August 24th, 2009
Structures designed by Coastal Environments Inc, built by Georgestone Technical School and Escambia County Road Prison, placed by Coastal Reef builders, managed by Ecological Consulting Services Inc and propelled by volunteers and residents are now being set in place and not too early either. Deadman’s Island had faced even more erosion just this past month. Partial structures are in place and has slowed down the current that has been eating away at the north end of Deadman’s Island. Next summer a final structures will be placed to protect the west end. This reef will not only add protection to Deadman’s Island but provide great fishing and snorkeling for the general public. Thank you to all our partners and supporters.
Pictures
http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=DP&Dato=20090820&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=908200806&Ref=PH
Deadmans Island Project Brochure (PDF) available here
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August 15th, 2009
The deployment of the 159 structures will commence Monday or Tuesday of this week depending on tides and barge operations. The points have been set by Empire Land Surveying and Ecological Consulting Services will be in action this weekend in preparation for the deployment. Please call Heather Reed 346-2073 if you would like to volunteer on Wednesday August 19th. Volunteers are needed for number tagging the reefs for future monitoring and placing temporary PVC pipes on the footprint of the structure area for better deployment. The deployment, willing and good weather,will be completed in a week. Deployment will be provided by Coastal Reef Builders and Dale’s Marine will donate the use of additional temporary turbidity curtains.
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August 13th, 2009
Good Morning!
On Wednesday August 12th, 17 volunteers donated their time and labor to filling oyster bags for the reef structures being placed at The City of Gulf Breeze Deadman’s Island this week. Our partners and stewards such as FLDEP Coastal Aquatic Managed Areas, Gulf Power, Emerald Coastkeepers, The Nature Conservancy, local fisherman, students and supportive residents gave a helping hand to help save Deadman’s Island from further erosion. The day was extremely hot and hardly any wind but that did not deter these hard wrokers from helping to achieve the the goal of filling 156 structures. A total of 30 structures were filled that day.
These structures will be placed aproximately 240′ away from the shoreline of Deadman’s Island underwater to slow down the wave action and to allow the island to slowly stabilize and prevent historic structures, unmarked cemetaries, 100 year old Marine Oak and the 10,000 year old salt marsh from being destroyed. These volunteers understand the importance of preserving a rare jewel found no where else in the US. This project will allow grand kids and great grandkids to enjoy the beauty and uniqueness Deadman’s Island has given their parents, grand parent, great parent and great grandparent and visitors in the past.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation shell habitat grant, US Fish and Wildlife and the Five Star grant (Southern Company, NFWF, NaCO, EPA, and the Wildlife Habitat Council) has given the funding needed to achieve progress with our oyster breakwater structures. The NFWF grant provided the lunch of Subway sandwiches, water and Gatorade to our hardworking volunteers who by the way did not stop at 12pm they kept on working.
Georgestone Technical School and Escambia County Road Prison, as part of the Trade program, welded these structures and did an amazing job! Materials for the structures and design of a majority of the structures were provided by Coastal Environments Inc.
Thank you to all our supporters! A special thanks to the City of Gulf Breeze Personnel, Therran Gentry and his crew and Ric Moore for diligently working above and beyond duty to get these structures deployed by next week’s high tide. Please see the great article showing our volunteers from Sean Dugas of the Pensacola News Journal.
http://www.pnj.com/article/20090812/NEWS01/90812013&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL
Heather Reed, Project Manager, Ecological Consulting Services Inc.
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August 10th, 2009
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July 20th, 2009
Heather Reed will be giving a presentation about the Deadman’s Island Restoration Project at the Bay Area Resource Council on Wednesday at 1:30 pm at the Gulf Breeze City Hall.
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June 16th, 2009
Sunday morning people came to Deadman’s Island, by kayaks,canoes, jet skis and ferried by boat from the Gulf Breeze Boat ramp (thank you to the boat captains and the Gulf Breeze Police/Fire rescue team). We had great success on Sunday’s Planting! A special thanks to Elizabeth Shaw from the Emerald Coast Keepers for coordinating and bringing everyone together for this community effort! This event couldn’t have happened without her!
Take a look at the great photos from the Pensacola News Journal (thanks to Journalist John Blackie).
http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=DP&Dato=20090614&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=906140801&Ref=PH
If you would like to be on the “Friends of Deadman’s Island” mailing list, to be notified of the newest event, please email me (Heather Reed) at hreed@ecologicalconsultingservices.com.
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May 26th, 2009
Sunday June 14th, the Emerald Coastkeepers will be out at Deadman’s Island and doing what the Coastkeepers do best, protecting the Coastal areas in Pensacola Bay. At 9am, at the Gulf Beeze Boat ramp, at the end of three mile bridge, the Coastkeepers and anyone else who would like to help will meet and kayak over to Deadman’s Island. They will plant vegetation along the peninsula to stabilize the North end of the island. Thomas Hunt will be conducting an Eagle Scout project to build a pathway along the ismuth to prevent people from trampling the newly planted vegetaion. Thomas will be making his pathway out of the broken docks scattered in the marsh area from Hurrican Ivan.
If you would like to volunteer for these events please call Heather Reed at 346-2073. We are in need of a few boats to shuttle plants and people to Deadman’s Island. So come on out!
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May 26th, 2009
Hi Everyone!
A quick update on the project.
The oyster breakwater units for the project are now being manufactured to be deployed in the water this summer. Ninety of these units will be welded together by the Georgestone Technical School and Escambia County School workforce. We appreciate all of the Deadman’s Island partner and community support! Thank you!
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February 27th, 2009
Flash version of the new project powerpoint overview.
See link at right for full powerpoint (careful…about 81 meg download).
Or Click Here for online Flash based version (opens in new window).
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February 27th, 2009
Gulf Breeze Area Chamber
2009 Annual Awards Gala
A Black & White Event
One of the Chamber’s Main Fundraisers with Gourmet Dining, Dancing,
Professional Video Montages, Awards Celebration and Recognition,
Silent Auction, Chatterbox Photo Booth, Bubbles & Bling!
Saturday, February 28th , 6 pm to Midnight
New World Landing, 600 South Palafox
Tickets : $75.00 per person
RSVP Today. (850) 932-7888
Some seating available night of event.
Theresa Grillo Laird’s painting will be auctioned at the Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Gala.
- The opening bid will be $1500 and include the gorgeous $2000 frames donated by The Gulf Breeze Framery! All proceeds go to the Deadman’s Island Restoration Project. If you would like to see the paintings ahead of time or purchase a high quality Giglee’ print, please go to Gulf Breeze Framery print range from $40-$60 dollars.
For more information on this event please call Heather Reed 346-2073.
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