News

Have a Wonderful 2025!

All of us on the PKA Board of Directors wish you and yours the very best to New Years! 2025 promises to be a year of change as a new Escambia County Board of County Commissioners establishes itself and various legal and development issues move forward. PKA will continue to follow these and other issues as appropriate while also keeping our membership up-to-date.

PKA Director Positions!

Want to make a difference in the future of our beautiful island? Please consider becoming a PKA Director! All PKA members are eligible to become Directors even if part-time Perdido Key residents since the monthly meetings are held in-person and by teleconference. The Perdido Key Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization “that operates exclusively for charitable and educational purposes in providing information needed to promote the welfare, orderly development and maintain the natural beauty of Perdido Key, Florida.” If interested, please contact PKA at perdidokeyassocation@gmail.com, Charles Krupnick at (charles.krupnick@gmail.com) or any other PKA Director by January 21, 2025.

75 Ft Easement Decisions Pending

An agenda item for the January 9, 2025 Escambia County Board of County Commissioners meeting indicates movement in litigation regarding the 75 foot public access easement issue for a portion of Perdido Key beaches. It recommends: “That the Board accept for information that the Honorable Jan Shackelford granted the County’s motions to dismiss for failure to join indispensable parties in the cases of” … the condominiums associated with the legal action. For the complete agenda item, go to Board of County Commissioners Meeting • • CivicClerk.

Over 23 Million Floridians!

According to recent data, Florida’s population grew by 467,347 in one year and now exceeds 23.3 million people – adding more to its population than any other US state except Texas. A total of 411,322 of the gain was from international immigration. For more on this issue, see the December 20, 2024 Tampa Bay Times article “Fast-growing Florida tops 23.3M people” by Jim Saunders of News Service of Florida at Florida’s fast-growing population tops 23.3M people, Census Bureau says.

PPBEP now part of National Estuary Program

The Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program (PPBEP) achieved an honor and key objective when on December 9, 2024 the US House of Representatives passed the “Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary of National Significance Act” and directed the Environmental Protection Agency to enroll PPBEP into the National Estuary Program as an “Estuary of National Significance.” The bill was signed into law by President Biden on December 17, 2024. According to PPBEP Executive Director Matt Posner, the designation allows the organization to receive “a direct annual federal allocation and be eligible for millions in grant funding from such entities as the Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department of the Interior” and be eligible for funding “in some cases from agencies like FEMA or the Federal Department of Transportation.” For more on this issue, see the December 11, 2024 Pensacola News Journal article “National Estuary Program status could open floodgate of funds for Pensacola-area waters” by Tim McLaughlin at https://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/pensacola/2024/12/11/national-estuary-program-designation-pensacola-and-perdido-bays-estuary-program/76888465007/.

Rice’s Whales Retain Protection

Former Congressman Matt Gaetz left the US House of Representatives on November 14, 2024. “Legislation championed by Gaetz that could have put the highly endangered whale species [Rice’s whale] at risk of being killed by live fire during military exercises hung around a little longer this year than the congressman did, but was eliminated from consideration when the National Defense Authorization Act passed Congress Dec. 19 without its inclusion.” Rice’s whales live primarily in the Gulf of Mexico’s DeSoto Canyon running from near Pensacola to Fort Myers. Gaetz’s proposal would have allowing weapons testing from Eglin AFB and elsewhere in the whale’s habitat. For more on this issue, go to the January 5, 2025 Pensacola News Journal article “Rice’s whales escapes Matt Gaetz’s weapons testing plan” by Tom McLaughlin at https://www.yahoo.com/news/rices-whales-again-escape-matt-100913900.html.

Offshore Drilling

The US Interior Department received no bids from energy companies to acquire leases for gas and oil drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Acting Deputy Interior Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis said “Arctic wildlife refuge reflects what we and they have known all along – there are some places too special and sacred to put at risk with oil and gas drilling.” In a related matter, Christian Wagley of Healthy Gulf stated by January 6, 2025 e-mail that the Biden administration had withdrawn the eastern Gulf of Mexico from future offshore oil and gas leasing but the western Gulf remains without protections. He noted “offshore drilling continues to pose severe risks to communities, ecosystems, and economies across the region.” For more on Alaska drilling, see the January 8, 2025 Reuters article “Alaska wildlife refuge drilling auction yields no bids, US says” by Richard Valdmanis and Timothy Gardner at https://www.reuters.com/world/us/alaska-wildlife-refuge-drilling-auction-yields-no-bids-us-says-2025-01-08/.

Plastic Caps Hard to Turn?

Have you noticed some difficulty opening plastic bottles and cartons? “The old-style milk carton caps were 21 millimeters tall, while the new ones are 17 millimeters ‒ a difference of about 19% that makes them harder to grip, said Min DeGruson, a professor and director of packaging at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.” The shift saves plastic and weight and therefore reduces cost but at the expense of more effort by consumers. For more on this issue, see the December 4, 2024 USA TODAY article “It’s not just you – bottles and cartons are now harder to open. We found out why.” By Elizabeth Weise at Shrinking plastic caps make bottles and cartons harder to open.

New Escambia County Commission

Following the 2024 primary and general elections, the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners has some new faces. After installation on November 19, 2024, District 1 will have new Commissioner Steve Stroberger, District 2 remains with Mike Kohler and District 3 with Lumon May, District 4 Commissioner is now Ashlee Hofberger while District 5 remains with Steven Barry following his reelection.

Condo Collapse Effects

State law SB 4-D was passed as a result of the collapse of the Champlain Tower South condominium in Surfside, Florida in 2021 that killed 98 people. The law requires a “‘milestone inspection’ or an initial Phase One inspection of each building with a height of three stories or more by Dec. 31, 2024, in which the building reaches 30 years of age, and again every 10 years thereafter.” It also requires a Structural Integrity Reserve Study (SIRS) for all condominiums three stories or higher every 10 years to identify short-term and long-range repairs and requires associations to set up financial reserves for the repairs. These financial obligations have challenged the ability of some owners to remain in their homes as well as affecting the value of older condominiums. For more information on this issue, see the October 23, 2024 Palm Beach Post article “SPECIAL REPORT: Why Florida’s new safety inspection law is creating havoc for condo owners” by Mike Diamond at  https://www.thedestinlog.com/story/news/local/2024/10/23/surfside-law-florida-condo-safety-inspections-generates-special-assessments-of-more-than-200000/74759346007/.

Vacation Rental Concerns in Gulf Breeze

On November 18, 2024, the Gulf Breeze City Council passed an ordinance to take effect February 2025 seeking “to regulate its prolific short-term rental industry.” It requires owners to register their short-term rental homes, provide contact information and designate “a responsible party” for emergencies. As stated in the PNJ article, “many who contact city staff are not aware that the state of Florida has prevented local government from banning short term rentals.” For more on this issue, see the December 02, 2024 Pensacola News Journal article “Gulf Breeze seeks to regulate its prolific short-term rental industry” by Tim McLaughlin at https://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/2024/12/02/gulf-breeze-short-term-rental-unit-owners-must-register-as-business/76590150007/.

Siguenza Cove Resurfacing Project

The Siguenza Cove Resurfacing Progress is complete. The cones at the corner of River Road and Don Carlos Road are in place to help ensure drivers do not run off the edge of the newly repaired roadway and will be removed in the near future.

Manatee Outreach Internship Available

The Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program will be hiring a Manatee Outreach Intern on a paid internship. The intern will “help implement the Panhandle Manatee Program, a wildlife conservation project that educates boaters, coastal residents, and visitors about manatees and seagrass.” For more on the position, go to the PPBEP website at https://www.ppbep.org/get-involved/intern.

SS United States to Okaloosa County via Mobile

The SS United States saga has ended for Escambia County. “Okaloosa’s Board of County Commissioners has approved a contingent contract to acquire the ship and convert it into the worlds’ largest artificial reef, a record that is currently held by the Oriskany off Escambia County.” According to recent news reports, the ship is currently berthed in Philadelphia but will be towed to Mobile, Alabama where it will remain while preparations are made for its transformation into a submerged artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico near Fort Walton Beach and Destin. For more on this issue, see the October 1, 2024 Pensacola News Journal article “SS United States to be sunk off Okaloosa County after Escambia came up short for bid” by Mollye Barrows at https://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/escambia-county/2024/10/01/okaloosa-county-wins-bid-for-ss-united-states-and-will-sink-as-reef/75473484007/; October 16, 2024 USNI article “SS United States Getting Towed to Norfolk Ahead of Planned Sinking off Florida Coast” by John Grady at https://news.usni.org/2024/10/16/ss-united-states-getting-towed-to-norfolk-ahead-of-planned-sinking-off-florida-coast; and, October 28, 2024 Fox News video “SS United States to dock in Mobile before becoming artificial reef off Florida coast” at https://www.fox10tv.com/video/2024/10/28/ss-united-states-dock-mobile-before-becoming-artificial-reef-off-florida-coast/.

Controlled Burn Season

With some rain and other favorable conditions, controlled burns are likely in the weeks ahead at Big Lagoon State Park and Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park. This can result in some smoke in surrounding areas but the burns remove unwanted underbrush and help preserve forest health for the future.

Big Lagoon Campground to Close for Maintenance

The Big Lagoon Campground will be closing in February 2025 for significant maintenance. The work will take several months with no completion date currently available.

Children’s Opera at Big Lagoon

The Pensacola Opera Company presented the new children’s opera “MATO: The Bear Who Couldn’t Fish” at the Big Lagoon Amphitheater on November 13, 2024. It was enjoyed by the over 75 adults and children attending, with many of the young dancing and sometimes just wandering in the aisles during the performance. 

Good Turnout for Friends “Heron Trot”

The Heron Trot 5K road race at Big Lagoon State Park brought over 70 participants young and old to this Friends of Pensacola State Park event. Before the race, those who ran and attended as spectators or organizers were treated to a star filled sky and then a wonderful sunrise.

SLAM PROJECT CONTINUES…

Local researchers have been collecting dead snakes in sufficiently good condition for analysis to determine if the invasive snake lungworm (pentastome parasite) has reached the Panhandle region of Florida. According to a November 6, 2024 Sea Grant Note from Rick O’Connor, no parasites were found in the 15 samples collected thus far. But the project continues so residents are asked to be on the lookout for dead snakes that are not flattened by traffic. Here is the guidance for collection and delivery:

 

If you find a dead snake in good condition and want to participate, you should…

1. Place the snake in a large ziplock bag, inside another large ziplock bag. 
2. Label the outside of the bag with the following information

• Your name
• The location where the snake was found (GPS is best, but a home address will work – or description – will work)
• What type of snake it is (if you know)
• Date

3. Bring the snake to the Escambia County Extension Office

 

NOTE: DO NOT PICK UP A DEAD VENOMOUS SNAKE WITH YOUR HANDS.  USE A RAKE (ETC.) OR CONTACT Rick O’Connor AT roc1@ufl.edu

“Friends” Awarded Impact 100 Grant for Big Lagoon Playground!

The Friends of Pensacola State Parks, one of our area’s active non-profit organizations, was recently awarded a $100,670 Impact 100 grant to develop an “inclusive playground for children of all abilities and disabilities” at Big Lagoon State Park. “The idea behind IMPACT 100 involves recruiting at least 100 women to donate $1,000 each and pooling those resources into one big grant for a qualifying nonprofit. In the 21 years since the Pensacola chapter began, this organization of philanthropic women has donated more than $17 million in 165 grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the Escambia/Santa Rosa area.” For more on the “Friends,” go to https://friendsofpensacolastateparks.org/; for more on Impact 100, go to https://impact100pensacola.org.

River Road RV Park Proposal

Old River Resort is proposing an RV park to be built on River Road just north of the Florencia condominium. The park may have 26 RV sites, 12 bungalows, various amenities including a pool and restaurant and a parking area on the other side of River Road. The proposal has not yet been reviewed by the Escambia County Development Review Committee. For more on this issue, see the article October 9, 2024 Pensacola News Journal article “RV park and restaurant could be coming to Perdido Key” by Edward Bunch III at https://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/2024/10/09/rv-park-and-restaurant-old-river-resort-coming-to-perdido-key/75457922007/.

Gulf Islands Discovery Trail to be Rebuilt

Gulf Islands National Seashore has announced the “Perdido Key Discovery Trail” near the entrance to the Johnson Beach/Perdido Key Area of the Park will be completely rebuilt. The boardwalk trail was heavily damaged by Hurricane Sally in 2020 and has been partially closed since then. The project will begin in October 2024 and should be completed by April 2025. During reconstruction, the kayak launch parking lot will be closed for staging. Information on the project drawn from October 11, 2024 e-mail from Stephenie Wade, GINS Public Information Officer.

A Fun Red White and Birdies Golf Scramble!

The Red White and Birdies Golf Scramble at NAS Pensacola’s AC Read Golf Course was a whole lot of fun with about 70 participants, many support personnel and terrific weather. Organized by the Perdido Key Area Chamber of Commerce with PKA fielding a foursome and sponsoring one of the holes, the scramble raised funds for the Chamber’s military programs and initiatives.

More Repairs to Perdido Key State Park

The Florida Park Service has approved funding to complete repairs to the West Use area of Perdido Key State Park, to include restroom renovations and boardwalk repairs.

Fish Farm

The off-shore fish farm proposed for the Gulf of Mexico about 26 miles south of Pensacola is in the permit approval process. US agencies including NOAA and important interest groups support its creation while some environmental and other groups are opposed. It would be the first major finfish farm in US federal waters though a small scale operation is approved for the Sarasota area but delayed by legal challenges. Concerns about off shore finfish farms include likely increase in nutrient levels in surrounding waters, possibility of disease spreading from fish farms to native species and dangers to whales and other sea life from the apparatus. The Perdido Key Association has joined the “Don’t Cage Our Oceans” coalition that opposes the fish farm. For information on the opposing initiative, go to Don’t Cage Our Oceans | STOP INDUSTRIAL OCEAN FISH FARMING (dontcageouroceans.org); for the website of the group proposing the fish farm, go to Florida Offshore – Manna Fish Farms; for an early report on the proposed fish farm, go to the July 20, 2023 Pensacola News Journal article “Pensacola may get one of Florida’s first offshore fish farms, and some are already worried” by Colin Warren-Hicks at Manna Fish Farms seeking to open Gulf of Mexico farm near Pensacola (pnj.com).

PKA Holiday Party 2024

Perdido Key Association held its annual Holiday Party on December 12, 2024 at the Palacio Resort-Perdido Key on Perdido Key Drive. Though a slim turnout this year, all who attended enjoyed wonderful decorations, great food and drink and best of all good company!

A Great Perdido Key Beach and Road Cleanup!

Perdido Key celebrated International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday, September 21, 2024 with a terrific turnout that helped cleanup our beaches and major roadways. Working from 8 AM to Noon, 65 volunteers hit the beaches and 40 took to the roads collecting trash they then deposited in containers provided by ECUA. Event sponsors included Florida State Parks Rangers, Perdido Key Association, Perdido Key Area Chamber of Commerce, and Friends of Pensacola State Parks with many additional donors funding the commemorative t-shirts provided to cleanup volunteers.

World Ocean Day 2024

World Ocean Day was held on June 8, 2024 at Escambia County Beach Access #4. Beginning with beach yoga, the event featured presentations by Escambia County’s Sea Turtle Ambassadors, Friends of Pensacola State Parks, Southwest Public Library and the Perdido Key Association as well as offerings from several vendors. While enjoying a beautiful day at the beach, the event provided those attending a great opportunity to learn more about the importance of the ocean and the fascinating sea life it supports. For more information on our oceans and the threats to them, please access the several Power Point slide presentations that follow:

PKA Annual Membership Meeting!

Approximately 30 people attended the Perdido Key Association Annual Membership Meeting on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at the Eden Condominium, with others joining on Zoom. Featured speaker Christian Wagley, the coastal organizer for Healthy Gulf, gave a terrific presentation on several issues including potential threats from a proposed industrial fish farm in the Gulf of Mexico offshore from Pensacola and the status of and efforts to help the rare Rice’s whale. PKA President Stan Capua followed and addressed Perdido Key issues such as continued work to restore Perdido Key State Park and the Perdido Key Area of Gulf Islands National Seashore (Johnson Beach) from 2020’s Hurricane Sally damage, progress on the Perdido Key Multi-Use Path and other construction and development related issues. Other Board members provided information on the Perdido Key Drive/Johnson Beach Road roundabout and changes to Beach Access #2; “We Are Perdido” leader Steve Brendtro added an update on the Perdido area incorporation initiative. The meeting minutes will be posted shortly on the Archive page of the PKA website.

Climate Conference Results

 

The COP29 (Conference of Parties) UN climate summit ended on November 22, 2024 with richer countries promising $300 billion a year going primarily to developing countries to fight climate change. Negotiations were intense because developing countries wanted much more since they incur much of the damage from climate change while arguing the more developed countries are causing it. Conference attendees were also concerned the Trump Administration would be less receptive to climate change initiatives. For more information on the conference, see the November 23, 2024 BBC article “Huge COP29 climate deal too little too late, poorer nations say” by Georgina Rannard and Esme Stallard at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd0gx4przejo.

More about Microscopic Creatures in the Gulf

 

Continuing his series on microscopic life in the Gulf of Mexico, Rick O’Connor released articles on diatoms and dinoflagellates, interesting creatures with important effects on our environment. To access the November 8, 2024 IFAS/UFL article “Marine Creatures of the Northern Gulf of Mexico – Diatoms,” go to https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/2024/11/08/marine-creatures-of-the-northern-gulf-of-mexico-diatoms/; for the November 15, 2024  IFAS/UFL article “Marine Creatures of the Northern Gulf of Mexico – Dinoflagellates,” go to https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/2024/11/15/marine-creatures-of-the-northern-gulf-of-mexico-dinoflagellates/.

Florida Panther Update

The number of Florida panthers seem to be increasing because of greater recorded road deaths. According to Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission panther biologist Dave Onorato, “… last year was a low tally at 13 mortalities; this year is back up to 28 as of today, which is more typical of the tally for panthers for the six years prior to 2023.” The numbers are “closer to what biologists have recorded in the past decade or so, as the population has recovered from only a few dozen in the 1990s.” For more on this issue, see the November 21, 2024 Fort Myers News-Press article “Panther road kills back up to typical levels this year” by Chad Gillis at Florida panther road kills back up to typical levels so far in 2024.

Protozoans are “Before Animals”

In his latest article on microscopic life forms in the Gulf of Mexico, Rick O’Connor introduces us to protozoans. They are “single celled creatures that lack a cell wall and chlorophyll” so they cannot produce their own food like plants. Though they must “consume foods” like animals, protozoans are not animals either because they are single celled. For more on these interesting in-between creatures, see the December 20, 2024 UF/IFAS Panhandle Outdoors article “Marine Creatures of the Northern Gulf of Mexico – Amoeboid Protozoans” at Marine Creatures of the Northern Gulf of Mexico – Amoeboid Protozoans | Panhandle Outdoors.

Protection for Monarch Butterflies

As proposed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the iconic monarch butterfly will receive protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as a threatened species. The number of butterflies wintering over in Mexico habitat is a common measure of the health of the species and has been in decline. In addition, “… monarchs across North America face significant challenges, including habitat destruction, pesticide exposure, and extreme weather exacerbated by climate change.”For more on this issue, see the December 10, 2024 Xerces Society article “Monarch Butterflies Have Been Proposed for ESA Protection. What Does This Mean?” by Deborah Seiler and Emma Pelton at https://xerces.org/blog/monarch-butterflies-have-been-proposed-for-esa-protection-what-does-this-mean.

Manatee Update

Despite the wintry weather, 17 Manatees were observed along the northern Gulf Coast from December 6, 2024 to January 9, 2025. Some of the manatees required care, however, and at least one may have succumbed to the cold. Drawn from “Dauphin Island Sea Lab Manatee Update” provided in January 10, 2025 e-mail by Rick O’Connor.