The Marine Sanctuary Committee has changed the Marine Sanctuary Plan to replace the Phase III observation pier with a more realistic and promising set of projects.  The projects have already been documented, and submitted for funding consideration with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) which is administering funds associated with the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill disaster.  The projects  are referenced within the DEP project system as  SR 26 and SR 27 and already have county concurrence.  Both projects  and the updated sanctuary  plan are summarized on the Plans and Documents page of our website.  SR 26 provides for additional beach dune walkovers and equipment wash down stations to encourage and  increase access and ease of transportation for park visitors with scuba equipment, kayaks, or other similar beach equipment. SR 27 is a project to permit and fully populate a 1 mile by 2 mile near shore artificial reef area approximately 1 mile south of the Navarre Beach shore.  Costs for the projects are estimated at approximately $1.8 Million.

Bob Boston will be spearheading the effort for both permitting and funding of the projects.  The Marine Sanctuary Committee has already committed $6,000 to develop permit applications and that work is currently underway with our Environmental Consultant.

Here’s to  keeping Navarre Snorkelicious!

The next Marine Sanctuary Committee meeting will be Monday, February 25 at 6 pm in the Visitor Information Center/Chamber Conference Room.

Below is a list of some of the items we will be discussing:

Marine Sanctuary Committee leadership for 2013
Reef Sponsorship update
Run for the Reef update
Volunteers needed for Fun Fest booth April 26 and 27
Promoting and marketing reefs
Grant opportunities

Tune into the Weather Channel to see footage of the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary  reef system being installed among other reefing tales.

Runners and Walkers,
Whether you are as fast as a Spotted Eagle Ray or move like a Loggerhead Turtle out of water, this event is for you. Not only will this be a fun race down Gulf Blvd on Navarre Beach with an awards party on the gulf at the Navarre Beach Pier, this is an opportunity to help the local environment in an unprecedented way. Sign up today and beat the early race registration cut-off.

5k Run/Walk & 1 Mile Fun Run
Saturday – October 13th 2012 7:30am Start

Help the Navarre Beach Chamber Foundation maintain our near shore Marine Sanctuaries and Artificial Reefs for Snorkeling and Diving in Santa Rosa Sound and Navarre Beach

Register online at www.active.com
or
Download registration form at www.navarrebeachmarinesanctuary.com

(Registration Drop Off – Navarre Chamber/Visitor Information Center)

AWARDS CEREMONY & PARTY @ NAVARRE PIER

For more Information on the 5K or the Marine Sanctuary project
email navbms@navarrebeachmarinesanctuary.com
or visit our website

MAKE NAVARRE SNORKELICIOUS!

Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization
We apologize if you have received this email more than once

4th Annual Run for the Reef
The Navarre Pier will be the venue for the 4th Annual Run for the Reef on Saturday, October 13th, 2012 at 7:30 am. This 5K run/walk and one mile fun run will benefit the Marine Sanctuary project which includes snorkeling and diving reefs off Navarre Beach and have a significant impact on our local economy and environment.
Register online at active.com or find more information and download a registration form at navarrebeachmarinesanctuary.com. Registration forms are also available at the Navarre Beach Pier and the Navarre Visitor Information Center. Race day registration will be 6 am on the Pier deck. Awards and refreshments after the race, enjoy the run and the beautiful gulf front view from the Navarre Pier Deck.

The reefs are indeed installed and fully visible from the surface. Several Marine Sanctuary Committee members took to the water to check out the reefs up close by diving and snorkeling them. They do look impressive and the fish seemed to be enjoying the new structures already.

Here are some shots taken by Mike Sandler  on one of the first dives of the Gulf Side reefs

One of the reef trees from below
 

Nancy Sandler inspecting a reef
 

Ray hiding in the sand

After many weeks of waiting and watching for a good window of weather and sea state, the Reef Maker of Orange Beach installed the last of the Marine Sanctuary Eco System Reefs in the Gulf off of Navarre Beach County Park.   This deployment of reefs completes the set of three reef sites that make up the Marine Sanctuary at Navarre Beach County Park.  Two additional sites  are in Santa Rosa Sound just off the north shore of the park.

The newest reef addition  provide a great snorkel opportunity…and a fun way to cool off  after the October 13th Run for the Reef 5K

All three pavilions on the sound at  Navarre Beach County Park have new walkway improvements and showers thanks to  Navarre Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation  funding and a solid partnership with Santa Rosa County.   The Foundation provided the funds from monies raised by their Marine Sanctuary Committee and reserved for Marine Sanctuary and related program use.   The monies were used to purchase material and the county provided the sweat and muscles to get it done.     Sand fences  will also be installed  near two of the pavilions to mark a clear path through the sand from the pavilions to the shore near the reef areas, which will help direct foot traffic and  minimize damage to the natural vegetation.

Signs identifying the sound side reef areas as snorkel reefs where no motorized vessels are allowed have also been deployed on all  the sound side reef marker pilings

Tickets are now available for a beatiful hand made quilt,  made and donated by Lenore Nicholson.   Purchase your tickets on line now or contact a Marine Sanctuary Committee member.

We will also have tickets for sale at the  Run for the Reef  Reef Packet Pickup Friday October 12th or on Race day Saturday Morning October 13th at the Navarre Pier.

Quilt size is 53″ x 63″

Local Navarre professional artist, Kelley Grace has done it again – designing and creating another fantastic Run for the Reef Race Logo for this year’s October 13th event.

This is the second piece of art Kelley has created in support of the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary.  Last year several lucky participants were able to get signed copies of their Run for the Reef race shirt when she was on hand at the Awards Ceremony after the race.  Don’t miss your opportunity to own one of these Navarre originals.  Race registration is open at active.com or via download and drop off  the registration form from the Run for the Reef 5K page here on our website.

A crowd was on hand for today’s Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary.  Commissioners Jim Melvin, Don Salter, and Lane Lynchard and Roger Blaylock (county engineer),  along with Representatives of the Navarre Chamber of Commerce, the Navarre Chamber Foundation, the TDC,   the Marine Sanctuary Committee and David Walter  of Walter Marine  (the reefing contractor) were present as snorkelers immediately took to the water.

Here’s a Channel 3 News Item on the ribbon cutting.