PCB Airport vs Ivory Billed Woodpecker

http://www.sowal.com/bb/showthread.php?t=9426

Now, ain’t that a fine How’d'e do this morning?  In the eleventh hour, 2 environmental groups based in D.C. no less and a local pilot’s association have filed a law suit in NY aimed to stop the Bay County Airport from being relocated to West Bay.  If this doesn’t cause a major upheaval in our area in the months to come, I don’t know what will.  Of course, this could just as quietly and quickly disappear as swiftly as it was brought to the table with little fanfare, news coverage or local awareness like we so often see here in nepotism/good ol’ boy/St. Joe land.  I’ll be following this one for sure.

More thoughts to come on the subject….have some work to tend to.

I don’t really have a solid opinion on the new airport, but one thing for certain is that it’s become the shining star for many a contractor, subcontractor, county official, retailer and property owner in Bay and Walton Counties.  Our area has experienced the luxury of being exempt from the fall out of the dot com bubble and 9/11, though NOT from the housing market slow down that’s currently rippling across the country.  In an area that relies predominantly on tourism and second home construction, the airport NOT opening would be a potential cause for alarm as to the sustainablity of our local economy.  On the other hand, just because “they” build it, doesn’t mean “they” will come.  No matter what anyone argues, the numbers say we are swimming in a sea of housing glut, two to three years of inventory.  A lot can happen in 2-3 years.  The new international airport claims to bring people from far and wide to our little piece of paradise often affectionately referred to as the “Redneck Riviera”.  Nice, huh?  And supposedly, all those people who travel from the corners of New York, California and Europe will buy up that housing supply and will demand even more.  You might think I sound a bit cynical for someone who is in the field of designing houses and should be fighting tooth and nail for the arrival of this great airport.  Maybe, maybe not.

Now, what of this Ivory Billed Woodpecker?  Well, there is a local man by the name of MC Davis that has declared over 53,000 acres of his property to be set aside for private conservation.  The land, Nokuse Plantation is a critical piece to a larger tract of connecting land rich in biodiversity that include wetlands, uplands and fresh water communities.  These communities of swamp bottomland happen to be the natural habitat for the ivory billed woodpecker, though the woodpecker is believed to have become extinct, logged out of existence since the 1930’s.  Over the last year, there have been claims of sitings of the great woodpecker and further research by Auburn University has indicated that there may indeed be an Ivory Billed Woodpecker in ‘dem dare woods’.  This is excellent news for Northwest Florida.  Birders from all over the country are traveling to the area in hopes of spotting this wonderful treasure.

Back to the airport.  The environmental groups claim that the FAA may have violated the federal Endangered Species Act due to the spotting of the woodpecker.  Also, they contend the environmental impact is too great and the current location is the best environmental choice.  Wouldn’t you know it, one of those SoWalers says, “It’s just a bird…”  That was probably the same SoWaler that declared (s)he had the right to build whatever beach armament necessary to protect their property from storm surge regardless of sea turtles lives because sea turtles don’t pay taxes.  Nice, huh?  And you wonder why it’s called the Redneck Riviera…

All this, right in my back yard.  Oh, speaking of woodpeckers and the back yard, once again recall my pine trees infested with pine bark beetles.  Well, those trees have attracted a few red bellied woodpeckers that come to feast on the beetles.  It’s almost sad to think that the pine trees will have to go soon.              

First, the DEP’s Blessing - House I

This is a post that actually goes along with an article written for Topsail-Island about the 3R’s - reduce, reuse, and recycle.  In the article I write about how the 3R’s also apply to our homes.  Simply stated: reduce living square footage, reuse your existing home, and build with recycled materials.  Over the next several months (however long construction lasts) I’m going to document the transformation of a few homes that are prime examples of the 3R’s put into action.    Exciting, right?

The first home is a residence on the beach.  This property has been in the family (not my family, if you’re wondering) for many years and has been passed down to the children.  Originally constructed in the 1980’s, this home has endured many storms and was fairly protected due to its modest size and location behind several dunes.  Over the years, the dunes have washed away and the gulf has crept a little closer.  During hurricane Ivan, beach erosion washed away the homes seaward facing porch, though no structural damage was done to the main house.  For the most part, the house has been rendered useless.  The owners, through much agonizing, have decided to keep the house intact and relocate it northward about 65′.  Since the storms, the DEP has relocated the CCCL closer to their northern property line essentially decreasing the square footage needed to build another home.  I know, you’re probably saying, “If I only had such problems.”

Back to the house.  The first step was to have updated CAD drawings of the existing structure drawn (me! me! pick me!).  Those drawings were then given to the structural engineer to redesign the piling and girder foundation.  In the meantime, geotechnical engineers stepped in to collect boring samples to determine the depth of the new pilings. A new topographic survey is ordered and all of this data is given to the structural engineer so he can work his magic.  He generates new drawings combining all of this information including the new building location, fill if needed, dune walkover location, piling depth and turtle lighting.  These drawings have been submitted to the DEP and now we wait for their approval and a permit.  That’s just the beginning.  We still need to get a county building permit, which can’t happen until we have the DEP permit.  The owners still need to settle on the piling company and a contractor that will pull the permits and rebuild the lost porch.  So that’s where we are on that house.  Patiently waiting.

    

The Link Between Tango, The Bark Park, Sea Turtles & Sustainability

That’s a long title.  What do Tango, the Bark Park & sea turtles have to do with sustainability?  Well, a lot.  They all encompass some of the key elements that comprise sustainability, as defined by the 1987 Brundtland Report.  Starting with Tango (he’s a cutie & mischievous), he’s a rescue dog pulled from a local overcrowded, ill-kept kill shelter.  Two women friends run the Canine Rescue, a non-profit organization in our community that saves animals, educates people about the virtues of having a dog companion and strives to stop the proliferation of unwanted pets.  Animals that are allowed to pro-create and then are abandoned create a burden on our communities resources.  These animals have to be collected, cared for, euthanized and disposed of at tax payers expense.  Some animals that are “disposed of” may be sent to rendering plants (warning - not for those with a weak stomach) that pose serious environmental hazards.  By providing a service like the Canine Rescue they are helping to build caring, responsible communities.

Next, the Bark Park.  Again, this is a non-profit organization formed to establish a local fenced, off-leash park for dogs.  As we petitioned for the park and presented our mission to the county commissioners, we had much opposition.  It seems many individuals thought this was a waste of time and money.  Not so.  The county has ”leased” the Bark Park 2 acres of land that would otherwise be rendered useless due to it’s proximity to wetlands and hurricane debris fill site.  Both controlled by the DEP.  No one wanted this land.  The county volunteered to do all site preparation, though all other infrastructure including parking, fencing, water, etc. was the responsibility of The Bark Park.  In come fundraisers galore.  The park is now in place and provides a safe haven for pets and owners to exercise and mingle.  Many local relationships and networks where born out of the love for a dog.  Organizations like the Bark Park help strengthen our society by fostering a sense of community.  In addition, this particular park turned a barren piece of swamp land into a vital communal stomping ground.  It also, gives dog owners an alternative to the beach which can often lead to disturbing beach goers and native wildlife.

Finally, about that native wildlife, usher in the sea turtles.  Here in Walton County, we have a group of volunteers that run the Sea Turtle Watch program.  Sea turtles are an endangered species and are protected by the Endangered Species Act.  These volunteers scout the beaches for turtle nests, mark them and keep vigilant watch over the nests to ensure the emerging young turtles make it back to sea.  I’m envisioning another post coming about construction, turtle lighting and sea turtles.  In Topsail Island, North Carolina, they also take sea turtle endangerment seriously as well as one step further.  In this coastal town you can find the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.  At this turtle hospital, injured and sick turtles are cared for and released back to their natural habitat.  If you want to see something really cool, check out their live turtle webcams.  Saving sea turtles preserves the biodiversity of our natural environment as well as boosts our communities cultural and natural resources.  For places like South Walton County Beaches and Topsail Island, saving sea turtles is directly linked to the local charm that attracts tourists and potential home owners alike and keeps our local beach economy buzzing along.

And that’s what a dog, a park, and a turtle have in common.