Extension Service and Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Announce Public Meeting for Construction of Coastal Dune Lakes Management Plan

4-11-06

During April - May 2006, Phillip Ellis with The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance and Scott Jackson with The Walton - Okaloosa County - University of Florida - IFAS Extension Service will host community discussions. These community meetings are the first steps initiating a process that will result in management plans for each of Walton County's rare coastal dune lakes. Similar ecosystems are found in Madagascar, New Zealand, Australia and USA Pacific Coast. Fifteen named Coastal Dune Lakes have been identified in Walton County.

The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) is working through the appointed Coastal Dune Lakes Advisory Board with broad representation of property owners, businesses and concerned residents. One of the Costal Dune Lakes Advisory Board main concerns is the future stability of these globally rare and economically valuable community assets. The goal of this effort is to create a management plan for each individual coastal dune lake through open participation by all property owners and stake holders.

An initial public meeting sponsored by the Coastal Dune Lakes Advisory Board was held earlier this year on January 21 with approximately 60 community participants. During this session, facilitated discussions were held to identify the most important issues related to our coastal dune lakes. Meeting participants identified "Enforcement of Existing Regulations" and "Management of Outfall Issues" as being top concerns.

The next step is where we need YOUR help, as we move to individual community lake meetings. In these discussions we will generate a priority list and lay the ground work for the lake management plans. Ideas produced will be forwarded to a technical committee which will draft detailed language of the management proposal. The completed management proposal will be presented at a future community meeting for YOUR discussion, modification and endorsement. Finalized management plans will then be presented to the BCC for their action and direction. These lake management plans will aid our County in future protection and restoration efforts.

Through this process the long-term health and economic viability of the lakes will be ensured. Additionally, this process will develop and implement a prioritized list of projects to enhance the lakes, increase scientific knowledge, and awareness of the lakes' ecosystems.

Please take time to attend these important events in the life of our community. Many of your neighbors are working to organize and facilitate these meetings - please do your part by participating in these discussions. You may participate in person or via THIS discussion forum. For more information visit the project website http://dunelakes.org

Meeting Summaries and Current On-line Discussions:







The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating.

Coastal Dune Lakes Advisor Board
Initial Management Plan Meeting
21 January 2006 Synopsis

I. Overview

Chairman Mike D’ Autilia, Vice-Chairman Meg Nelson, Earl Day, Marsha Anderson, Mary Rosenheim, Phillip Ellis, Scott Jackson, Jeannie Wilson, Bill Horn, Walton County Planning and Development Director Pat Blackshear, Walton County Environmental Manager Billy McKee, Walton County Environmental Planner Anthony Austermann, and Walton County Beach Activities Coordinator Leslie Campbell, were present at the meeting. Chairman Mike D’ Autilia opened the meeting at 9:00 am. There were 34 attendees at this meeting.

II Meeting

Chairman Mike D’ Autilia welcomed everyone to the first public workshop for the Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board. This workshop was held to showcase the 4 year strategic plan of the Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board, air potential concerns about and around the coastal dune lakes and gain support for upcoming individual lake meetings.

Introductions of the Coastal Dune Lakes Advisory Board and Ex-Officio members were delivered to the attendees. Scott Jackson and Phillip Ellis presented a power point presentation showing an overview of the Coastal Dune Lakes. They then identified Walton County’s 4-year Coastal Dune Lake Management plan. The strategic plan includes these key steps: management issues, a pilot project, documenting ecological efforts, and recognizing a zone of impact for each of the lakes. The plan also calls for the creation of community meetings. These individual lake groups would draft plans with the technical committee to be submitted back to the county for management of the coastal dune lake. Comprehensive analysis of the projects and management plans would follow.

The large group attendees were then divided into small group brainstorming sessions and the groups were asked to identify the major concerns and issues with the Coastal Dune Lakes into the two greatest concerns for the coastal dune lakes, which are as follows: (1) enforcement of current codes and regulations as stated in the land development codes, and (2) management of outfall of the coastal dune lake.

Meg Nelson then introduced the workshop to Elam Stoltzfus and viewed his documentary “The Apalachicola or Loxahatchee Basin” documentary as presented on PBS. These documentaries showcase the natural beauty of an area or region, with local artists, historians, and musicians. Discussion about possibly showcasing the Coastal Dune Lakes in this sort of documentary ensued. Further discussion and funding issues will be addressed by Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board members.

Meeting was adjourned.

III Master List of Issues (Ranked From Greatest Concern to Least)

Outfall Management

Enforcement of Rules/Regulations

Water Quality

County Code and Comp Plan

Invasive/Exotic Species

Development Encroachment

Watershed Protection

Private Property Rights vs. Preservation

Public Access

Function of CDLAB

OFW Designation

Stormwater Management

Hurricane Debris Management

Shoreline Restoration/Erosion

Septic Tank Management/Removal

Education/Outreach

Recreational Management

Scientific Studies

Extension Service and Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Announce Public Meeting for Construction of Coastal Dune Lakes Management Plan

4-17-06

During April - May 2006, Phillip Ellis with The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance and Scott Jackson with The Walton - Okaloosa County - University of Florida - IFAS Extension Service will host community discussions. These community meetings are the first steps initiating a process that will result in management plans for each of Walton County's rare coastal dune lakes. Similar ecosystems are found in Madagascar, New Zealand, Australia and USA Pacific Coast. Fifteen named Coastal Dune Lakes have been identified in Walton County.

The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) is working through the appointed Coastal Dune Lakes Advisory Board with broad representation of property owners, businesses and concerned residents. One of the Costal Dune Lakes Advisory Board main concerns is the future stability of these globally rare and economically valuable community assets. The goal of this effort is to create a management plan for each individual coastal dune lake through open participation by all property owners and stake holders.

An initial public meeting sponsored by the Coastal Dune Lakes Advisory Board was held earlier this year on January 21 with approximately 60 community participants. During this session, facilitated discussions were held to identify the most important issues related to our coastal dune lakes. Meeting participants identified "Enforcement of Existing Regulations" and "Management of Outfall Issues" as being top concerns.

The next step is where we need YOUR help, as we move to individual community lake meetings. In these discussions we will generate a priority list and lay the ground work for the lake management plans. Ideas produced will be forwarded to a technical committee which will draft detailed language of the management proposal. The completed management proposal will be presented at a future community meeting for YOUR discussion, modification and endorsement. Finalized management plans will then be presented to the BCC for their action and direction. These lake management plans will aid our County in future protection and restoration efforts.

Through this process the long-term health and economic viability of the lakes will be ensured. Additionally, this process will develop and implement a prioritized list of projects to enhance the lakes, increase scientific knowledge, and awareness of the lakes' ecosystems.

Please take time to attend these important events in the life of our community. Many of your neighbors are working to organize and facilitate these meetings - please do your part by participating in these discussions. You may participate in person or via THIS discussion forum. For more information visit the project website http://dunelakes.org

Meeting Summaries and Current On-line Discussions:










The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating.