The National Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Phase I Early Restoration plan has been published as a draft and includes eight projects totaling $57 Million to be initially implemented in the 5 states bordering the Gulf Of Mexico. The Early Restoration program will include $1 Billion and is the selected process by which funding for BP Oil Spill damages may begin in advance of the multi year total damage assessment process. The NRDA is one of the government led BP Oil Spill recovery efforts and is associated with the requirement of BP making the public whole from the environmental damages, including loss of natural resources, damage to natural resources and loss of use/enjoyment of the resources.

Two public meetings (Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola) to present and hear comments on the plan have been held and 10 more are scheduled throughout the public comment period that ends February 14th.

Of the eight projects in Phase I draft of the early restoration plan document, two are Florida projects – both in Escambia county. These initial Florida projects total $5 Million with $4.4 Million going for Boat Ramp Enhancement and Construction and the balance funding 2o acres of Dune Restoration along Pensacola beach.

Of the $1 Billion to be paid by BP for early restoration projects, $100 Million will go to each of the five states to manage/implement independently, and $500 million will be for related projects to be managed through the Federal Government’s Department of Interior(DOI) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). The $57 Million of Phase I projects included in the draft plan are the initial set of projects being considered with the balance to follow through the NRDA project selection process.

You may view the plan document at http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Final-ERP-121311-print-version-update.pdf

Comments can be submitted verbally or in writing at any of the public comment meetings, via mail at US Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O> Box 2099, Fairhope, AL 336533 or via the web at one of the following addresses.

http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov
http://www.doi.gove/deepwaterhorizon
http:/losco-dhw.com/EarlyRestorationPlanning.aspx
http://www.outdoaralabama.com/nrdaprojects/
http://www.mdeqnrda.com
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/deepwaterhorizon

There will be a public meeting for information and public comment on Florida’s Early Restoration Projects Thursday, January 12 at the UWF Conference Center (1100 University Pkwy, Pensacola, FL 32514). Open house starts at 6 PM. Meeting and Comments session begins at 7 PM.

The meeting will give the state Department of Environmental Regulation (DEP) and federal agencies an indication of the importance to our community of marine restoration projects. This is a great opportunity to provide your support for reefing project funding in our area from the BP Oil Spill funds being allocated by the state of Florida.

There will be a meeting of those interested in helping and/or providing input into the reef sponsorship program on  January 3, 2012 at 6:30PM.  The meeting will be at the Best Western, Navarre.   All are invited to attend.

Reminder:  the next Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary Committee meeting is Monday, December 5 at 6:30PM at Navarre Visitor Information Center next to the Butterfly House.

PLEASE NOTE THE LOCATION CHANGE.  Enter the visitor information center through the back door as the front doors will be locked.

Look forward to seeing you.

Check out this video of how the Pensacola Snorkeling Reefs were made and installed – the Navarre reefs are of the same design.

Thanks to Nanci Agee of the NBLRA for taking photos during the Run for the Reef 5K and Kid’s 1 Mile Fun Run.

You can check them out at

http://nanciageephotography.smugmug.com/Photography/October/Run-for-the-Reef

Navarre Press also has lots of photos online at their Shutterfly site

Committee member Wayne Maricle provided these photos

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The Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary Committee will  hold the October Monthly Meeting on Monday, October 24th at the Hampton Inn.  The meeting will start at 6:30 PM.

Anyone interested in helping with the sanctuary efforts, or just those interested in knowing more about our effort to bring beach accessible reefs to Navarre Beach is welcome to attend.

Thanks to Navarre Beach Leaseholders and Residents Association, our prime  Run for the Reef  sponsor, and to the rest of the sponsors for the 3rd Annual Run for the Reef 5K and Kid’s 1 Mile Fun Run.

They are helping to Make Navarre Snorkelicious!

Quantum Broadcasting

Barbara and Dan McCarren

The Griffith Family

Holly Hill Pottery

Islandtime Entertainment

Linda Fusco – All Phase Cleaning

Ryan Icenhour

TC’s Front Porch

Publix of Navarre

Century 21 Island View Realty

Thank you also to our fine door prize donors – the participants loved all the prizes

Scentsy

Sailors Grill

Thai Hut

Helen Back II

Friends of Navarre Library

A record turnout of 311 registered participants and many in the cheering section were greeted with great weather for the 3rd Annual Run for the Reef 5K and Kid’s 1 Mile Fun Run.   This year’s event set records for sponsorship support even before the race and hit another attendance high as Runners, Walkers, and Fun Runners enjoyed a wonderful morning at the beach helping to Make Navarre Snorkelicious.

Congratulations to our many winners.  Check the links below for the 5K Runner and Walker Times.

5K Female Runners

5K Male Runners

5K Female Walkers

5K Male Walkers

Top placements in the  Overall 5K  and Walkers categories were

Overall 5K Male – Aaron Runyon (17:27)

Overall 5K Female – Jeannie Runyon (20:42)

Masters 5K Male – Chris Neal (18:53)

Masters 5K Female – Sandy Ebank (21:35)

Grand Master 5K Male – Sheridan Ames (19:19)

Grand Master 5K Female – Cheryl Wolfe (22:50)

Great Grand Master 5K Male – Michael Beam (21:27)

Great Grand Master 5K Female – Linda Carlson (36:21)

Overall Walkers Male – Delbert Tucker (33:03)

Overall Walkers Female – Christine Salome (36:04)

Masters Walkers Male – Ken Smalewich (33:40)

Masters Walkers Female – Aimee Shaffer (37:12)

Grand Master Walkers Male – Ken Wolfe (34:28)

Grand Master Walkers Female – Clary Padgett (41:46)

Great Grand Master Walkers Male – Thomas Sajwaj (44:53)

Great Grand Master Walkers Female – Raie Marcanio (42:07)

The 3rd Annual Run for the Reef 5K and Kid’s 1 Mile Fun Run is this Saturday October 15th, 7:30 AM at the Navarre Beach Pier.     Register online at active.com or download the registration form here.   You can also come by Race Packet Pickup Friday Oct 14th from 2-6 PM at the Navarre Visitor Information Center or just show up at the Navarre Beach Pier on race day (October 15th) and register before the 7:30 AM start.

The weather looks perfect for race day -  Sunny with a low of 54 warming to 82 in the late afternoon.

Hope to see everyone there.