Let it be forest

This is an email I just sent to State Park officials. Walton County made a deal to allow busses to bring people into Topsail Hill State Park and Grayton Beach from the County’s paid parking lot. The TDC is paying the entrance fee but it is unclear how the fee paid to the state will be paid and numbers counted. No public hearing, no change to the Mangement plans or consultation of biologists. On BCC consent agenda last week.
Please send your objections to this the latest exploitation of state parks in Walton County to the following DEP officials

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected] [email protected]

Subject: Grayton Beach and Topsail bus plan with Walton County

“ The Grayton Beach State Park Unit Management Plan guides the preservation, development and day to day operations of the 2,000 acre Florida gem”

The memorandum of agreement voted on by the Walton County BCC on May 12 consent agenda ignores the guidelines set forth in the Unit Management plans for Topsail Hill Preserve State Park and Grayton Beach State Park. The Walton County Bussing plan ignores public safety, quality user experience and environmental protection of natural resources in these conservation and recreation lands.

The Walton County plan drops people at the beach with complete disregard to the carrying capacity. It is unclear how the numbers of people bussed in will be counted or will the bus be counted as one vehicle.

Table seven in the Grayton Beach unit management plan states one time beach use capacity of 554 people. (See attachment)
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From what I understand the busses will not be counted because they are not parking in the beach parking lot. The unit management plan does not address parking only number of users. It appears that the Walton County Bus plan will not follow the carrying Capacity rules set forth in the Unit Management plans.

There has been no analysis of the impact of the increase use to the visitor experience or the environmental impacts of bussing in more people to the beach. Has park planning done any evaluations of this impact? Have biologist been consulted? Were public hearings held to change the Management plans?

Visitors to state parks expect a nature based experience, even at the beach, they are not expecting resort crowds which the busses will bring in if the current carrying capacity of people on the beach is not adhered to.

Since the purchase of Topsail and Point Washington CARL projects in 1992 Walton County and developers have attempted to take and use the state conservation and recreation lands for purposes other than they were acquired for.
Walton County has overdeveloped and over promoted, failed at protecting customary use so now look to exploit our state parks for their own and private industry profit.

An estimate of revenue for Walton County and the private parking service is $15 per car per day, if a bus hold 10 car worth of people that’s a profit of $150. Those same cars entering the park would generate $50 per vehicle. Why is the DEP allowing degradation of the parks and the natural resources so Walton County and its vendors profit?

In summary there is no benefit to the state parks to allow bussing in of tourist. In fact, it appears that the management plan principles of carrying capacity, quality visitor experience and protection of natural resources are being violated for Walton County’s profit.

Celeste Cobena
Beach to Bay Connection, Inc
850-267-2227

We’ve got a few spots left for our upcoming trip to the wetlands restoration area at Deer Lake State Park in Walton County. Join us to learn about this critical ecological site and enjoy a diversity of pitcherplants and orchids!

Register here: https://www.flawildflowers.org/event/260430-field-trip-deer-lake/

Florida's Big Bend region, between the Apalachicola River and Tallahassee, boasts 138 tree species, making it one of the most botanically diverse areas in the US. See link below ⬇️

📸 Provided by Biodiversitymapping.org

#2 Jeff Talbert photo he allowed Let it be forest to us on our page. Vote and donate today

Very sad news today

It’s with profound sadness that we share the passing of Mike Mathis, manager of the Florida Forest Service’s Chipola Forestry Center. Mike passed last week after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Mike began his FFS career in 2007 as Holmes County Forester before working his way up to managing the Panama City area center, which oversees wildland fire operations and forestry across seven counties.

After Hurricane Michael devastated much of the area in 2018, Mathis was instrumental in leading response teams with chainsaws and heavy equipment. For years after the storm, he led recovery efforts, working with landowners to help restore the community, earning the prestigious National Wildfire Mitigation Award. His selfless service and leadership helped sustain the center during these trying times, and his commitment to the state was evident during many active wildfire seasons.

Mike also played a key role in the addition of the new Sandy Creek State Forest, more than 12,000 acres of public land near Panama City that will benefit Floridians for generations.

Mike’s impact on the Florida Forest Service and the state of Florida will continue to touch lives for years to come. His remarkable leadership, lighthearted spirit, and genuine kindness are lasting gifts to the state and to everyone fortunate enough to have worked alongside him.

Our deepest condolences go out to Mike’s family, friends, and the entire Florida Forest Service community.