ESCAMBIA COUNTY - Once again Escambia Coung, the Department of Enr-ironmental Protecdon, and the Ciw ofPensacola have

partnered togethet to create a geocache tour designed to route residents and visitors to the area's maior cnvironmcntal rcstotation projccts, uniquc cnvironmental habitats, and innovative enr.ir<.rnmental retrofit soludons. 'I'here are curtendv 13 stops on the Escambia County Environmental Geocache Tour, which include:

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The Big Escambia Creek Restoration Project to return the Big Escambia Cteek to its original flor','; Project Green Shores, dre award *inning project to restore oyster, saltmarsh and scagrass habitat in Pcnsacola Ba1'; The unique habitat of Perdido Pitcher Plant Prairie. Located west ofPensacola, Perdido Pitchcr Plant Prairic supports one of the largest strands of rvhite-t<-rp pitcher plants in Florida. The rare and carnivorous white-top pitcher plant is urxque to the Gulf Coast and found only between the Apalachicola and lMississippi fuvers. Almost 100 odrer rare plants and animals depend on the unusual wet prairie habitat, includir-rg the alligator snapping ruttle, su/eet pitcher plant and Chapman's butterwort; Cutting edge stormvztet tetofit projects such as the G\nn Ke,v Stormrvater Park at Southgate Plaza, which turned a traditional stormu/ater pond into a counqv wetland park in the middle of a commercial development, and the 17* Street storm'*?ter ptoject, u'hich combir.res state of the art technology dcsigned to remove solids and dcbris from stotmwater using an underground vault, rvith a "polishing wedand" to remove nutrients from the stormwater priot to berng discharged into the moud-r of Bayou Texar.

We have revamped the original tour to makc it morc user friendly and fun f<rr everyone. Ceocachers u'ho visit at least 8 of the 13 locations and use the colored pens at each location to check off the tour visit sheet can receive a tour prize. The tout pize ca,n be obtained by dsiting one of the two locations listed belou'. Just shor','the receptionist the completed form and receive a custom com celebrating the tour and the Ciry' of Pensacola's 450't' bithday.

.i. Department of Environmental Protection located at

Please sign in

160 W. Government Street with securiq' guatd in the lobby and then go to the third floot Suite 308.

Contact numbcr is 595-83t10.

Escambia County Nanual Resource Conscrvation Division Iocated at 151 Hv4.97 lvIolino (insidc thc Farm Burcau Building). Contact number is 587-540.1 ext. 102.

To begin the tour, do.*rrload the package at mycscambia.com: Select the Department & Offices tab under the 'myescambia' heading Select Community & Environment Department Then select the N arural Resources Consen'ation tab Once on this page, on the right side, select thc 'geocaching' tab
Yc.ru may even

visit onc of the locations listed above to pick up

a package

too!

Happy hunting and enjoy the environmental wonders of our counq'.

Escambia County Geocache EcoTour Coordinates

Big Escambia Creek Restoration

30*59.O20/87.74Jn
Big Lagoon State Park

3V18.697/87*4.861.

Deluna Plaza
30".24.133/87*12.891

Filtingim Landing
3/J"4/J.496/87*24.3s9

Glynn Key Stormwater Wedand 30"?5.%7/87'16.4n Admiral Mason Park/ Hawkshaw

30"24.m/87*72.m
fones Swamp Nature Trail

w8.528/87rr7.355
Native Paths
3/J*23..ro8/8779.084
Pengacola Beach

y}2o.862/87*0F.473

Perdidio Key State Park

w77.4a9/87*n.W
Project Greenshores

3G24.978/87*77.ffiA
17th Street Stormwater Retrofit

30*25.257/87m.ffi5 Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park

w22172/87*24.522

BIG ESCAMBIA CREEK RESTORATION

30*59.020/8714.127 Big Escambia Creek is a major tributary of the Escambia River located approximately 29 miles north of Escambia Bay. Over 30 years ago conditions along the lower reaches of the creek changed when a sand mining operation digging too close to the creek combined n'ith an irrtensive rainfall event caused the creek to change its course and follow the path of least resistance through the sandpits. Since the creek changed its course, the estimated 9fi) acres of rvetlands in and around the old creek channel now had no base flow and were reverting to an upland type habitat. ln additioru tons of se'diment began to flow downstream into the

A project was implemented to eliminate the delivery of the sediment ancl to restorc the productivity of the floodplain by diverting the creek back into its original channel. Big Escambia Creek was a $7.7 million dollar project sponsored by Three Rivers Resource Conservation ancl Development Program (RC&D), Gulf Coast RC&D, Escambia Soil anrl Water Conservation District, U.S. Fish anci Wildlife Service, and the Army Corps of Engineers to restore 1,000 acres of wetlands. The Northwest Florida Water Management District provided $815,508 in Florir.{a Forever Grant funds for the project. Construction on the project began in 2003 ancl was completed in 2005.
Big Escambia 2004

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BIG Li\GOON S'l'A'rD PARK

f,o* | 8.697/87rZ.l.116l

Fee Schedule'

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Single Occupant Vehicle

92.00
Pedestrians, bicycllsts, extra
passengers, passen8ers in

vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.

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Bring the whole family out for a fun-filled afternoon, weekend, or longer time. Big Lagoon State Park offers several opportunities for outdoor recreation, including: picnicking, hiking trails, canoe and kayak rentals, fishing, and a boat launch.

If you are teelirrg ac{venturous, try clinrbing the three story observation tolver to catch an offshore breezc while overlooking thc Irrtracoastal Watcrway and tl'rc National Seashorelf \'ou are lookirrg for sorrethiug a little nrore relirxing, bring your favorite beaclr/ lar,r'n chair out anc{ lvatch thc various sholcbirds ;-rlay arrd snrall waves lap the sancl.
Ncccl to get arvay from it all? Why not celebrate the outdoors by reserving a site irr trur canrpgrourrd arrcl gather your farrrill, arountl a campfire for an eveninp; meal anr{ rna rshmallorvs. 'l'ake aclvantage of the Gatcway to tl're Great Floricla Bircling Trail hcre at Big Lagoon. Migrating bircls are now passing through; othcrs are here ycar-rouncl. If you wr-rukl like to borrow somc. lrinoculars, stop try the Ranger station ancl check out a pair. Thcsc binoculars arc proviclecl by corporate sponsors arrd the Florida Wildlife Commission to help rnake your visit more crrjoyablc.
For more infornration about Big Lagoorr State P;rrk or anv of Floricla's award rvinrring State Parks visit r,r,n'r,r..ilorir.lastatr'lrarks.org or call 850/ 492-1595.

FILLINGIM LANDING
30*40.496/87*24.359

Fillingim Landing is located along the beautiful Perdido River. The Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD) acquired the 5,455 acre Perdido River property in 2006 for water resource protection. Before the Dishict purchased the property, it had been leased to hunting clubs for years and was closed to the public. Now, the landing is open to the public for canoe/kayak launching, swimming, anci picnicking.

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is assisting the Water Management District with managing the property by developing and enforcing rules through the state's wildlife managernent area program.

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GLYNN KEY STORMWATER WETLAND

3tt*23.937 /87*16.429

The Glynn Kcv Stormwater Wetlarrel was ar1 itlea that came about at the right timc, in the riglrt place, with thc right peoplc. ln 2000, DEP met with the Bayou Chico Association's Lavern Matlrc.son in an effort to idcntify a stormwater restoration proiect that could bc'nefit Bayou Chico. That meeting resulted in the birth of a vision to transform a shopping center's stormwater pond irrto a courrty stormwater wetlanci park.

Over the next several months a core grc)up of individuals represeuting DEP, Escamtria County, the Nafural Resourcc Conservation Service, the Bayou Chico Asstxiation ancl Soutl'rgate Plaza business owners met to refine the visior.r and create the plans for the Glynn Key Stormrn'ater Wetlancl Park. Gcrals of the Glvnn Kev Stormwater Wetlalrd inclur'le:

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To ceiucatc visitors about the in.rportant function wetlands play irr filterirrg stornlwater anci thc habitat thcy prrovic'le; To ctlucatc contrncrciaI clevelopcrs about the value ofcreating a "nafural stornrwater treatment systenl" ttl treat stormwater (turns an eycsorc intcr a value added feature to anv clcvclopment); To provide a recreational source to the Bayou Cl-rico communitv - a place rn4rere citizens carl get away from tlte traflic and errjov a relaxing lvalk to ancl frorn the shoppirrg center; and To provicle aclclitional treatmc'nt to the storurwater entering Jones Srn'amp Creek (DOT stormwater was rctlirecterl into tlre wetland ancl the wetlancl provides aclditional treatmcnt ir-r thc form of nutrient uptake versus the pronc'l that was here previously).

Funclirrg for the project rvas provirk'd bv the U.S. [rrvironmcntal Protection Agcncy Section 319 Grant Prograrn manager.l bv DEP, Escambia County local option sales tax dollars.

Warrington Tax lncremcnt Finarrce trust fund, donation of propcrtl' from both Southgatc Plaza ancl thc Pensacola Housing Authoril.l', ancl a privatc clonation from the project's namesake, Mr. Glynn Kcy. Mr. Kev hacl tionated $20,000 to the Escambia Soil ancl Water Consc'nration District to put towarcls a stermlt'atcr project that would raise awareness about the importauce of hreating $tormwater and improve the environment. 'l'his gesturc highlights Mr. Key's commitrnent to the community and the environment in which we live - n
gloruing cxuu1tle o.f the kind of citizenship townrds slrculd nll st riuc.

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rrr:rt Adrniral IVlasorr Park, roc(lttly urrvcilt'rl lrv the Citt' t'f Pcnsarcola, is locatctl itr tht' I lar,vkshalv L.rgoon .l cit akrlrg l)r'llsa( ola llay, at tlrr' iutt'rsr'ctiott tlf 9th i\vctruc atrtl Bavtt olrt Par.krv.rr,. l-'r.t'r nr tlrr. l(150s to thr't'all\,fi(ls it rvas thc sitc oI a hasr.trirll st.ttlitttl callcr"] ,'\rlrrrirrtl fuktsrrrr Pnlk. Thc trtrllpalk u'as rt.trtrt'rl itr hottot oI Charl-'s P. N'las()lr, a Vice Atllniral irr tht' Umte tl Stales Natvr, rrntl [u'o-titnt' i\'lrvor oi l)r'usat ol.l. lrr Jartu.rrv 1991 Llrt'Citv of Pctrsacola appr11r1r1i.1l1'1[ larrd ,.r I tlrr-, lolrrrr.r sLrciiunr's sitc fol the plainrtttl Wnll Sorrl]t r)lf nloriill, rr lrall-st'irlt' 'l'lrc rt'nrairrirrg rcfrlica rrl the \/ictnarl Velt'rans Nlt'nrt,r'ial in \'Voshin{tutr, D.C, Pr'(lllt\t'[\' rr'(]q 1t'ct'rrtly trit rrsisl r.lerl l.renr a p41;1;i1,1'rr..lcirti61.rl Irt'[l irrt6 a [rc.rtrtiftr] 2.35-actc pt)lr(1, \\'ith t\\'t) 'l-lrt'1''.111'5 l(ru11t.rilrs, u'.rlkrr'.tr.s,.rttrl rl()zctts trI ttt't's irrtti trllt,'r larrtlscaIirr1'. l1()11(l st'r\'('s.ls il fncilitv for llrr'srrltourrr.linr] 3l .rr'r'('s, Pr()tr'r-til'lU Pt'ttsatrtla Bat'front st()nlrrrittr'r' Irc.rttrlr:ltt rr tltt r'.1 ttri stot tttrr'.1 [t'r Itr t,. rl'l r

itre:.r, Plp;15.' also visit tlte ON r\rl iss irr.g C I r i I t I r u fi'I c t n rt r i s I .lt'ross I tortt thc Vclc'l'rttts Nlatttori'll PrrlA. '\ rlu a rlt'r'-ltt ih' inlt't ott l't'ttsttt ola llat' atljaccnt to Bavllorrt Palkwiry, itcr()s:' It()nt Vtrlr"tr.ttts lvlcnrolial Park "fltt' .lr1d jtrs[ !'nst oi thp Sr'villc Ilistolic L)istricI itr I)t'rrsacola. I l.'tlr,kshan' Lagtr.ru N'lissirrll Clril.lrcrr lvlt'ntorial u'irs cluve ltrPetl itl 2t)i)2 tlrrough a 5tl1 (c)(3) trot-[or-l.rolit ()rt',nrlizirti{)11 (l lan'kslrarl l-.r11oorr N4issinri Clril,.llt'rr. lrrc.). lrr c(\)pr'r'(lli()rt rr'itlt ltrt-irl ll( )\'r nllt('n ts, iu ('.r lrusinr,ss('s, civ ic ot llatrizittirttts, ;tnrl inclivitlttals, thc Nlenrtrrial r'\'.rs rl('sir',n('(l irrl(l (l('sil,,rtirt('rl to sctvt'.rs thc Nittiorral irlenrolial to i\lissinli ('lril.llt'rt. 'J'rrcl.rr', this s|trci.tl l().nti()tl tvilh a rich h lst()r\' scl'\'cs .rs (l frl.l('r' oi solitcc lirl l.rrtrilit's atrtl lt it'rr,.ls of Ilissinll .-hiltllcrr, as r.t't'll as iltl ()pr.jll clitssrrtrlrtt [r'r r Pcrrsrrcol,r's lri.skrlic \\'nt('r'lr()nt arr,.l lttr1..rt'allr'lt'tl ttatrrral t)ltviroltrtlcltt.
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-fhr irrspiral.it-rn [or tlris porver'lrrl rnt.rrrolial, x'hrt h l.lctrds l)(]ilpnrrt sclrlpluvl' rtith it.s ttitltll'.ll scttinll, is l(aLhv Gaut-l)r'itr,- tlrt'nrotltt'r ol a rlissinll rl.rt.r1',lrtt'r,.lo.rttItrt. Katltv an,.l hcr p.rth trl he.alirrg Pl()\'irlt'rl nLlalr itrsPir.ltir)n t()\\'nr(l the strcr'r.'ssful c()tultl('tion oI this Prtliet:t. Thlor,rli]1 llrt'strpp<n't r'rl.rnanv t'onrurrrrritv-rlinrlr.tl irrrlivitlLritls sttch .rs Clark l'ltotnl'tsott, Sr:tltt ] lollatrrl, .rrrrl llcl,,irra Llarriakrs, the lirrrul' rr,as a[tle [() sr('Lrr'(,thc Irt'lP ol.ircr:lainrr.,rl sc(]1lrtot Sanr Nt'ttlt's t() ('(r-ar().lt(' this irrsprirationill .1llrl p(rila('Iul cnviltlnnrcrrt.
l'hc park t urrctrllv in( lurl('s ir po(l()sIr'iillr lrrir.lgt'sParrrrirrg I l;rr.r'kshau' I-.r1;rxrn, n,hich r,r,as -l-rarrslrtrrtatitrr (l:lX)'l-) as nritiliaLion [ot tlrt' instal]atiorr oI r'lt'.ltcrl lrt Fkrlitla Dt'1ta111,'"r,, ol ()bselv.rti(rrl (irf k that st'rvt's as a Ilittlortl frrr Nt'ttkrs' btottzr.' Bat'ilont ltalkrvar', ,)llLl i]ll rrrr'rrrolial sr'trlP[111," rr'Sarrctrr.rr')'." 1t r, rr' 1,.1,,s .r rr itlt'al ( )lr:iervil ti(rn.l l site ftrr thc stttrlv ol tlrt' lasoon's (,(()s\Istonl inclutling l-lants, lrirrls.rnrl .rrlu.rlit lili'. l'or-lav thc l-l:ir'r'kshan' [-"rliorrtr \lissirtri ( hilr.lrr'rr i\l..nr,rli.rl Park is arr irrrPol[.1111 lr.rlt o1'Ircrrs.tcol.r's ritlt rr'.t lc t'l'rotr t atttl a 1rln1'1' rrl [.rci.r rr t t' .u1ri P1'1!1' [(rr illl [(] ('ni()\r.
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loNEs swAMP

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D PRES ERVE

Joncs Swamp is a 1,300-acre

protected watershed acquired for its function in buffering and water quality improvements. fones Swamp naturally filtcrs stonnwater runoff and helps improve the water quality flowing into Jones Creek, Bayou Chico, ancl Pensacola Ba1'. It provicles habitat to a variety of nativc plants ancl wilcllife, anci features public natural Frails that provicle recreational opportunities as well as environmental education.
The Jones Swamp Wetland Preserve lies betvveen the Perdido Pitcher Plant Prairie Preserve to the west ancl Bayou Chico to the East in the southwest portion of Escambia Countv. It is the intent of the County to establish tl're Southwc'st County Greenway corriclor between Baycru Chico and Pereiido Bav consisting of both the Tarkiln Bayou anrl Jones Sr,r'amp preserves as well as kev environrneutal restoration sites such as the Glynn Key and Lexington Terrace stornrwatcr wetland proiects.

Several key restoration activities have taken place irr Jones Swamp including stream restoration antl prescribed burning. While walking on the trails, look for both rock and wood structures in the creek which serve to stabilize the creek bed ancl create deep pools wlrich are part of a healthy, natural creek system.

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Native Paths Cultural Heritage & Resource Center

30*23. I08/87*19.084 'l

hc 1,7{)0 sr1. f t. housc scrves as Per'tlielo }n,1, J'1i!1"s (l'}B I-'s) ncn' ae.lmirtistratirre heatlcluartcrs for all preserrt arrcl futurc prrrjccts in scn'icc to oul'cou'ln'lurrity. It also sen,es as a tenrpol'ar'\' ruriui r,crsion of our cnvisir)ucLl Nluscotlcc Creek Cultural I lcritage lvluscum anci Lcarning Cerrtrr'- incluclinq a liL-rrarv atr,.l tletlia ccttter.
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ture Buildirrg It Inn Comprehensive rnuscul'n aucl lcarning ceutcr Structur c tha t blcncls irrto thc na turtrl envirol'lltlerlt Srrstaiuablc/ cfficicnl. cnL'rg\r & lorv nrair.rtenirnce desigrr A perr-naucnt honrc ior Pts'l 's rL's()urcc librarv., exhibits oi air ancl altifacts and othcr celucatioual lr(ttcrials

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Clcar''"valking h'a ils Ctrrrstruction of h'aclitional Soutl-reastcrn Crcck structurcs o Tr).s/rorrr ltL',tt'(irly ltrdintrc liu'tl o To Iu'lp ictrrurslrntc tlr Ptr4rlt's clctst n'lnliotrsltilt toillt
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proi,idt olen-t1it' sln'llcr.lor tnrltlottr nt lit,ilits Plant & iclcntifv native plants usecl Lty tht'Southcastertt I ni.l ia rrs for fooc-l, lrecl ici llL-s, Lrui ldin g urtr tc-rirr Is, vvea pons, tools, trans;-rt'trtatiou, ctc.
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Pensacola Beach
30.20.863/87"03.413
Barricr lsland rlt'scriptiorr (fronr httn:/ / sc icncc.lrorvstu
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Barricl islanrls, sonretimes callcci barrier spits, are found on coastlines all over the worltl antl are fragile, constantly chanl;ing ecosvstems. Thcst: L-cosystems are long, narrorv, offshore deposits of sand or secliments that parallel the coast line and can cxtcnel for hundre,cls of nriles. The islands are separatecl from the main lanc'l by a shallow sountl, bay or lagoon ancl scrvc tr,r'o main functions: to plotcct thc coastlints from severe sLornr r"lantage'anrl tt) p1pvi.{g halritat for rvilcilife. Thc formatir-rrr t-rf -lhc currcnt thcory is that lralrier islantls barricr islanr.ls is complex ancl not cornplctelv urrdcrskxrr{. n,cLc fornrc'd about't8,000 ycat's agc) lvhcn thc last lcc Agc cnticd. As the glaciers meltecl arrel recedt'tj thc setr levels lregan to rise which flc-rotlecl areas behincl treach riciges. The rising n'aters carried ser-linrcnts from those lrc.acl-r ridges antl depositcrl tlrt'm alorrg shallow areas iust off tht'nc-w coast line-s. \Vaves an.l currcrrts continued to trring irr sedinrents that built up forrning the barrier islands. In adtlition. sedinretrts fronr the nrainlarrr,l werr: trarlspr)rtcd kr thc. lrarrier islanci by rivels increasi-ng tlrc
islanrls'siz-e, As you r,r'alk thc islancl from the Gulf of Mexictt to Santa Rosa Sounr.l, you will nolice very dilferent ecosystems lc-rca I izetl gr()u ps of in tercle penclent organisms togethc'r with the envirc-rnment that they inhabit ancl tiepenr{ on for survival. The beach is mtrch like a clesert in that it ltrcks

frcsh u'ater, but a largc portion of the beach (knor.''n as thc intertidal zone - bcfi.r'ccn ticles) gets covercd almost cnrirclv n'ith salt r.r,atcr elaily. Sargassum, a macroalgae rvhich is thc nrrrst con'rm()n scaweer-l lvasherl ashore, harrl-rors lots of animals such as bryozoans ancl sea horses. The animals on tlre beach iLself inclucie burrowing animals like nrolc crtrbs that filter-feerl during high titlcs, burrixvitrg rvorms that feed on trachrria in thc san,-l. scavengirrg cralx (ghost crabs) and various shorebirr.ls (sarrdpipers, se'agulls:rnd Pelicans) that eat the crabs, burror.t'ing auinrals ancl offshorc'fish. N'loving rrolth, vou errter the dunes which receive moisfur'e from rain ancl surf and are occasionally floodctl lluring severe storms. The r'lunes are still a rclatively htrstik environnrent lvith high salt content, sanrly soil and little fresh w,ater. Duncs arc f()rned as strnd that is blowrr across the islanc{ gets caugl'rt in thc' plants grolr,ing or1 thc islantl such.ls sea oats, cactus, sand spurs, and spiderwort, Within the c'lune svstern, ),ou will find a r.liverse array of n'ildlife irrcluclirrg crabs (particularly ghost crabs), trircls (gulls, terns), errrd mice. Behintl the primary durre lic's thc scconc{arv ciune wl'tich couples v"ith mitritime forcsts containing shrubs ancl trces (sarrcl live oak, myrtle oak, slash pine anrl magrrolia). Animals in these forests itrclude snakes, Lrpossunls. skurrk, racct-rt-lr antl fox. Tlre sourrd-side of an islarrd is usualll, Thc salt marshcs arc similar to thosc founrl on thc coastal nraiulanl{ arrrl like drrnrinatecl b), r"t, ^ut"n. art'r'egularly fkrorlcel w'ith st'art,ater rluring high title. Pcnsacola Bcach tlre lrarrier flats; salt rrralshes occupies lan,.l trounrl bv a 1947 rler,tl frorl tht- Urrittrtl Statcs Dcpartmcrrt of lrrterior to [''e arlnrinisterecl in thr: pulrlic intert'st lry tl'rc county or'leasell but rtevcr "clisposccl".

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PERDIDO KEY STATE PARK

3017.489 /87*27.900

Barrier islands protect the Floricla mainlancl From the harsh effects of storms and provide lrabitat for shorebirds and other coastal animals. Perdido Key is a 247-acre barrier island near Pensacola on the Gulf of Mexico. White sand beaches and rolling tlunes covered with sea oats rnake this oark a favorite destination. Vegetation plays a critical part in dune creation aud stabilization. Spiderwort (purple flower; picturecl at left) is a clrought tolerant native plarrt that is key to clune forrnation. In a partnership between the Park Service, conrmunity volutrteers and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), native durre plant species are propagated and grown in DEP greenhouses then planted on dunes in both state and federal areas. To kecp up with the demand for native species production and provide for "hands on" learning at our local three greenhouse facilities located on school campuses in Escambia schools, DEP conskucted (Hallmark Elementary and West Florida Tech) and Santa Rosa Counties (Central High School). In a partnership with Escambia County, the greenhouse at West Florida Tech will specialize in propagation of plants for the creation and restoration of habitat corridors for the endangered Perdiclo Kcv Beach Mouse.
Percliclo Key Beach Mouse burrows are locatecl in the secondary ciunes at the basc of a shrub, clump of grass, or other vegetated cover. The burrow itself corrsists of an entrance tube, a rrest cavity, and an escape tube which is closed off but near the surface of the sancl. Ifan intruder, such as a snake or crab, enters a beach mouse burrow, mice make a hasty retreat out the escape tube.

It primarily feeds on the seeds of bluestem, cactu$, sand spurs and sea oats, but occasionally will eat insects. The mouse is a nocturnal animal (active at night), spending rnost of its' daylight hours in a burrow. Unlike many species, beach mice are monogamous, with mated pairs tencling to remain together for life. A typical beach mouse pair averages 3-4 offspring per litter and has roughly 3 litters per year. ln contrast to its inland relatives, the Perdido Key Beach Mouse steers clear of people, buildings ancl trash, insteacl preferring to meander among the dunes near its' burrow.

PLAZA DeLUNA
30*.24.133 /87*12.894

Plaza cle l-una, locatcd at thc south cncl of Palafox Picr, is rramed for Don Tristan cle Lurra, the learier of a Spranish expeclitiorr that landecl in this region of La Floricla in August 1559 to cstablish a permanent ccrlon\'. Howe'rrer, in September 1559, a hurricane struck the area, sirrking the' experliticlrr's ship. Though most of the experlition's supplit's were still onboarc.l the shiprs, the colonl' remaiuec'l for tr,r'o years clesprite the harclshil-rs. Though not perrnancnt, this expedition was the largest colonization attcrnpt bv any European nation in tlre Unitcd States.

During the time of the c{e Luna Expedition, the'natural shoreline trf Pensircola Bay ran along what is now Main Street and Bat'frclnt Parklval' While two of de Luna's ships have beerr locatecl through undcrwater archaeologl' conductcd by thc Univcrsity of West Floricia, tire fate of otl.rer ships is unkrrorr'r.r. Durirrg the late 1tt00's, Itensacola developec{ a workirrg.waterfront that extcndctl from Bayou Chicir to Bayou Tcxar. The ships that werc founc'l arc locatecl to the east oi this rvorking waterfront. As this waterfrol'lt was expaueled ancl pertlanr'nt Pier-s and . u,hnn,es were exteirdetl hundrcr{s of feet into ltensacola Ba1', other utttlervvater archaelogical sites rrray have bt-.en lost forevc.r urtder timbers, lxllast anri othet'fill rnaterialsPlaza rle Luna, and to a greater cxtcnt Palafox l'icr, shows how thc naturaL shorclincs of urbatr areirs have been harc'lerred. In:rc1c'lition to the concrete bulkheads used here, other types of shorclinc harciening alorrg Perrsacola Bav inclur'le wooc{en bulk heacls and rip-rap. Rip-rap, like that frturrcl ark;ng Bayfront Parkwav, arc largc stones or boulclers usecl to Prc\/el1t crosiott. Project GreerrShores is air exanrprle oi hor.r. an u rt'ran r,r'aterfront can Lre "softcuetl" ancl returucrl to a nlore natural state.

Prior to the constructiou of Plaza c1c Lurra, this sitt: was trccupriecl by thc Pensacola Murricipal Audittlrium. Declicatetl in'1955. the auditoriurl hostec'l pcrformcrs such as Elvis Prcslc)', Patsy Cline i-* lls garly years. With {-.* and Jcrry Lee Lewis during of the Saenger Theaterthe \: by anc'l restoration accluisition in the 1980's, tl're thc Citv oi Pcrrsacola ancl the construction of thc Pensacola Civic Ccnter Pcnsacbla Municipal Autlitorium Lrecarne a secondary venuc'for entertainers and was relegatecl to otlrer civic activitics. Aftcr receiving cxtensive clamage from Hurricanc Ivan in 2(X)4, the auclitorium u'as clemolished in 2005.
Plaza rle Luna is llcsignetl to lrc a location r.r'herc pcoplc have access to the watorf ront a lorrg Pensacola Bav. It is an excellerrt Iocation for fishing, bird r'vatching, slraring a meal, having a weclding, watching thc sun sct, or irr this case, gcocacllirlg.

Project GreenShores 30.24.918 / 87*11.504

[)rojtct GreenShorc.s rcprr.'sr'nts airPrslilpstell'30 rx:rc.s of ovstcr reef, salt m;rrsh, and seagrass habitat. Thr. projet1 sitc runs frorn tlrt' Threc lvlilc Bridge kr the Hau'ksharv l..agoon/ Miss'ing Chiltirerr N4emorial. Spaced along tire \4/a), \'ou rvill fincl 1J cducational sigrrs about thr'rliffert'nt asPects of Proiect Grcr.nShore's, thc l'rabitat it provieles, ancl the impact it is having on the local communiN.
Project GleenShores Sites is a commurriby-Lrased

environmental restoration cffort that has taken thousantls of hours of labor both pait'l and volunteer over the coulse of almost ten years, Durirrg that tinrc approximately $2.6 nrillion in glants anc{ clonations have beerr collcctecl, $2.5 million receivecl fronr "in- kind" tlonations such as voluntcer hours, food, matc'rial, ctc. which has lrc'en usctl to crcatc onc of tlrc largcst comnrunity basccl restoratiorr plojccts itr thc coutrtt'v.

Little known facts about Proiect GreenShores: . Itrojrct llirlft - Gulf Por,ver n'trs looking to donatc n'roncv for a local e'nvironntcntal prrojcct ancl at a suggc'stion frcrm tlre Pensacola News Journal's Carl lVc.rrricke, Gulf Pou'er officials met \t'ith DEP antl ultinratcll, rlonatecl $150k to the Project. . lt's nll iu tlrc runna - -l'hc Proiect GrccnShores name camc from the unitlue mind of Culf Pou'er's

. .

John Hu tchinson.
L<tcttlitttr, ktcntiort, Iocnliort

CiW of Pensacola l\'/itr, n,irr proju:t - Irr 2003 the Unites State Navy honored Prr>iect GreenShrrres with a Coastal Amc'rica Parhrership Arvarcl ancl in 2004, Pr$ect GreenShores receivecl the Gulf Guarclian Au'artl in the Parhrcrship category for the number of community partnL'rs that helped make this plojcct a rcalit]'. This projcct demonstratcs that with commitment and common vision, a comrnuniLy can wurk together t<> achieve goals that no singlc. entity could achieve alone. Proiect CreenSlxrres is ar project that was built lry tlrt connmnihl fttr tht contnnnity, Binls - Proiect GrccnShores is pa11 61 tlre Grcat Nortlr Arrrerican Birding Trail arrcl hosts a variety of sholetrircls, gulls, terns, waterfowl, wacling birds, ancl marsl'r l-rirds. Some these spccics such as thc coastal wacling birds, shorcbircls anrl watt'rfowl wcrc previouslv missing frcrnr thc Bayfrorrt Shorelirre due to lat:k of lrabitat but havc rcturncd sinct: the creation of Project GrccrrShorcs. Marry birr,ls four-rtl along the Gulf Coast are migratory, and dcpcl'rcl on shoreline habitats such as these for their survival ancl reprocluction.

- The lanll underneirl.h Proiect anrl is plattet'l u'ith streets.

Gree'nShores is actualll'61a'ngcl b1' the

For mr,rre irrf<rlrrration about the environmental proiects occurring in your comnrunity anrl hou'you call volrrntcl.r to lrelp pleasr,- conlirct: . Amy Baldwin, DEP Ecosvstcm Restoration Section Manager 595-0559 r Keith Wilkins, Escamlria Counfy Cornmunity anti Environrnent DeFartmcnt 595-3154. . Al Garza, Citr, of Pcn"acola Public \{orks Director 435-1755 . Websitc - ltl ty://tott tu ''lt!t.stntu.tl.us/uttrllnoesl/Ecosys/*ctitut/grce ttslnrcs.htttt

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17th Street

Storrrrwater Retrofit Project

30.25,251

I87-l'l.605

Perrsacola is.l50 v(rarc olcl ancl rnost of its ncighbtrrlrootls r.r,ctt' rlcvekrped klng beforc tht'rc r,"crc cstahlishcd rulcs or firc'ilitics trr conh'ol stornl$'nk r nrnoff. Stormw.rtel is rairrwater tlrat rloes not sccP into Lhc grountl aftcl a lairrf.rll. ll. tllains t-[f vour properh' picking trp ft'r'tilizcrs, pcsticirlcs, l-u'rhiciclc.s, oil, 1'ret rvttste ittttl rtrarrv othcr contanrinants citt'n'in1i thcm into sttrrtu tlraius. lvlost oi thc storlrr cilains locatcr.l *'ithin thc ciW lilnits cmptv into llal'ou'l'cxar, Bat'ou Chico, Pt-rrsacolir Bav or Escarntria Birr,.

i\dding to t-lrc stormn'atel prolrlem is the loss of lvctlancls. Prior ttr lrt'irrg clrained for urbau uses, llrgc portions of Pctrsacola u'erc'
l rn'ctla ucls tha t lru f ferud tht' irroas na tu ral rt tea nr.lt'ri ng tcl' cou rscs such as Car'pcnk'15 Crcck. Wt'tlattcls scrvc as n.rturtrl filters that allow .sctlimctrts, trtrh'ietrts ancl other contarninants to "st:ttle-ou t" lrefort' rr'trclritrl; srtrfactt r.r'ir ter trociies. Brrlrveen the krss of u'r'tlarrcls arrd tlrtt input of con ta m ina tcrl s tonl $'a ter f lom ttttrirtriz,t tiott, i)ctts.tcol.r a rea's n'irLcr qualitv sh.adilv r-leclintcl antl pt'aketl in tlrt' 70's and 8()'s. It n'as tluriug thcsc veat's that thr" 1iror,r,irr11 i nrpact frrnr s tornru'a tcr rcsrr Itt't{ irr rlunrLrr()us fish kills rvhcre hutrtlt't'rls of lish r'ould bc st.rrr flo.rting irt.rrc.r lr'.ttcts as a rcsr.rlt ol inclr--ast-tl ttrrlrirlit1', ret'lucccl ()x) lien ancl toxit: Irollrrtartts r1(r l u

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Citv ol'Pt'nsa<-ola has lt's1'ronrlt'tl to tlrt' s[()nnrvatcr chaIlcngc- First anrl foretlrrst improvin1', st()r'nr$,.1tol nr.lr.lgfmcnt has bccn clcvittctl to it priorih' collccm lrr' lroth l.he Citv Ctruncil arrtl ('itv staff. Tlris is rt flt'ctcel irr both o p(.r(r t'i()lla I changcs as rr'cll as lcfltr:tccl in tlrc Cih''s budgt't. ht adtlitiou, r'clrrcatitru ol:citizcns atrout llreir pr.rsonal inrpact. on strrrmr,vittef, changillg, Cit1. field r'rpcrirtirrg plol't tlulr-.s. irrr.--re.rs irrg lancl tlcvclopn1(.nt c()clc rcqu irtr rtrcn Ls, ancl aclrlressinll rvak'r qualitv in all Citv constructiorr Ilroiccts havt' [rct'rr instifutr,'rl for thc'protection anci irn]rrove.nrent <rf w'atcr tluality. /\mong thc mtrst inrportant charrgcs hiis lreen lhe intplemerrtalion of a stormn'ttte r r-rtili[' ftre. Tlre utiliLv fee has allt'rn,ecl tht'trit1, kr conrIlcte lrunlLrrous stormr,l'irter rctrofits (installing trciltnrcnt svstems on cxistirtg storm t[r'ain s),sterns) to iiltcr stormr,r,ater pri(]r t() its' r.rrtt'r'ing locrrl n'.rtr'rs. l'h(' l/ttt Strct't Skl nrn'atcr l{t'trofit projt'ct is rrn cxcc.llent examPlc' trf hc'rw ihc.st' lrltrit-cts ctrrr lrc ;rn aclclcrl virlrrt' kr thc t-onrnrunitt', lrcr.orrtl tht critical factrrr ol-irtrPrllf illg n'atcr qualih'. Incor'prr ra tin[' trr,'o t'r'itical lrcirhnenI pr'(]ri(.s:ics this p1oj1'1 1has an u rrtle t11rt ru rttl "vault" systcm to r'('r'n()vc sctlinrr.rrt ancl solit[ n'as[c, cotrf'rlctl u,ith a rtatulaI n,ctlirrrcl i1r'cd [o "polish" st()rnlh'iltcr Lrv lcnroving lrutrierrLs anrl orllarrit: r'naterial thirt carr lt'arl kr algal lrkxrnts antl Iolverecl ()x\'[{cn lt'r't'ls in surf;rct' r.ilt('r's. This project is .rntici}ratcd [o lnducc annrral pollutarrl. kr.rtling to Ba1'ou Tt'rar bt'930 1'rtrrrrrtls ol'B()D5 (lliological Oxygcn [)cn-rand,5 I)a1'tht'anr()unt ()f clissoh't'rl ()\\'g('n c()llsunrL'd irr [ir.c clavs bv biolol',ical proccsscs l'rrca king cl<xt'Ir trrllirnir] lrt.1tt(:t') 3,752 pourrels of solir,ls, t)3 Pounlls of nitrogt'n, lntl 20 pounris of phospl'rortrs. The' prroject is a partncl'ship bcbn,t,crr the Cih, of Pcrrsacola arrcl tht' F'loritla Depaltment trf Envitrrrtnr e rrt.rl Prr'rtectiorr wi th both cl1 ti tiL.s p lovicl i n1r, f rr ntl i r-r9,.

TARKILN BAYOU PRESERVE STATE PARK

3c.22j12/87*24.522

Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park offers the public: . Three marked hiking trails: a 1/2-mile ADA accessible boardwalk to the bayou, a 2-mile loop trail through the uplands, ancl a 6.5-mile loop lrail to

Perclido Bay. Rare opportunity to observe n-rany tlu'eatened and endangered species including the carnivorous white-top pitcher plant and butterworts, large-leavecl jointweed ancl the alligator snapping turtle. Seasonal opportunities to observe numerous species of butterflies attracted to the vast variety of wilclflowers. Year-round birding (word has it that there is a pair of Bald Eagles that call the preserve horne)...with many seasonal variations.

The first 900 acres of this park was acquirerl by the state of Florida on

April 13,1998 under a Florida Forever proiect titled tl're Perdido Pitcher Plant Prairie Preserve. Within a month the land was leased to the Division of Recreation and Parks and renamed Tarkiln Bayou Preserve

State Park. Since that timc, numerous acquisitions and donations have grown the park to its

current size of 4,296 acres. Current management goals at Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park seem to vary as much as the habitats that exist here, however, most goals are attainable by simply continuing to introcluce prescribed fire to the landscape. Prescription burning benefi ts native plants and animals and also minimizes the clrance of devastating wildfires to the surrounding communities.