Protect the lakes - you can help - 1/21/06 meeting

[SoWalSally]

From Walton Sun

In conjunction with the Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board, the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance and Walton/ Okaloosa County University of Florida Extension program are rallying community support for the protection and preservation of the coastal dune lakes.
On Jan. 21, members of the three organizations will host a public workshop for constructing a strategic plan for protecting the coastal dune lakes. The meeting is an overview of the current condition of all 15 lakes. Eventually, individual committees will be formed for each lake.
The Board of County Commissioners approved the Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board’s Four Year Protection Plan at a July 12, 2005 meeting. The commissioners committed $150,000 per year to the plan for the next four years to help preserve the 15 dune lakes.
“Preservation is always cheaper than restoration,” Scott Jackson, marine science extension faculty for UF said.
The plan addresses outfall management, shoreline erosion, native vegetation, invasive species, storm water, recreational use and hurricane impacts. The public is invited to be a part of the process.
“We want the public involved,” Phillip Ellis, Coastal Dune Lake Program Coordinator for the Alliance, said. “The whole community benefits by these lakes being here.”
Currently, storm water management and native vegetation enhancement are two issues the groups want to address first.
“(Storm water runoff) is the biggest threat to any water system,” Ellis said.
“Ideally, you would have natural vegetation and zero fertilization,” Jackson said.
Educating the public about its role is going to be an important part of the restoration process, Ellis explained. Most people don’t realize the extent of the “zone of influence.” Not only do people that live directly around the lakes affect their health, but anyone who affects the groundwater, Ellis explained.
“If you live on 30A, you’re draining into the lakes,” he added.

[John]

Do you have an exact time and location for this meeting?

[kurt]

Coastal library, 1/21/06, 9 AM. 850-267-1955 for more info.

[CJ]

There is an important public meeting this Saturday to initiate the development of a management plan for the Coastal Dune Lakes. An agenda is attached. The meeting will be from 9-11 at the Coastal Branch Library. There will be tons of information, a buffet of junk food/coffee and, of course, lots of love.

[Smiling JOe]

There is an important public meeting this Saturday to initiate the development of a management plan for the Coastal Dune Lakes. An agenda is attached. The meeting will be from 9-11 at the Coastal Branch Library. There will be tons of information, a buffet of junk food/coffee and, of course, lots of love.

Is Mr CJ going to be speaking?

Edit: Never mind, I just read the agenda and see my answer.

[kurt]

merged btt