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SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2008 NEWSLETTER

DATES TO REMEMBER 

SEP 16            RMA BOARD MEETING, PCMI, 6:30 PM

SEP 20, 21     BAYWATCH SAMPLING

SEP 22           BAYWATCH LAB  

SEP 23           SEAGRASS STATIONS WATER SAMPLING

SEP 25           SCALLOP SEMINAR – GCCC – 6:30-8:30PM

OCT 11           GHOST WALK AT CAMP HELEN (ALL AGES INVITED)

OCT 11, 12     BAYWATCH SAMPLING        

OCT   13         BAYWATCH LAB
OCT 24           SIZZLING SCIENCE  2008 4-7PM GCCC

SIZZLING SCIENCE 2008

RMA plans to participate in Sizzling Science 2008, October 24th from 4-7PM.

This is an annual science exposition for kids grades K-5 hosted by GCCC.

Some examples of exhibits are: marine touch tanks, fish printing, robots, telescopes, microbiology/chemistry experiments, dissections, Van di Graff Generator, magnets, etc.

 

Anyone wanting to get involved, please contact Carrie Lee Fioramonti, NOAA, at: Office: 850-234-6541 Ext. 207,  Cell: 850-596-7552.

 

AUGUST 28^, 2008 MEETING AT PC BEACH CITY HALL

 

Jim Barkuloo represented the RMA at a meeting with Panama City Beach Mayor Gayle Oberst and City Engineer Al Shortt Thursday afternoon, August 28^th.  The meeting was to discuss the DEP’s Notice of Intent to issue a permit for continued opération of the City's wastewater treatment plant; increasing the treatment capacity from 7 million gallons per day (MGD) to 10 million gallons per day (MGD).   The proposed permit would allow the City to continue discharge of 7MGD into West Bay until December, 2010.

The proposed permit also calls for the plant to upgrade their treatment to advanced water treatment (AWT).  They had planned to have the changes made much earlier, but have had considerable difficulty with getting necessary permits for the various components of the project.  Part of their permit problems involves the permit to divert the wastewater from West Bay to a wetland site the City purchased on the west side of Highway 79.   

 

The removal of the wastewater from West Bay is part of an agreement between the City, the Department of Environmental Protection, and RMA in 2000.   RMA had challenged the issuance of a new DEP Permit to the City which would allow them to increase the discharged of wastewater into West Bay from 7 MGD to 10 MGD.   At the 2000 meeting, the City agreed to change the proposed permit to include a provision that all discharge be removed from West Bay within 10 years. 

The City also passed an ordinance requiring that all new developments include a water reuse system.   A high percentage of the City’s wastewater is now being used for watering golf courses, public areas, and new housing developments. (50% of what used to go into the bay)

 

The current proposed permit is necessary not only for continued operation and upgrading of the plant, but also for diverting of water to the new site.  

 

RMA wholeheartedly supports the Beach’s efforts to encourage reuse of the wastewater and the removal all wastewater from West Bay.  RMA commends Mayor Oberst, Mr. Shortt, the City Council and all others who are committed to the completion of this project.

RMA’S ADOPTED PRECINCT

 

Polls Workers for the August Primary election included:
Susan Bates, Fred Beauchemin, Georgia Beauchemin, Ruby Jo Faust, Doris Hair, Cheryl Kellogg, Ginge Ketcham, Larry Ogren, Mary Thieme, Ellen Whitaker, and   Jim Barkuloo,

This August Primary garnered $1800 for RMA.  Over $9,000 has now been earned and donated to RMA through the “Adopt a Precinct Program”, thanks to the efforts of these RMA members. Call Susan Bates, 784-4401 or Georgia Beauchemin 265-0189 if you are interested and have time to join this cause.  (Contributed by Georgia Beauchemin)

The Friends of St. Andrew Bay and
The St. Andrew Bay Resource Management Association
will host Dr. Steve Geiger as he presents

 "Status of Bay Scallops in Florida West Coast Waters"

  

Date: Thursday, September 25, 2008

Time: 6:30PM - 8:30PM

Where: Gulf Coast Community College 

Student Union East Conference Center

 

DR. GEIGER IS AN ASSOCIATE RESEARCH SCIENTIST WITH THE FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH INSTITUTE,

ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA

MEMBERSHIP DUES  

RMA has had a good response to our dues reminder letter sent to the membership.  If you haven’t sent in your 2008 dues, there’s still time to get them to us.  THANK YOU to those members who renewed for the coming year.

NEW RMA BAYWATCH BOAT HAS ARRIVED 

We are very pleased to announce that the new RMA Baywatch boat has arrived!  The 26’ x 10’ custom fiberglass pontoon boat was manufactured by Beachcat Boats in Oldsmar, FL.  We are very happy with the design and know it will be a great tool to allow continued monitoring and restoration projects in the St. Andrew Bay watershed.   

We are grateful to the Northwest Florida Water Management District for the grant funding that paid for the new boat. 

Many thanks go out to Amos & Deb Lisenby, who volunteered their truck to pull the new boat from Oldsmar (Tampa).  They, with Jim and Ann Barkuloo, traveled to Oldsmar to pick up the boat from the factory.

Patrice, Laura and Jim have begun preparations to get the new boat ready to launch and they expect to have it in the water in time for the August Baywatch water sample trips. 

On a more formal note, anyone operating an RMA boat is now required to have boating experience, pass a boating safety course, and complete on-the-water training.  In addition, the insurance company requires anyone who drives the boat to be listed as an insured driver on the policy.  The first group of Baywatch volunteers will take the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary “About Boating Safety” class on August 2nd.  For more details contact Patrice Couch at (850) 252-2368.  (Contributed by Patrice Couch and Jim Barkuloo)