A new reef project at the east end of Pensacola Beach in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to pay big dividends for the diving and tourist industry devastated by the oil spill.

In the next few weeks crews will drop 19 pairs of artificial reefs offshore just east of Portofino which is expected to bring droves of snorkelers and divers.  Check out the WEAR Channel 3 report on what it means to the area.

The Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary is establishing the same kind of reef system on Navarre Beach in both the Gulf of Mexico and in the Santa Rosa Sound.  Together with a new effort to bring a similar reef system to Perdido Key, we can establish a Snorkeling trail that will provide a great amenity to residents and visitors.

Just 3 more weeks to register for The Run For The Reef 5K.  The 2nd annual run will start and end at the Navarre Pier with a great awards ceremony to follow.   Race Day (Saturday Oct 16th) registration starts at 6 AM with the race starting at 7:30 AM.

You can register online at active.com.  You can also mail or drop by your completed registration form to the Navarre Visitor Center.  Registration  Forms can be downloaded from our site or you can pick them up at one of the following locations:

Navarre Visitor Center

Run With It – Fort Walton Beach

Hurlburt Gym (All 3)

Holley By The Sea Weight Room

Running Wild Pensacola

Navarre Press

Navarre YMCA

Academy Sports Pensacola

Dragon Sports – Fort Walton

Fort Walton YMCA

Remember – you don’t need to run to participate.  Just register and you can get the colorful shirt and be eligible to participate in the fun at the Navarre Pier awards ceremony with free food, beverages, door prizes and music.

Next meeting Monday, September 27th at 6PM at the Navarre Visitor Information Center. Come and see what it’s all about as we being preparation for the Impact 100 presentation and the Run for the Reef.

Friday Sept 17th is the deadline to register early and get the discounted registration fee of $20 for the Run for the Reef 5K.  You can register on active.com or download the form from our website and drop it by the Navarre Visitor Center.

Registration will continue through October 15th at the regular registration fee of $25.  Day of race registration is $30.

Sign up now and help Make Navarre Snorkelicious.  A great race shirt and post race party awaits along with great door prizes for a lucky participant, including a 3 day 2 night weekend at a Navarre Beach Property from JME Properties.

Remember – you don’t have to run to participate.

Impact 100 Pensacola announced today (Sept 16, 2010) at a press conference that the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary is among ten finalists  competing  for five grants of $114,000 in each of five categories.  There are two finalists per category – the Marine Sanctuary is in the Environmental category.

This marks the Marine Sanctuary’s 2nd consecutive year  as a finalist for the annual Impact 100 Grant.   It is a huge opportunity for the Marine Sanctuary Program, and can provide the necessary funding for the Phase I Gulf Side Reefs and good portion of the  Phase II Sound Side Reefs funding.  The final determination will be made after brief presentations by each finalists to the entire Impact 100 membership at their annual meeting on Sunday October 24th at 1:45 PM.

We believe the positive environmental benefits  from the  reefs – up to 1.8 million gallons of water filtered per day, increased biodiversity and juvenile marine species habitat – is very grant worthy.   In addition the Marine Sanctuary project provides huge economic and educational benefits for the area with an estimated increase of $1.17 million in annual economic output  and increased local educational institution and grant funded study opportunities,

The Marine Sanctuary Committee is  honored to be among this years finalists and  very grateful to the women of Impact 100 – not only for the current grant program but for  their past seven years of  contributions to making our community a better place to work and live.

The  date for the International Coastal Clean-Up is September 25th.  But at Navarre Beach, volunteers can participate on two days – Saturday September 18th ,and Saturday September 25th.

Santa Rosa Clean Community has arranged to have a commercial dumpster on Navarre Beach (behind Cocodries) for both the 18^th and the 25^th.

Ralph Agnew will be the Navarre Beach site captain.  If you want to particpate, please contact Ralph at (850) 936-4222 , or you can contact John Tonkin,  Executive Director of  Santa Rosa Clean Community at (850) 623-1930.

Kudos to these leaders and all the volunteers that come out and help.

The marine sanctuary program submitted a grant requesting $250,000 to Pepsi’s Refresheverything online grant program at midnight (ET) on September 1st.  The Refresheverything grant program administrators will review the first 1,000  ideas submitted and those that are approved will be eligible for public online voting  during the month of October via the Refresheveryting website.  The title of the marine sanctuary grant is “Make The Gulf Snorkelicious!  Heal The Gulf With Beach Reefs” .

Look for a Vote Snorkelicious campaign to begin shortly before October.  Each person can vote daily during the month at www.refresheverything.com once the October grant voting cycle is opened.