proposed timeline for reef completion is Fall 2010-Spring 2011 for completion of Phase I & II and December 2012 for Phase III. The reefs will mature in two years.
Benefits of the Marine Sanctuary are increased biodiversity (think of the reefs as an underwater garden and fish nursery), tourism dollars as a result of increased amenities, numerous educational opportunities, better fishing, and growth of a new cottage industry for diving and snorkeling. The reefs will be no touch/no take but the fish will disperse into the Gulf. Neither hurricanes nor the proposed Navarre Pass will affect the reefs.
One fascinating fact Mike Sandler discussed was about oysters-they spend their lives filtering water-taking in sea water and sediment (making pearls) and spitting out clean water. One oyster can filter 10-50 gallons in a 24 hour period and it’s expected in 2 years, that two million gallons will be filtered in the Sound.
The artificial reef design consists of three 5 foot diameter concrete discs with Florida limestone, stacked like pancakes on a pole, sunk deep into the sea floor, with the protrusion 6 feet below the mean low water tide line so it won’t affect boating. The discs can be stacked widely or narrowly, dependent on what kind of marine life is to be attracted. Discs are then placed every 10 feet in a checkerboard pattern; 40 discs are planned for the Soundside reef. Pensacola Beach is in the process of building their reef which will be 100 feet wide x 300 feet long.
So, how can we help? Donate if you can-its tax deductible and it only costs $160,000 for the entire reef system and if all three reefs are deployed at the same time, the manufacturer will waive the $5,000 charge for each visit.
Mike Sandler also asks for us all to “talk it up” to “make Navarre Snorkelicious” - see www.navarrebeachmarinesanctuary.com for more information and see previous posting for pictures.
Marine Flora at the Old Pier
Nurse Shark Under Old Pier Pilings
Marine Life – Pilings of the Old Pier
Atlantic Spade Fish Under Old Pier
Reef (3) Plan Overview – East Side of Bridge-Gulf & Sound
Artificial Reef – Limestone Discs
Upscale Hotel Planned for Navarre Beach. Hotel Indigo, a 160 room botique-style entity, complete with gourmet dining, is in the planning stages according to Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), owner of the Holiday Inn brand. (There is also a Hotel Indigo located on Pensacola Beach on Ft. Pickens Road). The new location will be at the site of the old Navarre Beach Holiday Inn. The company plans to complete the project in late 2011. NP 4/15
Today's Navarre Press has a picture of our beachfront, complete with some sandy beach and a caption. "After learning they had lost 50 feet of beach and nearly half of their sand dune, residents and visitors at Beach Colony Resort on Navarre Beach were elated to find the beach had seemingly returned." "The reason," explained Roger Blaylock, Santa Rosa County engineer, "is because of the natural ebb and flow of beaches." NP 4/8/10
Notice of Annual Owners Meeting, Saturday, April 24, 2010. The annual meeting of the Beach Colony Resort Navarre East Condominium Association will be on Saturday, April 24, 10:00 am at the Navarre Tourist Information Center.