News

Become a PKA Director!

With discussion swirling about beach access and other Perdido Key issues, it is a great time to consider joining the PKA Board of Directors! All PKA members are eligible to be Directors, even part-time Perdido Key residents since the monthly meetings are held both in-person and by teleconference. PKA has made significant inputs to past projects such as the Perdido Key Master Plan and Perdido Key Multiuse Path and is a prominent voice in current beach access discussions. 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 in being nominated for a Director position, please contact PKA Administration at perdidokeyassocation@gmail.com, PKA Director Charles Krupnick at charles.krupnick@gmail.com or any other PKA Director before January 18, 2026.

Even More Discussion on Beach Access

Presentations for and against allowing public access to Perdido Key private beaches (i.e., the customary use issue) have occupied significant time of the Public Forum portion of recent Escambia County Board of County Commissioner meetings. Recent statements by Commissioners to the press have added to the mix with ideas such as County use or acquisition of the Perdido Key Area of Gulf Islands National Seashore (Johnson Beach) or Perdido Key State Park. An additional issue is the recent decision by affected properties to discontinue legal proceedings against implementing a 75 foot public access easement for 1.2 miles of Perdido Key private beaches, though the decision was without prejudice and could be addressed at a later time. According to a recent Pensacola News Journal article, “Escambia County commissioners plan to hold a committee of the whole meeting to fully discuss the issue early in 2026, possibly as soon as January.” For more on recent developments, see the November 20, 2025 Pensacola News Journal article Johnson Beach Perdido Key State Park take over eyed by Escambia by Jim Little.

Alert – New Date for December County Commissioner Meeting!

PKA publicized a December 4, 2025 meeting of Escambia County Board of Commissioners for those who may want to express opinions on Perdido Key beach access or other issues. The meeting has been changed to Thursday, December 11, 2025 with the Public Forum portion beginning at 4:30 PM.

Drilling Planned for Florida’s Gulf

The Five Year Plan for offshore drilling recently released by the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management includes a large area of the eastern Gulf off the coast of Florida that was previously excluded from oil and gas drilling operations. The plan is part of the current US Administration’s efforts to improve America’s energy independence. Negative reaction to the plan has been immediate including from Governor DeSantis and other public figures while many in the Perdido Key area vividly recall effects from the massive 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. There is a 60 day public comment period on the new plan from November 24, 2025 to January 24, 2026. For more on this issue, see the November 21, 2025 Pensacola News Journal article Oil drilling in Florida Eastern Gulf in Trump plan by Tom McLaughlin.

Government Shutdown

Public access to NAS Pensacola and the Naval Aviation Museum was restored on November 14, 2025 following the end of the federal government shutdown. The Perdido Key Area of Gulf Islands National Seashore (Johnson Beach) was also reopened. For more on ending the shutdown, go to the November 13, 2025 Pensacola News Journal article Government shutdown ending leads to NAS Pensacola reopening to public by Benjamin Johnson.

July Perdido Key Drive Pedestrian Fatalities

More information has emerged concerning the July 5, 2025 death of two young people at the Perdido Key Drive and River Road intersection. The vehicle involved was reportedly traveling east at 74 mph prior to the accident while an ambulance traveling west may have been a factor in the tragedy. For more on the accident, go to the November 21, 2025 Pensacola News Journal article Former Escambia deputy facing vehicular homicide charges was speeding by Mollye Barrows.

Fewer Canadian Tourists

According to a recent BBC report, “October was the 10th straight month of decline in the number of travelers to the US” from Canada. Many Canadians have reacted negatively to US actions such as tariff policies and treatment of “allies and neighbors.” The decline includes Canadian snowbirds where the number of planned baby boomer trips to the United States is 66% lower than last year. For more on this issue, see the November 13, 2025 BBC article Canadian boycott of US travel shows no sign of slowing by Madeline Halpert.

Florida Property Taxes

Seven amendments and one bill all with the intent to reduce property taxes were approved for consideration in the upcoming 2026 Florida legislative session. The initiatives are a response to rising property taxes from increased property values but could reduce revenue for essential services from local governments. For more on this issue, see the November 21, 2025 Pensacola News Journal article “Florida property taxes on path to partial elimination. What to know” by Brandon Girod at These Florida property taxes might be going away.

Better Fishing Days

America’s fisheries have reportedly come back from near collapse following changes in regulations. According to a recent USA Today article: “There are three times more red snapper in the Gulf of America than in 2009. In Cape Cod and the Gulf of Maine, stocks of adult yellowtail flounder have jumped from 218 metric tons in 2006 to 3,800 metric tons in 2020.” New procedures apparently evolved from an Environmental Defense Fund proposal to lawmakers that allows “fishermen to catch as much as they wanted on any given day, while reducing their overall seasonal catch by as much as half.” For more on this issue, go to the November 7, 2025 USA Today article “Nice Catch: How America’s Fisheries Rebounded from Tough Times” by Dan Morrison at How U.S. fisheries recovered from collapse.

COP30 Climate Accord

The 30th UN sponsored meeting on climate change held in Belem, Brazil concluded with a “compromise climate deal on Nov. 22 that would boost finance for poor nations coping with global warming but that omitted any mention of the fossil fuels driving it.” UN Climate Secretariat (UNFCCC) Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said: “I’m not saying we’re winning the climate fight. But we are undeniably still in it, and we are fighting back.” For more on this issue, see the November 22, 2025 Reuters article COP30 seals uneasy climate deal that sidesteps fossil fuels | Reuters by Lisandra Paraguassu, Kate Abnett, William James and Sudarshan Varadhan.

November 13 Commissioner Stroberger Meeting

The Perdido Key Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a Brown Bag Luncheon with Escambia County District 1 Commissioner Steve Stroberger on November 13, 2025 at the Perdido Key Community Center. It was attended by about 25 individuals with discussion covering a range of topics including the Perdido Key Drive/Johnson Beach Road roundabout, roadside and beach access maintenance, underground utilities, and the proposed River Road RV park.

Perdido Key Area Holiday Events

Annual Chamber Holiday Party at Flora-Bama Yacht Club, December 5 from 5-9 PM

Christmas Boat Parade beginning at Sunset Grill, December 6 from 1-3 PM

Perdido Key Christmas Market at Warrior Beer Company, December 11&12 from 4-9 PM

Awards from PPBEP

The Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program (PPBEP) announced its 2025 Annual Awards at the organization’s October Evening for the Estuaries Gala. Its Project of the Year Award was given to The Nature Conservancy in Alabama, the City of Orange Beach, and Moffatt & Nichol for the Lower Perdido Islands Restoration Project. The project addresses the “long-term degradation of Robinson and Walker Islands, caused by years of storm damage, erosion from boat wakes, and impacts from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.” PPBEB also presented the Jessica Bibza Partner of the Year Award that “recognizes the outstanding dedication and passion of one individual who has had an immeasurable impact on our community by bringing people together to ensure a better future for all” to Rick O’Connor – Marine Extension Agent IV for UF/IFAS Extension in Escambia County. The Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Diane Bolter for her “unwavering commitment, passion, and stewardship” as a Manatee Ambassador “supporting the Panhandle Manatee program, which educates the public about manatees, encourages sighting reports, and promotes seagrass-safe boating practices.” For more information on this and other issues, see the PPBEP’s Pelican Post November Newsletter.

SB 180 and Local Planning

SB 180 was passed at the end of the 2025 Florida legislative session and, according to 1000 Friends of Florida: “It freezes local governments’ ability to adopt stronger land-use and development rules for years, even if those rules have nothing to do with storm recovery.” 1000 Friends has filed a lawsuit to invalidate the new law. For more on this issue, go to Restore Community Planning: Fix SB 180. – 1000 Friends of Florida.

The Friends Heron Trot

The Friends of Pensacola State Parks held their Heron Trot road race on a beautiful November 1 morning at Big Lagoon State Park. Over 50 participants ran the flat course and enjoyed after race camaraderie, drinks and snacks with family and friends.

Escambia County Budget Passed

Despite opposition from many taxpayers attending the County’s first public hearing on its proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 budget, Escambia County Commissioners unanimously approved a new fire service fee almost twice the current amount – increasing per dwelling unit costs from $125.33 to $226.78. Among other reasons, Commissioners spoke to staffing costs for five new fire stations and the real need to raise fire fighter salaries. At its final budget meeting on September 24, 2025, Commissioners affirmed their earlier votes and approved the County’s 2025-2026 budget with the Fire Service Fee increase in place. For more on this issue, see the September 11, 2025 Pensacola News Journal article “Escambia County nearly doubles fire service fee despite community pushback” by Mollye Barrows at https://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/escambia-county/2025/09/11/escambia-county-doubles-fire-service-fee-despite-community-pushback/86090251007/ and the September 25, 2025 Pensacola News Journal article “Escambia passes nearly $870 budget; looks to ‘tighten  belt’ next year amid tax outcry” by Mollye Barrows at https://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/escambia-county/2025/09/25/escambia-county-2025-2026-budget-fire-msbu-millage-rate-prompt-angst/86325419007/.

Pensacola a Top US Small City

Pensacola is ranked No. 10 on Condé Nast Traveler’s list of the best small cities in the United States. “From the beaches of Pensacola and Perdido Key to the energy of downtown’s galleries, restaurants, and events, Pensacola continues to capture the hearts of travelers seeking both relaxation and adventure …” The city’s Bruce Beach Revitalization Project was featured among Condé Nast Traveler’s “2025 Bright Ideas.” For more on this issue, see the October 7, 2025 Pensacola News Journal article “Pensacola named top U.S. small city by Conde Nast Traveler – again” by Brandon Girod at Pensacola named top small city by Condé Nast Traveler 2025.

Turtle Nesting Season at Perdido Key State Park

Three loggerhead turtle nests successfully hatched during the 2025 season sending 300 hundred or so hatchlings to their perilous lives at sea. It was a good start!

Controlled Burns to Begin

Weather permitting, Florida State Park personnel in the Pensacola area will be conducting controlled burns (prescribed fire) at local state parks. “Prescribed fire helps reduce wildfire risk and restore health to ecosystems that depend on fire.” For more on this issue, go to Florida State Park website for the article What is Prescribed Fire? | Florida State Parks.

Sorrento Road Concerns

The Florida Alabama Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) is asking FDOT for a Roadway Safety Audit of Sorrento Road and Gulf Beach Highway from Navy Boulevard to Innerarity Point Road. The request follows significant public concern about the safety and usability of the roadway including complaints about potholes and the difficulty of passing slow vehicles on the two lane road. CEO of Emerald Coast Regional Planning Council Kandase Lee said: “This study could potentially identify any ‘lower cost, quick delivery’ items that could be deployed in relatively short timeframe, if they exist.” For more on this issue, see the September 4, 2025 Pensacola News Journal article “Could a few quick fixes make Sorrento Road safer? FDOT asked to find out” by Mollye Barrows at https://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/escambia-county/2025/09/04/sorrento-road-gulf-beach-highway-safety-improvements-reviewed-by-fdot/85855990007/.

High Seas Treaty in Force

The multinational “High Seas Treaty” received the endorsement of its 60th country and will enter force in January 2026. “Covering more than two-thirds of the ocean, the agreement sets binding rules to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity,” United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. Once in force, countries can propose areas to be protected by the treaty and “these will then be voted on by the countries that sign up to the treaty.” Although the United States has signed the treaty, its participation in the agreement has not been confirmed by the US Senate. For more on this issue, go to the September 19, 2025 BBC article “Key oceans treaty crosses threshold to come into force” by Esme Stallard at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5j87114deo.

Pensacola #1 Coastal City

Consumer Affairs ranked Pensacola as the “top U.S. city for coastal-lifestyle seekers to make a long-distance move to in a new list,” with affordability and safety among the reasons the “Pensacola Metropolitan area earned the top spot.” For more on this issue, see the August 21, 2025 Pensacola News Journal article “Pensacola ranked No. 1 coastal city in the U.S. among 143 areas” by Edward Bunch III at https://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/2025/08/21/best-us-cities-rankings-pensacola-florida-consumeraffairs/85730405007/.

Nurse Shark Spotted in Big Lagoon

Nurse sharks are common in south Florida waters such as near the Florida Keys, but much less so in the northern Gulf. One recently was observed swimming near a dock in a seagrass bed in Big Lagoon. Its appearance could be due to warmer and saltier water than usual in our area. Nurse sharks are bottom feeders and can grow to 14 feet; they should not pose a significant threat to people unless disturbed. For more on this issues, go to the October 21, 2025 UF/IFAS article by Rick O’Connor Nurse Shark Spotted in Big Lagoon | Panhandle Outdoors.

Florida Red Snapper Season Begins

The first two weeks of September mark the beginning of Florida’s red snapper season. 2025 will see the longest private recreational Gulf red snapper season on record with 126 days allowed, considerably longer than authorized for the Atlantic side of Florida. For more on this issue, go to the August 28, 2025 USA Today Network article “Florida’s Gulf red snapper fall season starts on Labor Day. Bag limits, rules, schedule” by C. A. Bridges at https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2025/08/28/florida-gulf-red-snapper-season-starts-labor-day-what-know/85867107007/.

Aquaculture in Louisiana and Mississippi

Thomas Derbes continues the discussion of aquaculture in the South with an article on the extensive aquaculture industries in Louisiana and Mississippi. Louisiana’s aquaculture is varied but dominant in the production of crawfish. Fields are used to produce rice part of the time and flooded for crawfish at other times in a “sustainable rotation system that improves soil health and supports biodiversity.” In Mississippi, the vast Delta is home to thousands of acres of catfish farms that produce over half the US output of catfish and “supports extensive secondary industries, including feed mills, hatcheries, and equipment manufacturers.” For more on aquaculture, see the October 29, 2025 UF/IFAS article “Aquaculture in the Southern United States: Part 4-Louisiana & Mississippi” at Thomas Derbes II | Panhandle Outdoors.

Be BearWise in the Fall

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has posted a reminder that Florida’s bears are consuming more calories these days to prepare for the winter. “Bears are opportunistic eaters with very strong senses of smell. To prevent bears from associating your yard or neighborhood with a free meal, remove any attractions such as unsecured trash or bird seed,” said Mike Orlando, FWS Bear Management Program Coordinator. For more information, go to the November 10, 2026 The Outdoor Wire article Be BearWise as Bears Are More Active in Fall | Outdoor Wire.

Ghost Gear

“Abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear – often referred to as ghost gear – is the deadliest form of marine debris. These nets, lines and traps continue to entangle fish, turtles, dolphins and even coral reefs long after they’ve been lost.” Ocean Conservancy is leading the Global Ghost Gear Initiative® (GGGI) to address this significant concern. Drawn from Ocean Conservancy October 21, 2025 e-mail by Joel Bazuik; for more information go to The Global Ghost Gear Initiative.

75 Ft Easement Decision Accepted by BOCC

On January 9, 2025 the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners affirmed the Honorable Jan Shackelford’s decision to grant the County’s motions “to dismiss for failure to join indispensable parties…” in the litigation by six affected Perdido Key condominium Boards of Directors to invalidate the 75 ft public access easement on beach property from the Perdido Sky Condominium to Perdido Key State Park. A discussion of the case is available in the January 2, 2025 Rick’s Blog entry “Escambia County wins dismissal of Perdido Key lawsuits” at https://ricksblog.biz/escambia-county-wins-dismissal-of-perdido-key-lawsuits/ noting the opinion that all affected lot owners must participate in litigation “challenging shared easement rights.”

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).

Perdido Key Coastal and Road Cleanup

Nearly 70 people participated in International Coastal Cleanup Day (September 20, 2025) activities and picked up trash on Perdido Key’s beautiful beaches and busy roadways. With leadership from Florida State Park Rangers, Perdido Key Association, Perdido Key Area Chamber of Commerce and Friends of Pensacola State Parks along with many sponsors who helped fund event t-shirts, participants were able to enjoy wonderful weather while removing unwanted debris from our island. Among the many volunteers were several young men from “Youths Left Behind.”

2025 World Oceans Day

The 2025 World Oceans Day celebration held on Sunday, June 8 at the Perdido Key Community Center had a good turnout from local residents and visitors, allowing them to view presentations and exhibits by organizations such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, manatee and sea turtle watch groups, Florida State Park, Friends of Pensacola State Park, local library representatives and the Perdido Key Association. Some emphasis was given to the “wonder of the oceans” as mentioned in the 2025 United Nations World Oceans Day theme but also the endangered Rice’s whale, proposed offshore fish farm near Pensacola, and threats to the ocean and its creatures.

2025 PKA Annual Membership Meeting

The Perdido Key Association held its Annual Membership Meeting on February 22, 2025 at the Eden Condominium. PKA president Stan Capua covered meeting preliminaries, various Perdido Key construction and development issues as well as PKA activities in 2024. Featured speaker Escambia County District 1 Commissioner Steve Stroberger discussed his decision to run for office in 2024 and his campaign’s visits to over 6,000 residences. Responding to questions, he expressed an open mind for changes to the Perdido Key Drive/Johnson Beach Road roundabout and noted funding has not been committed for underground utilities on Perdido Key. He hoped the outdoor bathroom status at Escambia County beach access locations on Perdido Key could be improved and does not plan to go forward with changes to Beach Access #3 until his concerns were addressed. He also discussed crosswalks on Perdido Key Drive and planned to schedule routine maintenance along the now-completed Perdido Key Multi-Use Path. The Commissioner expressed hopes Escambia County would provide better information about its funding and spending activities and mentioned possible creation of a “waterfront district” for Escambia County coastal areas. PKA president Capua also introduced the 2025 PKA Board of Directors: Stan Capua, Connie Walters, Mae Dean, Mark Richardson, Steven Huggins and Charles Krupnick along with new Directors Karen Rolen and Paul Frechette; Suzanne Kenworthy continues as PKA Administrator. The minutes for the meeting are posted on the “Archive” page of the Perdido Key Association website.

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!

Invasive Species Survey

As informed by Escambia County Sea Grant representative Rick O’Connor, a PhD student at the University of Florida is conducting a research survey to understand public perceptions of “13 ‘iconic’ invasive wildlife species in Florida.” If you would like to participate in the survey (which takes 8-10 minutes and is confidential), go to https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1Rl1RPLSdZ6kxaS.

Report Rare Snake Sightings

Sea Grant gathers snake sighting reports to inform local area residents about snakes they are likely to encounter. Some snakes are becoming rare with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission (FWC) particularly interested in sightings of Eastern Diamond-Backed Rattlesnakes, Eastern Indigo Snakes, Florida Pinesnakes, Rainbow Snakes, Short-Tailed King Snakes, and Southern Hog-Nosed Snake. If any are sighted and hopefully photographed, please consider making a report to FWC at https://myfwc.com/research/wildlife/amphibians-reptiles/snakes/?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=campaign.

Panhandle Terrapin Project

The diamondback terrapin is “the only resident turtle within brackish water and estuarine systems in the United States.” For the past 20 years, volunteers have conducted various phases of the “Panhandle Terrapin Project” to determine the population, status, activities and subspecies of the terrapins in the Florida Panhandle. The “Panhandle Terrapin Project 2025 Report” is available at https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2025/09/19/panhandle-terrapin-project-2025-report/.

What about Wind Power?

Wind power has emerged as an important alternative to fossil fuels in recent years. Over land and waters, enormous turbines create essentially pollution free electricity from the wind, but not without negative consequences such as tens of thousands of bird and bat deaths. For more on wind power, see the September 22, 2025 UF/IFAS article “Our Environment: Part 20 – Wind Power” by Rick O’Connor at https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/2025/09/22/our-environment-part-20-wind-power/.

World Octopus Day

October 8 has been celebrated as World Octopus Day since 2014. According to the organization World Animal Protection: “The World Octopus Day celebration draws attention to the beauty, intelligence, and sentience of these wonderful marine creatures. But it’s also a chance to highlight the threats octopuses face — including cruel octopus farming and marine pollution — along with octopus conservation initiatives.” There are about 300 species of octopus and, like squid, they are cephalopods; they are highly intelligent and can solve puzzles and use tools. For more on octopuses, go to the World Animal Protection website “Animal Awareness Days World Octopus Day” at World Octopus Day October 8 | World Animal Protection.

Black Bears in Florida

Florida black bear population decreased to a few hundred by the 1970s and bear hunting was closed in 1994, but the population has increased and bears are no longer a protected species. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has issued 172 permits drawn by lot from over 163,000 applications to hunt Florida black bear from December 6 to December 28, 2025. Reportedly dozens of permits may have been issued to people who have no intention of hunting bears. For more on this issue, go to October 9, 2025 Ft. Myers News-Press article “Wildlife agency issues 172 Florida black bear hunt permits for December hunt’ by Chad Gillis at Florida black bear hunt permits distributed with hunt two months away.

What about Biofuels?

Biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel have found considerable use in some countries and can be part of efforts to reduce fossil fuel usage. As with most energy sources, they have advantages and disadvantages. For a quick look at biofuels, see the October 6, 2025 UF/IFAS article “Our Environment: Part 21 Biofuels” by Rick O’Connor at https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/2025/10/06/our-environment-part-21-biofuels/.

Geothermal and Hydrogen

Rick O’Connor continues his series of short articles on environmental issues, this time concerning geothermal and hydrogen as alternative energy sources. Geothermal energy is heat stored within the earth. It is currently used primarily for heating homes but also produces about 1% of the world’s electricity. Use is prevalent at locations when geothermal energy is readily available such as volcanic Iceland and US locations in California, Nevada, Utah and Hawaii. Hydrogen has also been viewed as a clean energy source even for vehicles because it produces water vapor instead of CO2 when burned. But producing hydrogen is expensive and can produce greenhouse gasses in the process. In the United States, only California has developed an infrastructure for hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles. For more on these issues, go to the October 21, 2025 UF/IFAS article Our Environment: Part 22 – Geothermal Energy – UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County and October 23, 2025 article Our Environment: Part 23 – Hydrogen as an Energy Source – UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County.

Should We Care about PFAS?

PFAS are per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances found in many industrial and consumer goods such as food packaging, textiles and film-forming foams used to extinguish fires. They are nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they do not readily biodegrade. PFAS may also have linkages to possible cancer risk and problems with human immune systems, child developmental and other health concerns. PFAS have been detected in drinking water and surface waters in Escambia County with some samples exceeding USEPA’s 4 ng/L contaminant level standard. “If you want to learn more about PFAS or join community scientists’ efforts to expand PFAS water monitoring, please contact Dana Stephens, Florida Sea Grant Extension Agent with the UF/IFAS Okaloosa County Extension Office.” For more on this issue, go to the UF/IFAS November 17, 2025 article Are PFAS in Escambia County’s Drinking and Surface Waters? | Panhandle Outdoors by Dana Stephens.