Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Program

08/14/2025

Maintaining and supporting healthy waters is definitely a team effort! Thanks you, Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance and all the volunteers for your commitment to monitoring the health of our waterways!

The Destin Log recently highlighted the work of our volunteers who head out each month to collect water samples from the harbor, bay, and beyond - checking nutrient levels, clarity, salinity, and more to ensure our waterways remain thriving habitats. This ongoing water monitoring effort has been protecting our local environment since 1996! 💧

Read the full story in the Destin Log at https://www.thedestinlog.com/story/news/local/2025/07/31/choctawhatchee-basin-alliance-volunteers-check-up-on-destin-waterways/85447461007/

08/11/2025

Welcome, Molly!

Join us in welcoming Molly, the new Director of Keep Okaloosa Beautiful! In just a few short weeks, she’s already out in the community making a positive difference.

We encourage you to follow Keep Okaloosa Beautiful to see all the great work they’re doing and to stay in the loop on what’s ahead for the future!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/177KG1d4KC/

07/16/2025

🌾🪨🌾“Habitat Protection and Management” and “Community Resilience” are two of the five community-driven priorities in our 2024 Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan (CCMP). It’s inspiring to see our partners putting these ideas into action — every effort, big or small, helps protect our environment and strengthen our communities. 🐟🦀🦐 💪💪

Learn more about all five action items in the CCMP here:https://choctawbay.org/sites/default/files/CCMP_Document_ADA508_Updated%20Final.pdf

07/14/2025

🌿 Thank you to everyone who came out to help Visit Destin-Fort Walton Beach restore shorelines along Choctawhatchee Bay! Your time, energy, and teamwork made this planting event a huge success! Big shoutout to volunteers and partners — Coastal Conservation Association Florida, Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, FloridaCorps, and Franklin’s Promise Coalition — for making a real difference for our coastal habitats.

Don't worry if you missed out or weren't able to participate -- there are plenty of other volunteer opportunities to come!

06/30/2025

UPCOMING MEETING: The Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Coalition will hold a meeting on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, beginning at 9:30 AM CST. The meeting will be held at the Holmes County Board of County Commissioner Board Room, 107 E. Virginia Ave, Bonifay, Florida. This will be a regular meeting of the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Coalition. The Coalition consists of representatives of the Okaloosa, Walton, Washington and Holmes County Commissions and other members. The public is welcome to attend. View the public meeting notice at:
https://myokaloosa.com/sites/default/files/Users/piouser/7.9.2025%20-%20CBEC%20Public%20Notice.pdf

04/14/2025

🌊 A huge thank you to everyone who participated in this amazing collaboration between the diving community, Okaloosa Island Pier, the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, and Visit Destin-Fort Walton Beach!

More than 80 divers came together and removed over 50 pounds of debris from the water — an incredible effort to help protect our local marine life and keep our coastlines beautiful. 🐠♻️

Missed this one? Don’t worry — there's usually another opportunity in the fall!

Not a diver? There are plenty of opportunities to get involved! Join one of the many beach cleanups held throughout the year. 🌍💙 You don't have to wait long at all for the next one!! Sign up for the this weekends' Earth Day cleanups here: https://www.facebook.com/events/650433264198011

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/191w2CUjjG/

04/07/2025

UPCOMING MEETING: The Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Coalition will hold a meeting on Wednesday, Apr. 9, 2025, beginning at 9:30 AM CST. The meeting will be held at the Walton County Board of County Commissioner, 571 E. Nelson Ave, DeFuniak Springs, Florida. This will be a regular meeting of the Choctawhatchee Bay Estuary Coalition. The Coalition consists of representatives of the Okaloosa, Walton, Washington and Holmes County Commissions and other members. The public is welcome to attend. View the public meeting notice at:https://myokaloosa.com/sites/default/files/Users/piouser/4.9.2025%20-%20CBEC%20Public%20Notice.pdf

02/24/2025

Great information - very important to add native plants to your gardens and yards!

Why natives?

Many Floridians are adding more Florida native plants to their landscapes. The reasons for this trend vary widely:

To reduce maintenance costs—both time and money
To reduce irrigation and water use
To reduce pollution and runoff for the sake of nearby waterways
To attract birds
To use fewer pesticides—organic or not—for health reasons
To save monarch butterflies and other pollinators
To reduce utility bills by cooling the air and shading south or western exposures
To reduce frustrations with dealing with poor turf grass condition
To create an authentic Florida yard

Read "Let's Make Natives the New Normal." https://floridapress.blog/2018/08/01/lets-make-native-gardens-the-new-normal/

02/07/2025

♻️ Keep Plastic Bags OUT of Your Recycling Bin! ♻️

Did you know that placing loose plastic bags or bagged recyclables in your curbside recycling bin causes major issues at the recycling facility? Help us spread the word why and what you can do to help support your local recycle programs!

🚫 Why are plastic bags a problem?
✅ They tangle in sorting machines, causing breakdowns & costly delays.
✅ They contaminate other recyclables, making them harder to process.
✅ They slow down the recycling process, impacting efficiency.

🌍 What should you do instead?
✔️ Place recyclables loose in your bin—no bags!
✔️ Take plastic bags to grocery store drop-off bins for proper recycling.