Maria Wilkes’ Post

Follow the Walton County Beach Rules 🏖️ Let's keep our beaches safe and beautiful for everyone to enjoy! Here's a quick reminder of some important rules to follow: 🚩 Stay Safe: Always obey beach flag warnings to ensure your safety. 🚮 Leave No Trace: Remember to take all personal items with you when you leave the beach. 📜 Permits Required: Make sure you have the necessary permits for vehicles, dogs, and bonfires. 🐢 Sea Turtle Season: Respect rules and laws during sea turtle season. Before you head out, here are some additional things to keep in mind: 1. No glass containers allowed on the beach. 2. Tents larger than 10x10 are not permitted on county-owned beaches. 3. Keep a 15’ setback from dunes and water's edge for emergency vehicles. 4. No charcoal grills allowed on the beach; propane grills must be 225 sq inches or smaller. 5. Removal of sand, water, or vegetation is strictly prohibited. 6. Please stay off the dunes.

🚨 Safety Alert: Portuguese Man o' War Sightings on South Florida Beaches 🚨 Portuguese Man o' War have been spotted in the past few days along the shoreline. Known for their vibrant blue color and long, trailing tentacles, these creatures may look fascinating, but they pose a serious threat to beachgoers. The Portuguese Man o' War is not a jellyfish, but a colony of organisms working together—and its sting can cause intense pain, nausea, and even breathing difficulties. In rare cases, it can be life-threatening. With South Florida’s warmer waters drawing in more marine life, here are some tips to stay safe: Look, But Don’t Touch: Avoid touching Portuguese Man o' Wars, even if they appear to be washed up and dead. Their tentacles can still sting, releasing toxins on contact. Stay Aware in the Water: The Man o' War’s long tentacles can stretch up to 30 feet and are often hard to see. If you notice them nearby, exit the water calmly and notify others. Treat Stings Carefully (based on recommendations from NOAA, the American Red Cross, and other expert sources): If stung, rinse the area with seawater (not fresh water, as it can worsen the sting), and carefully remove any tentacles with gloves or tweezers if available. Avoid using vinegar, as it can intensify the pain. Instead, soak the area in hot water (110–113°F) if possible, as heat can help neutralize the venom. Alert Local Authorities: If you spot a Portuguese Man o' War along the beach, notify local lifeguards or authorities so they can monitor the area. With warmer weather and more people heading to the beaches, it's essential to stay informed about marine hazards. At Mergen C&F, we’re committed to sharing knowledge and promoting safety. Let’s all enjoy South Florida’s beautiful beaches responsibly and safely! #safetyfirst #southflorida #beachsafety #marinesafety #portuguesemanowar #MergenCF

To be prepared and to avoid disastrous results from such scenarios, take a minute to understand the following. Current research breaks down drowning emergencies into two types: Aquatic Distress and Instinctive Active Drowning Response. #thescubanewscanada #drowning #Aquaticdistress #InstinctiveDrowningResponse

Absentee voting has begun in Michigan, and early voting will be available at minimum by Oct 26 (though your municipality can add extra early voting time). You can still register to vote online or by mail up until Oct 20, or in person at the Clerk's all the way up to election day. Please vote; it matters. But if you're feeling just a touch exhausted and like you'd like to stop receiving political text messages, here is a little underwater rabbit hole to enjoy in the meantime: "The solution: sink it on purpose and create what supporters hope will be a barnacle-encrusted star in Okaloosa County’s constellation of more than 500 artificial reefs, making it a signature diving attraction that could generate millions of dollars a year in local tourism spending for scuba shops, charter fishing boats and hotels." https://lnkd.in/enbQ7mT4 I had not encountered this particular mix of environmentalism and capitalism before, which led me here: "Modern reefing is different from dumping trash into the water and is regulated at the federal and state levels. A rigorous permitting and approval process ensures that the proposed objects or materials are appropriate to deploy in the ocean." Avery B. Paxton, D'amy Steward https://lnkd.in/et3YpD5x Which is reassuring because I remember working in places like this: "Just north of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation property line, at the mouth of Tappen’s Creek, artifacts from more recent human activity are readily apparent." https://lnkd.in/eyTwFhpp The conversation about removing materials then went something like this: "When thinking about where to concentrate your ocean-cleanup efforts, consider whether the trash you’re removing has become an animal’s new home." https://lnkd.in/eiqkstHV Which still seems basically true. However, those poorly-considered tires dumped off the coast of Florida? Apparently they're mostly cleaned up now: https://lnkd.in/e3ugURB5 (Side note: There are lots of things we didn't know in the 70s, which we now - 50 years later - know. I try not to judge.) Also artificial reefs may help mitigate storms surges, at least somewhat - though the easily findable research seems to focus on purpose-built versions: https://lnkd.in/eDbuV8VY

As visitors flock to our region’s beaches for the summer, three councils have urged visitors to leave them as they found them amid litter, illegal camping and fire concerns. Northumberland, North Tyneside and South Tyneside councils have each reminded visitors to respect their environment while enjoying the sun. Councillors have also shared their concerns over some visitors’ behaviour while in some of the region’s most famous summer hotspots. South Tyneside councillor Eileen Leask, who represents the home of Sandhaven Beach, said: “The most important thing is the glass, I wish people would take it away with them. It gets broken and somebody’s child could stand on it.” South Tyneside Council mechanically maintains its beaches daily using a surf rake with teams working throughout the day to ensure litter bins are regularly emptied. The local authority’s environmental chief also warned against the environmental dangers beach litter poses to local wildlife. Coun Ernest Gibson lead member for neighbourhoods and climate change at South Tyneside Council said: “While we know most people dispose of their rubbish responsibly, there is a small minority who do not. It is illegal, blights the area and poses a risk to other visitors, wildlife, and marine life – if it is swept out to sea. “We would urge residents and visitors to our fantastic coastline to assist our clean-up efforts by putting their litter into the litter bins along the seafront and large bin baskets on the beach or taking their litter home with them.” If caught in South Tyneside, litterbugs can be subject to a £50 fine. The penalty rises to up to £100 in Northumberland. As part of an anti-pollution campaign, North Tyneside Council commissioned a six-foot cod statue comprised of litter to tour the area’s coastal highlights. It is set to replace Martin the Seal, a similar sculpture comprised of litter which is being placed into retirement. However, litter concerns remain for North Tyneside’s coast, with Whitley Bay councillor John O’Shea stating the local authority “will not tolerate” such anti-social behaviour. #waste #litter #littering #flytip #flytipping #wasteenforcement #ASB #WISE #enforcementofficers #beach #cleanup #environment #community

Flying by the seat of your pants? 🛩️ Daniel P. Hoffman reflects on lessons learned from his summers at Alaska’s remote fishing lodges in Katmai and Bristol Bay. Emergency planning is key to success—whether in the wild or in business. Find the full story in our latest issue! https://lnkd.in/epA4PAFk #AlaskaAdventures #BusinessSuccess #EmergencyPlanning #AlaskaBusiness #alaskabusinessmagazine

Beach cleaning is essential for preserving marine ecosystems and ensuring that beaches remain safe and enjoyable for everyone. This Tops guide will help you understand the importance of beach cleaning, provide tips on safety and explain what types of rubbish to collect and how to dispose of it properly. https://lnkd.in/eiTKtYUe

As someone who just moved back to New England, seacoast NH, from OR, this was an interesting article to read. I will challenge this statement, "That’s right, the best East Coast beaches can be every bit as remote-feeling as Western landscapes." as I have spent the last 5+ years exploring the OR coast, just more people east of the Mississippi and that translates to more traffic at the beach on a hot / humid summer day: "According to the Census Bureau, almost two-thirds of the U.S. population — about 64.4% — lives east of the Mississippi River, on land that amounts to a little more than a third of Continental U.S. land. Meaning, a little more than 1/3 of the population lives on 2/3rds of the land (west of the Mississippi)." That being said, a strong list so well worth posting. https://lnkd.in/dYVJsSfR #assateagueisland #atlantic #atlanticocean #beach #beaches #capecod #coast #east #eastcoast #florida #island #jerseyshore #ocean #outerbanks #outside #outsidemagazine #sand #water #wild #wildest

I enjoyed some camping in CO's San Isabel Natl Forest yesterday, where prescribed burns will soon start. Why do we set the woods on fire, anyways? BENEFITS OF PRESCRIBED BURNS Watershed Management - burning away overgrown shrubbery allows more water to accumulate in a forest's natural watershed. This means impurities are diluted, to the benefit of the natural vegetation, wildlife, and human populations who get more water; and cleaner water, too. Hazardous Fuels Reduction - areas to be burned are overgrown. This means, if fire starts, it will burn hotter, spread wider, and last longer. Prescribed burns safely remove dangerous overgrowth. People live in the path of these potential wildfires, so prescribed burns make those people much safer. Soil Quality - Prescribed burns reintroduce vital nutrients into the soil which overgrowth has sucked away. This process revitalizes vegetation and the grazers who feed upon it as well. Habitat Diversification - As these wild forest habitats return closer to their natural state through prescribed burns, a greater variety of plant and animal life will return as well, resulting in more vibrant flowering in Spring, greener Summers, prettier Autumn changes, and more wonderful wildlife to complement it all. Take a moment to think about the hardworking wildland firefighters and others who work every day to get us closer to a safer and more beautiful country. Happy Sunday!