Protect and Restore Our Bays Together

May is Tourism Appreciation Month!
Our local waters and natural areas play a big role in what makes this region a world-renowned destination that offers opportunities to get outside, explore, and connect with the St. Andrew Bay watershed. Throughout the month, we’ll be shining a spotlight on various recreation opportunities across the watershed, including parks, trails, beaches, and more. Follow along to discover new places to experience and enjoy our local resources!

We’re thrilled to celebrate Grace Masters, our longest Estuary Program volunteer, for being named “Outstanding Biology Student” at Gulf Coast State College! She has dedicated over 2 years to the Estuary Program, helping with fieldwork prep, monitoring oyster gardens, collecting shells for our oyster recycling program, and more. Having her on our team has been a joy, and we’ve loved watching her grow. Grace will spend her summer with us as well as our very first internship recipient! Following the summer, Grace plans to continue her education in marine biology or environmental engineering at Florida State University. She has also given her time to several other local organizations, including Panama City Beach Turtle Watch and the Florida Panhandle Marine Institute.
We’re grateful to have Grace as part of our community and are excited to see where her path takes her next!

Photos: Grace weighs a vertical oyster garden; Grace demonstrates water quality monitoring with YSI; Grace excavates a sea turtle nest; Grace receives the Outstanding Biology Student award from Gulf Coast State College’s Professor Carrie Fioramonti; Grace holds an award with Drs. Ryann Rossi and Jessica Graham.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the recent Living Shorelines Workshop with the City of Lynn Haven! We had the opportunity to share information about potential living shoreline projects in Lynn Haven, the project process, and the benefits of Living Shorelines.
If you weren’t able to attend, there are still opportunities to learn more and ask questions!. Workshop materials are available to view at Lynn Haven City Hall, and we encourage you to stop by and take a look. We’d also love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to email Dr. Jessica Graham with any questions or comments at JGraham6@pc.fsu.edu.

Photo: Reef Balls, Alya Fox, The Nature Conservancy