PENSACOLA, Fla., June 30, 2021 /CSRwire/ - The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and partners announce the start of construction on the Pensacola East Bay Oyster Habitat Restoration Project to boost oyster populations in East and Blackwater Bays. The project is the largest scale estuarine habitat restoration undertaken by TNC in Florida 33 oyster reefs will be placed along approximately 6.5 miles of Santa Rosa County shoreline, to return oysters to a region where they thrived historically but have since declined.
The restoration project is funded by a $15 million grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (NFWF GEBF) through funding from the criminal settlement of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The reefs will help to restore oysters to the bays and in doing so benefit the oyster fishery, wildlife, water quality, and nearshore habitats. The project aligns with the new regional oyster fisheries and habitat management plan, created to improve the
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Florida seen from space at night. Photo by NASA Earth Observatory
Noah Valenstein, secretary of Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection, announced his resignation Thursday, effective on Friday, June 4.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office acknowledged late Thursday Valenstein submitted his letter of resignation on May 8 but did not make it public until he notified department employees earlier Thursday.
He has worked at DEP since the administration of former Gov. Rick Scott and has served as secretary since 2017.
Noah Valenstein, Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Credit: DEP
Valenstein wrote in a letter he addressed to his “team” Thursday that Shawn Hamilton will succeed him as interim secretary of the department. Hamilton is deputy secretary over the Division of Land and Recreation, which manages state parks and the Florida Forever land-conservation program. Hamilton has been with DEP for 13 years.
Governor Ron DeSantis signs bill to further strengthen Florida’s resiliency efforts
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Historic and largest investment in Florida’s history will ensure communities are prepared for rising sea levels and flooding
Tarpon Springs, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law Senate Bill 1954. This comprehensive legislation will ensure a coordinated approach to Florida’s coastal and inland resiliency. The new program will enhance our efforts to protect our inland waterways, coastlines, shores and coral reefs, which serve as invaluable natural defenses against sea level rise.
Additionally, this bill and the 2021-2022 budget are part of the largest investment in the state’s history – over $640 million – to support efforts to ensure state and local communities are prepared to deal with the impacts of sea level rise, intensified storms and flooding.